History of the Russian Language in Hungary in the 19th Century. Discovering Kirill Szabov

Abstract

The history of the Russian language in Hungary was directly linked to the works of Russophile Rusyn writers, who in the 19th century proclaimed the idea of literary and spiritual pan-Slavism in Subcarpathian Rus, which led to the spreading of Russian language, literature and culture. Among the names of well-known figures and famous writers, such as Alexander Dukhnovich, Ivan Rakovsky, Adolf Dobrjanskу, Yevgeny Fentsik (Vladimir), Anatoly Kralytsky, Alexander Mytrak (Materin), Ivan Silʹvaі (Uriil Meteor), etc., from time to time one can spot the name of Kirill Antonovich Szabov, one of the Russophile writers. His modest personality and character could be the reason for which the name of the gifted and highly educated Russian language teacher and the author of the grammar of the Russian language (1865) and the brief collection of selected works in prose and verse (1868), went into oblivion. Consequently, his literary and academic work is not well known. This paper is devoted to the life, pedagogical and literary activity of Kirill Szabov with the aim of revealing new information about him and the history of the Russian language in Hungary to the academic community.