«…ПРОЛИВАЯ СЛЕЗЫ ВМЕСТО КРОВИ»: БЕСКРОВНОЕ МУЧЕНИЧЕСТВО В ЖИТИИ И ЛИТЕРАТУРНОМ ТВОРЧЕСТВЕ СИМЕОНА НОВОГО БОГОСЛОВА

Abstract

The article examines the emergence and development of the theologema martyrium sine cruorum in its connection with the idea of imitation of Christ (μίμησις Χριστοῦ) in Eastern Christian ascetic literature, and the interpretation of this theologema in the Life and literary work of the Byzantine mystic of the 10th – 11th centuries Symeon the New Theologian. The article shows the relationship between the theologema of bloodless martyrdom and the ideas of ascetic selflessness, the idea of pastoral care, anthropological phenomena of ascetic practices, the problem of authority and power in the religious consciousness of Byzantine society, the desire to translate the ascetic ideal in the mass consciousness. As a result of the analysis of the sources, the following conclusions were made: μίμησις Χριστοῦ and the idea of bloodless martyrdom associated with it in the Byzantine tradition had a considerable didactic and educational significance in hagiographic and theological literature. The deeds of martyrdom included the enduring of various temptations and overcoming difficulties that led one to communication with God. Through pastoral care, this model was translated into the public consciousness of the Byzantines and became an active practice. The imitatio principle determined both literary and behavioral models of the Middle Ages in both the West and the East.