The content of divine revelation in Old Rus ascent apocalypses

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the main types of religio-philosophical content (Christology, soteriology, eschatology, cosmology etc.) in three Old Rus apocryphal apocalypses: “The Slavonic Book of Enoch”, “The Ascension of Isaiah” and “The Apocalypse of Abraham”. The article provides a conceptual distinction between the apocalyptic and related genres of visions and journeys to earthly paradise. The role of narrative and figurative elements is analyzed in light of their possible influence on the religious and philosophical content of the literary works. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the original theme-based typology of the apocalypses and in factors determining how deep a theme is explored in each work. As a result, it was established that the divine revelations in “The Book of Enoch” and “The Ascension of Isaiah” are almost entirely devoted to either the theme of cosmogony or Sacred history and soteriology, respectively, while “The Apocalypse of Abraham” combines both of these themes. The depth of the revelation and the secrets revealed to a visionary proved to be connected with narrative elements (means of ascent to heaven and initiation) and with the imagery – for instance, the unlimited perception of Abraham rests upon the possibility to directly look into the “picture of creation” kept by God (the separately existing primordial vision of Creation).

Research materials

1. Библиотека литературы Древней Руси: в 20 т. СПб.: Наука, 2004. Т. 3. XI-XII века.
2. Кулик А. Откровение Авраама // Вестник еврейского университета. 2001. № 5 (23).
3. Соколов М. И. Славянская книга Еноха // Чтения в Обществе истории и древностей российских при Московском университете. М.: Унив. тип., 1899. Кн. 4.
4. Тихонравов Н. С. Памятники отреченной литературы Древней Руси. М.: Унив. тип., 1863.

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About this article

Publication history

• Received: July 7, 2025.
• Published: July 24, 2025.

Keywords

• апокалипсисы вознесения
• инициация в древнерусских апокрифах
• космогония «Книги Еноха»
• сотериология «Видения Исайи»
• провиденциализм «Откровения Авраама»
• ascent apocalypses
• initiation in Old Rus apocrypha
• cosmogony of “The Book of Enoch”
• soteriology of “The Ascension of Isaiah”
• providentialism of “The Apocalypse of Abraham”

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