The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal

The article considers V. I. Dal as a religiously minded writer. For the first time, it analyzes biographical factors that contributed to the writer’s transition from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy, such as upbringing in the family, independent analysis of dogmas, and most importantly, love for the Russian...

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Main Author: Vladimir I. Melnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature 2023-03-01
Series:Два века русской классики
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rusklassika.ru/images/2023-5-1/02_Melnik_36-53.pdf
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author Vladimir I. Melnik
author_facet Vladimir I. Melnik
author_sort Vladimir I. Melnik
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description The article considers V. I. Dal as a religiously minded writer. For the first time, it analyzes biographical factors that contributed to the writer’s transition from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy, such as upbringing in the family, independent analysis of dogmas, and most importantly, love for the Russian people, their “childish” faith and the extraordinary richness of the language. Dal’s Orthodoxy manifested the Western rational basis inherited from the family: judging by the autobiographical touches in his legacy, he was distinguished not so much by deep contemplation, a penchant for long prayer, love for the beauty of church singing or the splendor of the temple, so characteristic of the Byzantine version of Christianity, but by tireless practical activity and a strong sense of duty and responsibility. A deep awareness of folk Orthodoxy was reflected in many of his works. A significant body of them can be called “spiritual prose.” It differs both thematically and stylistically from the usual Dal’s stories (“Petersburg janitor,” “Orderly,” “Sausage makers and bearded men,” etc.), from Dal’s stylization in his fairy tales, and tells about miracles, about manifestations of God’s Providence in human life, about Christian virtues and spiritual temptations of the wavering human soul.
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spelling doaj.art-980e75515f2946e49d97790ec9e0346f2023-03-28T08:59:35ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, A.M. Gorky Institute of World LiteratureДва века русской классики2686-74942023-03-0151365310.22455/2686-7494-2023-5-1-36-53The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. DalVladimir I. Melnik0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9684-8943Pererva Theological SeminaryThe article considers V. I. Dal as a religiously minded writer. For the first time, it analyzes biographical factors that contributed to the writer’s transition from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy, such as upbringing in the family, independent analysis of dogmas, and most importantly, love for the Russian people, their “childish” faith and the extraordinary richness of the language. Dal’s Orthodoxy manifested the Western rational basis inherited from the family: judging by the autobiographical touches in his legacy, he was distinguished not so much by deep contemplation, a penchant for long prayer, love for the beauty of church singing or the splendor of the temple, so characteristic of the Byzantine version of Christianity, but by tireless practical activity and a strong sense of duty and responsibility. A deep awareness of folk Orthodoxy was reflected in many of his works. A significant body of them can be called “spiritual prose.” It differs both thematically and stylistically from the usual Dal’s stories (“Petersburg janitor,” “Orderly,” “Sausage makers and bearded men,” etc.), from Dal’s stylization in his fairy tales, and tells about miracles, about manifestations of God’s Providence in human life, about Christian virtues and spiritual temptations of the wavering human soul.https://rusklassika.ru/images/2023-5-1/02_Melnik_36-53.pdfv. i. dalbiographyorthodoxylutheranismspiritual imagereligious prose
spellingShingle Vladimir I. Melnik
The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
Два века русской классики
v. i. dal
biography
orthodoxy
lutheranism
spiritual image
religious prose
title The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
title_full The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
title_fullStr The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
title_full_unstemmed The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
title_short The Meaning of Orthodoxy in the Life and Work of V. I. Dal
title_sort meaning of orthodoxy in the life and work of v i dal
topic v. i. dal
biography
orthodoxy
lutheranism
spiritual image
religious prose
url https://rusklassika.ru/images/2023-5-1/02_Melnik_36-53.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT vladimirimelnik themeaningoforthodoxyinthelifeandworkofvidal
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