Writer and preacher Kirill Turovsky: biography, literary activity

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Kirill Turovsky - Belarusian writer and thinker of the twelfth century, Orthodox saint, bishop. He was born and raised in a small town on the Pripyat River, in Turov. Turovsky - a medieval Russian theologian, one of the most prominent spiritual figures of Orthodoxy of the twelfth century.

Tours

The city of Turov is located in the Gomel region, in the Zhitkovichi district. This is one of the most ancient cities in Belarus. Turov is located thirty kilometers from the regional center of the city of Zhitkovichi and 263 kilometers from the city of Gomel.

To this day, the former greatness of the city, unfortunately, has not been preserved. Although even without architectural sights, it has excellent tourism potential. Not only Belarusians, but also many Russians come to Turov to bow to the holy cross. Many pilgrims are also interested in the recently erected monument to Cyril of Turov. It is consecrated according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church and attracts many pilgrims.

The principality of Turov was very developed culturally, politically and economically. A Turovwas its administrative center. The diocese was founded in it in the tenth - early eleventh centuries. Later, after the destruction by the Turks, it was transferred to Pinsk. In the second half of the twelfth century, the Turov principality became feudally fragmented. The political significance has been lost. And Turov entered the Principality of Lithuania for some time.

Family, early years

Kirill of Turov, whose biography begins in 1130 (date of birth), has never moved anywhere from his hometown of Turov all his life. Despite the fact that his parents were very we althy people, he did not like we alth. Cyril was more attracted to divine books, theology.

He received an excellent home education. Later he studied science and art with Greek teachers. He perfectly mastered Old Slavonic and some folk dialects. Separately studied eloquence. He loved and knew Byzantine culture well. He especially respected poetry.

Obedience

Kirill became a novice early. Being a mature man, in 1161 he was tonsured at the Borisoglebsk Monastery. Almost immediately he went into seclusion, closing himself in a pillar. There he lived for some time in prayer, strictly observing all fasts. I thought a lot. It was during this seclusion that he wrote several of his first works.

Bishopric

Kirill of Turovsky (the biography kept the date of his elevation to the rank of bishop - 1169) received a church promotion thanks to the local prince Yuri Yaroslavovich. After that, being already a priest,took an active part in the church-political struggle. His Life describes that it was Cyril who was the accuser of the false bishop Theodorets, who was accused of heresy and executed.

Literary heritage of Kirill Turovsky

Kirill Turovsky left behind a great literary heritage. For talented works in this area, he was nicknamed "the second Zlatous". Many editions of Cyril, which have survived to this day, "speak" of the saint's great craving for writing.

He had a perfect command of the style, style, manner of speech. He was able to express his thoughts in a very articulate and accessible way. Thanks to this, the reader's attention did not weaken until the end of the work. He propagated the Byzantine priests, whose interpretations of the Holy Scriptures in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were very popular. Particular attention is still paid to one of his works, "The Parable of the Human Body and Soul".

Literary vocation

The works of Cyril were as popular as the manuscript collections of many church fathers. In the works of Turovsky traced the depth of content, high spirituality and literary skill. Researchers of his work noted that Cyril brought the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures to almost complete perfection. He combined vivid imagery with exquisite style and artistry of words.

Kirill of Turovsky not only briefly quoted testaments. He took the courage to speculate them, thereby turning them into a complete and harmonious narrative. For example, an episode like Jesus Christhealed a paralyzed man, he added it in his own way.

The result is a vibrant piece of art. In it, the relationship of man with God was described in a simple and accessible language. It even turned out to be a general portrait of humanity as a whole.

In his sacred writings, he used not only Christian texts, but also non-canonical ones. Some of the parables of Cyril of Turov are based on scenes taken, for example, from the Babylonian Talmud (“The Conversation between the Emperor and the Rabbi”).

The themes of Kirill Turovsky's art

The main theme in the works of Cyril of Turov is man and his service to God. Only man is capable of fighting for the triumph of God's truth on earth. Cyril wrote songs of praise to the man for whom the Lord created this world. God gave him everything - food, water and most importantly - the mind. This is the creation of the Lord, therefore, using earthly blessings, including carnal pleasures, a person should not forget about higher concepts - spiritual purity and love, creation and creation.

One of the best creations of Kirill Turovsky

The theological writings of Cyril of Turov contain a parable of the blind man and the lame. One man cultivated a vineyard. A blind and lame man was hired to guard him. He decided that such miserable people would not penetrate the fence of the vineyard and could not rob it. If the work was done, he promised to pay them, otherwise the cripples would be punished.

But the hapless watchmen could not resist the temptation to climbto the vineyard. The lame man sat on the shoulders of the blind man, and thus they were able to enter the forbidden territory. They stole all the grapes and were punished for it. That is, the "forbidden fruit" beckoned them so much that the subsequent punishment could not frighten them either.

Kirill endowed this parable with vivid images. The owner of the vineyard is the Lord Father, the servants are angels, the fence is the law of God, etc. And the images of the blind and the lame, joined together - a man.

In the interpretation of Cyril of Turov, the meaning of this parable is that God, having created the earth and the world, already decided to give it to man when the time comes. But people often transgress the Law of God. And they take what is not yet gifted on their own, that is, they steal.

Moreover, the human body (not the soul) often cannot resist the temptation. It is the lame who describes the delights of the vineyard and incites the blind to sin. But both are guilty. One for temptation, the other for giving in to it.

Worldview of Kirill Turovsky

Kirill Turovsky emphasized that people should strengthen their spirit and resist bodily temptations. Then the gates to the Kingdom of God will open before them. And they will be worthy of eternal salvation. He was a supporter of the Church, the fulfillment of vows and observance of fasts, the improvement of the spirit. Turovsky is counted among the saints and the day of his memory is the twenty-eighth of April (the eleventh of May according to the new style).

Kirill was sure that only constant care for the soul, humility and daily prayers open the way to salvation. He has always been an adherent of the strictest monastic rules.lives. For he believed that only a complete rejection of worldly pleasures and desires leads to divine truth.

The word of Cyril of Turov carried intolerance to dissent and various heresies. An attempt on the unity of the church always aroused righteous anger in him. He personified a moral call to humanity, addressed to the education of their soul and faith.

Monuments to Kirill of Turov

The city of Turov, where Cyril was born and lived, is one of the three where monuments to this saint were erected. The monument was created by the sculptor Inkov and the architect Lukyanchik. They installed it on the banks of the Pripyat, on Castle Hill, on May 11, 1993.

At the heart of its composition is an unusual Byzantine cross. The very figure of Cyril connects with him. He seems to be slightly forward, while raising his head. The arms are bent and placed at chest level. In the left, the saint holds a book, on the cover of which a cross is engraved. And the right hand gestures to this work. There is a halo around Cyril's head, and next to the book there is an inscription "St. Cyril Bishop of Turov". The height of the monument is seven meters. It is made of concrete and coated with copper.

In Minsk, the monument to Kirill of Turov was erected on November 31, 2001. It is located next to the Belarusian State University. Igor Golubev became the sculptor of the monument.

St. Cyril of Turov was also immortalized in Gomel. The monument was erected on April 4, 2004 in one of the theater squares of this city. The authors of the monument were the sculptorLev Gumilevsky and his son Sergei. The architect Nikolai Zhloba also took part in the work.

The monument was erected and opened on the day of Belarusian writing. This is a large bronze sculpture three and a half meters high, standing on a granite pedestal. Turovsky appears before people with a spiritualized face filled with nobility. Attracts with a proud posture and expressive thin hands. In them he holds a small scroll engraved with a prayer.