РЕФЛЕКСІЇ ТЕОДОРА СКУМИНОВИЧА НА ТЕМУ ЗАНЕПАДУ ПРАВОСЛАВНОГО СХОДУ У ТВОРІ "PRZYCZYNY PORZUCENIA DISUNIEY PRZEZACNEMU NARODOWI RUSKIEMU PODANE" (1643)

Abstract

In the article it is researched the little known polemical work of former Father Superior of St. Michael cloister in Kyiv Theodore Skumynovych "Przyczyny porzucenia Disuniey przezacnemu narodowi ruskiemu podane" (1643). The outlook of catholic scribe on the causes of decay of Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Church tradition is revealed. There is covered the critical considerations of the writer about the understanding of ecclesiastical crisis on the East by the orthodox theologians, who explained the conquering of Constantinople by Ottoman Empire as the trial of God. However in a different way the decay and the troubles of Byzantines understood Theodore Skumynovych. He attributed all these unfavourable circumstances in orthodox world with sent on Eastern Churches damnations by God for retreats from the New Testament's covenant. In his work the polemicist disclosed to the reader the large scale of simony in Constantinople patriarchate, gave up the ideas of his opponents about the peaceful coexistence of Christianity and Islam in Ottoman Empire, contradistinguished the decline of the orthodox East to development of catholic West. Exposing his thoughts Theodore Skumynovych used the different artistic means, quoted the thorough Greek historians, paralleled the circumstances of Byzantine Empire and the Israel. The main reason of disappearance of the Eastern Empire and the corruption of orthodox hierarchy by simony the theologian considered in making by the Constantinople's clergy of schism in 11th century with the bishop of Rome, who was, at his point, the protohierarch of the Universal church and the Vicar of Christ.