Spread of Christianity as a Factor of Transformation of the Zalozhny Category Idea
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32461/2226-0285.1.2016.148802Keywords:
the zalozhny, transformation, baptism, "skoudelnytsya", deep pits, miserable houses, culture of Ancient Slavs, mythologyAbstract
The purpose of the research is to study Baptism of Kievan Rus' and the gradual spread of Christianity as a factor of transformation of popular views on the "zalozhny" dead. The methodology of this research is based on the historical- cultural approach, which allows to consider the mentioned above views as an element of traditional culture system taking place in various historical periods (pre-Christian and Christian eras); the activity approach, which allows to review the category of human substantive work, specifically mythopoetic texts as well as funeral and memorial traditions. The scientific novelty of this work lies in definition of Baptism of Kievan Rus' and gradual spread of Christianity as the first factor of transformation of views on the "zalozhny" dead category. During XI-XIX centuries as a result of Christianization process we can see a transition from peremptory social ostracism and utilization of dead bodies by throwing them out to wastelands and marshlands to a collective burial of "zalozhny" dead in unhallowed lands ("skoudelnytsya") without burial service, but with some kind of a public dirge. Conclusions. We consider the spread of Christianity on the territory of Kievan Rus' as the overriding factor among those which caused transformation of folk views on the "zalozhny" category of dead, with change of worldview as a main lever for this transformation. The status and meaning of these views were modified: while they had been a natural part of thanatic views in pre-Christian period and had served as a live and functioning part of a mythological knowledge, as well as a living reality for a mythological consciousness carrier, with the spread of Christianity they existed as a part of syncretic popular beliefs, stopped being intransigent and peremptory, and were gradually displaced by the Christian teaching. A complex transition from the mythological worldview to the Christian religion is represented in Ukrainian folklore texts, which share elements of both worldview systems at the same time.
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