«The Life of Varlaam Khutynsky» As A Source on the History of Childhood «The Life of Varlaam Khutynsky» As A Source on the History of Childhood

Abstract

The urgency of this problem is conditioned by the need to expand the research field of such a new, promising and actively developing trend in modern historical science as childhood history. The presence of serious gaps in the study of the history of childhood in Ancient Russia is largely due to the limited data and paucity of information about childhood in the texts of that time. All the more important is the analysis of such a source as "The Life of Varlaam Khutynsky" - a work of ancient Russian hagiographic literature, reflecting the ideas of adults about children and childhood, about the relationship between children and parents, about intergenerational behavioral practices and the ways of their description. The author notes the need for a thorough analysis of hagiographic works that recreate the image of an "ideal" childhood in the Old Russian Orthodox tradition, which is significant for the development of society views and has long been widely demanded in educational and upbringing practices. On the basis of new methodological approaches in the study of hagiography, the article studies the informative potential of "The Life of Varlaam Khutynsky" as a source on the history of childhood. The authors strive to highlight implicit information suitable for reconstructing the daily practices of interaction between children, adolescents, youth and adults. They come to the conclusion that the discourse of the relationship "father - son", constructed in the text of the work, was aimed at strengthening the belief in the holiness of Varlaam within the princely environment. It is proved that the Life of Varlaam Khutynsky had a significant educational potential and was aimed at the younger generation with the aim of not only spreading the veneration of the saint, but also instilling an image of a positive hero corresponding to the ideals of that time.