Hermeneutic Analysis Research Articles

Elements of Apophatic Theology in the Writings of Elizabeth of the Trinity

The article is a theological and spiritual reflection on the spiritual doctrine of the French mystic St. Elizabeth of the Trinity OCD (Élisabeth Catez), who lived from 1880 to 1906. The present study seeks to explain the reason why apart from cataphatic (positive) expressions, characteristic of nuptial Carmelite mysticism, which Elizabeth represents, her writings sometimes contain apophatic (negative) expressions, emphasizing the unknowability of God. The historical and literary, hermeneutical, philological and comparative analyses of her work lead to the following conclusions; as a Carmelite she consciously referred to the teaching of the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite) and to the later continuator of his thought, Bl. John Ruusbroec (Ruysbroeck); however, to apophatic expressions – e.g. infinite, unchanging, inaccessible, indescribable, immovable, inexhaustible, unknown, invisible, incomprehensible, incomparable, elusive – she gave a nuptial tone, for the sake of emphasizing the beauty and poetic nature of the bridal love of God and man. For this reason, Elizabeth does not represent the apophatic trend, but uses its language to emphasize the beauty of God and the poetic character of his relationship with man

Case Study in Practice Architecture

This paper investigates a trajectory of forty years of evolving practices in grassroots community development in southwestern Ontario. We present it as a case study that yields fresh perspectives in socially transformative ways of knowing and discovering. In doing so, we aim to elucidate traditions in adult education and social transformation that have ‘flown under the radar.’ Our analysis is based on hermeneutic analysis of written sources. Taking a practice theory perspective, we explore the practice architectures, i.e. the cultural-discursive arrangements, material-economic arrangements, as well as social-political arrangements that enable or constrain the learning of and participation in particular practices that contribute to social innovation. Our findings suggest that the application of a practice theory framework to the complex and often unarticulated work of community development aids in bringing to light the creative ways in which the associated practices emerge, get shaped and acquired. We will conclude by discussing implications for adult learning and community development.

Реформаторські ідеї та подвижницька діяльність Василя Каразіна для розвитку економіки

The article is published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding Ukrainian – Vasyl Karazin (1773–1842). The purpose of the article is to reveal the main stages of his biography, the characteristics of his scientific worldview and life position, directions of activity and main achievements. Special methods were used to achieve the goal of the study. Historical and logical analysis – to determine the innovation of V. Karazin's research, his contribution to the development of public education and public administration reforms. The personalistic-biographical method is used to analyze the sources of progressive ideas and drivers of public activity of V. Karazin. The hermeneutic analysis of historical sources and the phenomenological approach helped to consider the figure and theoretical legacy of V. Karazin taking into account the historical context. Problem-genetic analysis and theoretical generalization made it possible to evaluate his practical activity from the standpoint of modernity. The axiological approach is applied as a methodological basis for the study of outstanding figures of Ukrainian science. The controversy and multifacetedness of the personality are shown on the basis of revealing the main stages of V. Karazin's biography. His noble origin opened the possibility of a successful military career. But he chose the path of education, social activities to improve the welfare of the people and the development of the economy. V. Karazin entered the history of Ukraine as the founder of the first university on Ukrainian lands, a scientist-encyclopedist and educator, experimenter and inventor, organizer and popularizer of science, publicist, public figure, author of reform projects in the field of public administration and finance, agriculture and land use. His inventions opened up new opportunities for the development of the economy, improving people's lives and livelihoods. Progressive economic ideas, scientific and educational, administrative and public activities of V. Karazin are considered as the worldview-value and scientific-practical basis of the formation of modern Ukrainian identity for the intellectual and innovative reconstruction of Ukraine.

Citizenship and Gender. Suggestions for Making Citizenship More Responsive

Abstract The category of citizenship is presented as gender-neutral and citizens are considered as individuals abstracted from bodiliness and gender roles. Such universalism fosters practices of invisibility of the inequalities hidden in citizenship. For although legally all citizens are equal, they have unequal access to resources, power, and privilege. Gender is also a determining factor in the allocation of rights and responsibilities. The aim of this paper is to show the exclusionary dimension of citizenship contained in the universalist interpretation. To achieve this, a hermeneutic analysis is made of political theory and political thought texts referring to the idea of citizenship. The article consists of two main parts. The first discusses the inclusive and exclusive potential of citizenship as a political community. The second presents feminist theories of citizenship, such as gender-neutral citizenship, gender-differentiated citizenship, and gender-pluralist citizenship. Adding new elements to the definition makes it possible to take into account the differences between people that affect their relationship with the state and to address the transformations that the idea itself is undergoing.

The Corporeity Discourse and the Body “Arguments” in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Works

The subject of this research is the discourse on the body and corporeity in Dostoevsky’s works on the example of four out of his “five greatest novels”. The questions of the body and corporeity are often eliminated in philosophical studies of Dostoevsky’s works which allows researchers to conceptualize the content of his novels more easily. This tradition and its inconsistency can be revealed through a brief historiographical review. The author of the article, on the contrary, regards the corporeity as an important part of Dostoevsky’s philosophical and anthropological ideas. Thus, two main aspects of the discourse on the body and corporeity found in various proportions in the writer’s works: 1) corresponds with materialistic philosophical anthropology, and 2) matches the Christian patristic anthropological tradition. In addition, the article describes Dostoevsky’s non-formalizability of corporeity which stands above the materialistic interpretations of the man and the standardized, not problematized body. This is achieved through cultural and historical, biographical and ideological contexts of Dostoevsky’s writings. The hermeneutic analysis of the four novels texts provides an opportunity to briefly outline the concept of the body and corporeity understanding. Thus, the author identifies three modes of corporeity underlying the body problematization in Dostoevsky’s novels: the scientistic mode, the otherness mode, and the religious mode (based on the anthropological tradition of Eastern Patristics). Unlike the materialistic concepts of a onefold approach to the man, Dostoevsky offers twofold (or even threefold) concept dissecting corporeity through its most non-formalized manifestations. The body for Dostoevsky is both universal and unique. On the one hand, it complicates the corporeity conceptualization, but on the other hand, it enhances its importance in the writer’s works. The results of the research can be used to elaborate new non-reductionist interpretations of Dostoevsky’s literary legacy.

CONCEPT OF GOD, HUMANITY AND INSAN KAMIL: HALL AL-RUMUZ WA MAFATIH AL-KUNUZ MANUSCRIPT OF IBN ‘ARABI

There are at least two items preserved in the manuscript of Ibn Arabi's Hall Rumuz wa Mafatihu al-Kunuz on the teaching of tasawuf, located in Cirebon Palace, West Java, Indonesia: Hall al-Rumuz (a collection of answers to every query based on the Sufi) and Mafatih al-Kurum (a brief summary of the secret of the teaching of tasawuf). A hermeneutic analysis of the library study highlights two important facets of Ibn Arabi's teaching: first, the knowledge that unlocks the treasure, and second, the possession of the key that enables one to reach the pinnacle of existence (al-Insan al-Kamil). To achieve perfection, one must possess a key as the method of access. Ibn Arabi stresses the significance of accurately comprehending the notions of divinity, humanity, and the road to perfection. This is to ensure that individuals do not forfeit their fitrah or their inherent identity as beings within a highly dynamic social environment.

Interpretation of Educational Values in Lontara "Latoa" and its Relevance to the Formation of Student Character in Madrasah Aliyah Negeri Bontang (Hermeneutic Analysis)

Interpretation of Educational Values in Lontara "Latoa" and its Relevance to the Formation of Student Character in Madrasah Aliyah Negeri Bontang (Hermeneutic Analysis)

Transgender and non-binary people’s perception of their healthcare in relation to endometriosis

Background Endometriosis is described as a gynecological disease that can severely impact on people’s quality of life. Much of endometriosis research and literature is focused on cis women, although gender diverse people and cis men have been diagnosed with this disease. Cis women have reported problems in their healthcare for endometriosis due to delays in diagnosis and a lack of support in their treatment. Gender diverse people have reported to experience discrimination in healthcare settings. There is a lack of research on gender diverse people’s experience of living with endometriosis and little is known about their experience of healthcare for endometriosis. Aim Our aim in this article is to report on the healthcare experiences of transgender and non-binary people with endometriosis. Methods We used a phenomenological lens to explore the experiences of transgender and non-binary people with endometriosis’ perceptions of healthcare. Eleven participants were recruited through social media internationally. We recruited participants that identified as transgender and/or non-binary, had suspected/diagnosed endometriosis and were 18 years old or older. Participants took part in three online semi-structured interviews and completed a diary for three months. We used Hermeneutic Analysis to analyze the data via themes. Phenomenology of embodiment was used as a theoretical point of departure in understanding the data. Results From the analysis, the following themes were created that captured participants’ healthcare experiences: (1) Medical Gaslighting of Endometriosis and Gender Diverse Experiences, (2) Misgendering and Gendered Language, (3) Medical Discrimination, and (4) Validating Experiences with Health Care Providers (HCPs) and Recommendations by Participants. The findings revealed that medical gaslighting, misgendering and experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings had a psychological effect on participants, with reports of dysphoria, self-doubt, fear and a trauma response. Discussion Experiences of medical gaslighting, misgendering and discrimination in the healthcare of endometriosis may limit communication between HCPs and patients through limited treatment options being communicated, assumptions in healthcare and participants not feeling safe to disclose their gender identity for a disease that already from cis women’s reports has difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. This highlights additional barriers for gender diverse people to overcome in their healthcare for endometriosis. We recommend that HCPs may benefit from further awareness and training with working with gender diverse people with endometriosis.

COVID-19 Constructs of College Students and New Normal Learning Delivery Modalities in Higher Education

The coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, forced the shift from normal to the new normal in the Philippines, the ASEAN region, and the rest of the world. This descriptive-qualitative inquiry sought to uncover the COVID-19 constructs of college students and to determine new normal learning delivery modalities in the context of a state-owned higher education institution. Anchored on the constructivist lens and the grounded theory, Ricoeur’s hermeneutic analysis served as a method of exploring the narratives. The perceived effects of the community quarantines were modes of schooling changed, mental health was tested, internet connectivity problems, economic impacts, and boredom. To better respond to the pandemic, the participants believed that the higher education institution may listen to all stakeholders, learn from other universities, and formulate research-based actions. Modular and online modes wherein blended learning synchronously and asynchronously served as the operational learning delivery modalities of the higher education institution. The learning delivery modalities of the higher education institution complied with the policies and guidelines of the national government, local government units, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The new normal learning delivery modalities in a higher education institution based on the constructs of the COVID-19 pandemic of college students were formulated. The results of this study may serve as bases for developing participatory and proactive educational policies and guidelines in transitioning from normal to the new normal.

Construction of the Professional Identity of University Research Professors: A Systematic Review of the Case of Colombia

ABSTRACT This paper characterises the factors involved in the construction of the professional identity of the research teacher, as well as its purpose and the relationship it has with the construction of knowledge in the university context, through a review of the literature and accompanied by a bibliometric analysis. The research had a qualitative approach and had a hermeneutic analysis of descriptive scope, and as a methodological tool an analysis matrix based on inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. It was found that the construction of the professional identity of the teacher-researcher involves satisfaction, expectations, social expectations and projection expectations, and each of them as an element of negotiation between their environment, vocation and role in society. The relationship with the construction of knowledge lies in the ethical commitment that the teacher sustains with their context and with the transformation that they can effect from their knowledge.

Renovating Space to Age in Place: Experiences of Elderly Residents Living through Public Housing Renovations and Reflections from Affordable Housing Developers

In this article, we explore the experiences of older adults living in public housing undergoing renovations and its associated impacts on their perceived sense of well-being. We also consider the ways in which affordable housing developers contemplate residents’ health and wellness into renovation plans and processes. Following the conventions of hermeneutic analysis, we conducted open-ended in-depth interviews with older adults living in public housing undergoing renovations (n = 21) and representatives of a variety of affordable housing developers (n = 12). Our analysis demonstrates that residents had strong attachments to their individual living spaces prior to renovations and were fiercely protective of them. Renovations created a sense of unease among older residents as the familiar features of their homes were altered. The processes and the outcomes of renovations and new management strategies raised fears that their lived environments were becoming institutionalized. Developers acknowledged that a tension exists between residents’ desires for personalized private space, and their responsibilities as landlords to prioritize the physical safety of residents and the fiduciary obligations to maintain building longevity.

Polish minischools. Microhistories of democracy and portraits of parental involvement

In light of cognitive and social advantages of thinking upon forms and meanings of the relationship between a subject and a place of its acting, and in light of my personal inexhaustible interest in the pedagogy of place (Mendel, 2006), I found it tempting to make an attempt of describing the existence (ontology) of a school in a specific place by using phenomenological and hermeneutical analyses. My aim was to academically describe how a school happens in a specific place, being a community event, or a social drama (Turner, 1974). I have made such an attempt and in this text I make an effort to present such a description by referring to a school situated in a Polish village; a school raison d’être of which is nowadays endangered; a school which is “too small” and the existence of which is refused in view of the poverty of Polish communes. As a researcher I decided that my research material will be various phenomena, that is various aspects of the school’s life embraced in available narrations. On the one hand, by describing, I tell the story of the school but, simultaneously, I analyze the story material (contents of narration). This is how my microhistory is created (Domańska, 2005). On the other hand, I reconstruct the unique picture of minischools created through the exchange of meanings which happens within the space of this story. It is a story about schools which firstly are doomed to be closed down as they are unprofitable and later are saved by social forces through being created a new within a new legal framework (by an association). Consequently, because of the fact that main characters of this story proved to be parents who – as all people of the post-communist Poland – look with hope at their sense of agency and a democratic aspect of the order in which they live, the text can be perceived as a microhistory of democracy.

Organisation of accounting of financial results of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine and its improvement

The relevance of organising the accounting of financial results of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine lies in the need to provide a high-quality information base for management and strategic decision-making in the context of constant changes in agriculture and international standards. Improvement of this system contributes to increasing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, their efficiency and transparency in assessing performance. The purpose of the article is to substantiate promising directions for improving the organisation of accounting for financial results of agricultural enterprises on the basis of identifying its peculiarities in agricultural production and using modern technologies of programming and automation of accounting processes and workplaces of accounting staff. The research methodology used was a systematic approach, hermeneutical, historical and logical analyses, the method of expert assessments and functional and logical analysis. It is established that accounting of financial results and its organisation have significant features at the level of agricultural enterprises. They relate to seasonality and unevenness of production during the calendar year; use of elements of living nature – land, agricultural plants and the main herd of animals – as the main means of production. There is also a certain inconsistency between accounting standards and international financial reporting standards. There is also a lack of a unified methodology for determining and evaluating financial results for small and large enterprises. Identification of shortcomings allowed to develop priority areas for its improvement: harmonisation of national provisions on financial results accounting as the basis for its systematic organisation; harmonisation of national and international standards; unification of quantitative indicators and their list for assessing and diagnosing financial results; improvement of analytical accounting by cost centres and responsibility centres; software and automation. The tasks for accounting for financial results and methods of analysing accounting data for the future were clarified. The obtained results can be used in the work of agricultural enterprises, educational and scientific process of higher education institutions

Analisa Konten Twitter @kemkominfo Tentang Proses Migrasi TV Digital Dalam Mengedukasi Masyarakat Terkait Transformasi

Introduction: The change in television broadcasts from analog to digital certainly provides benefits for the community, including good image and sound quality. Television is one type of electronic media that can be used as a tool or intermediary to achieve certain goals. Of course, an understanding of this condition needs to be conveyed to the public so that they do not feel disadvantaged due to this policy. Methods: The qualitative approach in this research is used to obtain in-depth data, by analyzing and collecting data that has been obtained, namely Hermeneutic content analysis because it can describe the characteristics of the message and description so that the meaning and purpose of the message can be concluded. The classification of the analysis used is semantic content analysis, which is carried out to classify signs according to their meaning. Results: The Ministry of Communication and Information regularly informs about the transition of analog TV broadcasts to digital TV, of course, it is necessary to add a Set Top Box (STB) device to capture the digital broadcast. However, there are still many people who complain about this change so that they can no longer watch television broadcasts and also need more devices. In response to public unrest, Kemkominfo provided free STBs and education about the advantages of digital broadcasts. Discussion: The statements or content conveyed on Twitter @kemkominfo contain elements of information, education, and a description of the benefits of digital television systems. This will certainly change the mindset of the public regarding the existence and benefits of using digital television broadcasts.

The image of Russia in the Minds of Modern Youth Through the Perception of the Stimulus Words "Globalization", "Culture" (Based on the Materials of an Associative Experiment)

The article is a comprehensive analysis of the image of Russia, based on theoretical research and the results of an associative experiment conducted with two groups of subjects: the main (17-25 years old) and control (26-50years old). The aim is to study the perception of the image of Russia in the context of modern globalization and the change of the socio-cultural paradigm. The object of study is representatives of the modern generation of Russianyouth. The subject of the study is the image of Russia formed in the minds of modern youth under the influence of external and internal factors. The relevance of the research is due to the need to study the relationship in the triad of man-culture-globalization, in which an active youth stratum occupies an important place, acting as an indicator of public mood and a determinant of cultural values. The novelty of the research lies in considering the image of Russia through the prism of perception of the words-stimuli "globalization", "culture" according to the results of an associative experiment carried out using two methods – a free associative experiment and a directed associative experiment. The analysis of the obtained data is carried out within the framework of an interdisciplinary approach: psycholinguistic, linguophilosophical and sociological. The method of hermeneutical and comparative analysis of the words image and εἷδoς is used. The question is considered: what dominates in the linguistic consciousness of representatives of modern youth regarding the image of Russia: "image" as an artificial construct imposed from the outside, or constructed by the efforts of the mind and spirit of "eidos"? According to the results of the study, a number of associative reactions to stimulus words were obtained, showing that the image of Russia in the representations of the main age group is formed mainly under the influence of external factors caused by the modern media space (Internet, social networks), and not as a result of internal factors (the work of will, spirit and mind).

Paul Ricoeur's Hermeneutic Analysis on User Interface Design for Augmented Reality Baleganjur Applications

Augmented reality technology or more popularly known as AR is a technology that implements interactive multimedia concepts. Augmented reality technology is a technology that combines the virtual world with the real world in real-time, through electronic devices such as cameras, sensors and software, augmented reality is able to display virtual objects in both 2D and 3D form in the real world. In this study, it focuses on analyzing the appearance of the interface design or the main menu application user interface by implementing augmented reality technology, with the name of the application, Augmented Reality Baleganjur. The user interface display on the main menu of the Baleganjur Augmented Reality application has design elements that can be translated with different meanings and understandings, depending on the user's point of view. This is the basis of this research, where the appearance of the user interface design on the main menu of the Baleganjur Augmented Reality application has design elements that can lead to different interpretations of meaning and understanding. The purpose of this study is of course to reveal the meaning and understanding of the design elements in the user interface design display of the Baleganjur Augmented Reality application, by conducting an in-depth analysis using Paul Ricoeur's Hermeneutics. As for the results of this study, it can be concluded that researchers as hermeneutics have an important role in interpreting and offering solutions, which can later be used as a reference for repairing or perfecting design elements in the application user interface, so that these design elements can convey meaning and understanding in a comprehensive and detailed manner to users.

Helen and Paris: Classicism and Frenchness in Saint-Saëns’s Hélène

Abstract Camille Saint-Saëns’s one-act opera Hélène (1904), one of several works he composed on ancient Greek topics, depicts the night Helen of Troy departs Sparta with the Trojan prince Paris, igniting a war in the process. Hélène had been a long-gestating project, spurred by a simmering disdain for Jacques Offenbach’s enduringly popular satirical operetta La Belle Hélène (1864), which Saint-Saëns’s believed triggered no less than the collapse of French musical taste. Indeed, the opera was widely perceived in the Parisian press as a reclamation of the cultural legacy of ancient Greece—a treatment that rescued Hellenic absolute beauty from the German clutches of first Offenbach and then Wagner. Drawing extensively on reception studies, cultural history, and hermeneutical analysis, this article situates Hélène in complex, interweaving fin de siècle French musical debates over cultural heritage, nationalism, Wagnerism, and the aesthetics of absolute beauty.

Parameters of learning during clinical nursing study abroad: Focused analysis of phenomenological data using a change-transformative learning theory lens

AimsTo explore the nature and extent of learning attained as a result of unaccompanied-by-faculty clinical nursing study abroad experiences and to answer the research question ‘what is the nature and extent of learning during study abroad?’. BackgroundFollowing the Covid-19 restrictions, international placement opportunities for student nurses are now resuming. In light of this, it is an opportune time for nurse educators to reflect and consider the effectiveness of clinical study abroad placements as contexts of learning, especially in relation to attainment of desired learning outcomes such as personal and professional growth and the development of culturally competent global graduates. This is an important area to research as specific understanding in relation to the extent of learning and variations in learning between students is limited. Design:The study was situated within the interpretivist paradigm to elicit experiences of study abroad. Aligned to this, a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was applied to ensure these experiences emerged from the subjective horizon of student nurses. Methods:Following ethical approval, two semi-structured interviews per student (post-return and follow-up) were conducted with student nurses who had undertaken a study abroad experience. Phenomenological hermeneutical data analysis for multiple context research was undertaken and a change-transformative learning theory lens was additionally employed to the analysis to differentiate between the extent of and variations in, learning attained. Twenty UK and European student nurses, who were registered onto a study abroad programme prior to the Covid-19 restrictions participated. Results:Variations between participants were identified in relation to the nature and extent of learning. Participants experienced personal and professional growth and they experienced transformation in relation to self as a person, learner and nurse. However, variations existed when considering the attributes of global graduateness and cultural competence development. Whilst participants changed by expanding their knowledge in relation to global and cultural issues, some participants also appear to have concurrently experienced a reinforcement of ethnocentric frames of reference. ConclusionsAnalysis revealed that study abroad offered opportunities for students to experience change and transformation. Whilst students demonstrated learning in both the domains of change and transformation, transformative learning in all identified outcome areas was not guaranteed. Whilst transformative learning was apparent when considering personal and professional growth, less extensive learning was demonstrated when considering development of the attributes of global graduateness and cultural competence. The paper therefore recognises the complex nature of study abroad experiences and recommends continued investigation in this field.

Becoming an English language teacher over lines of desire: Stories of lived experiences

Beyond the notion of decision-making of career choice just being rational, this article proposes the primacy of ‘affect’ in the decision to become teachers over time. The article explores the becoming of immigrant English language teachers as an identity formation process, focusing on the lived experiences of 16 English language teachers since early childhood, mostly prior to their migration to Australia. Findings of the hermeneutic phenomenological narrative analysis of the teachers’ reflective accounts revealed two lines of becoming and their intersections—the line of becoming an English language learner and the line of becoming an English language teacher through decision-making for career choice. The histories of their initial professional decision to ‘become’ English teachers demonstrate the interplay of socially produced desires and personal investment in professional learning and capabilities since early childhood. Through unravelling the assemblages within which their desires to become teachers were fomented and strengthened through embodied lived experiences over a long period of time, we argue that the concept of English teachers’ ‘desired becoming’ informed their initial and long-term decision about career choice. This notion provides a window into the teachers’ decision-making of career choice in terms of the formation of their professional identities as an interplay of the affective and the rational. Embracing and appreciating the combined role of the affective and the rational in teachers’ becoming is important to consider in future research in this area as well as for teacher recruitment and retention, hence potentially addressing critical teacher shortages.

Balamuts as Traditional Ukrainian Jewelry of the 19th – Early 21st Centuries

The purpose of the research is to determine the sources of inspiration and artistic features of balamuts in Ukrainian folk costumes of the 19th – early 21st centuries. Research methods are ontological, hermeneutic, axiological, historical-genetic, historical-chronological, comparative, socio-cultural, iconographic, and art analysis. The research toolkit is designed to help understand the sources of inspiration and artistic features of balamuts in Ukrainian folk costumes. The scientific novelty is based on the introduction into scientific circulation of the essence of the concept of “balamut” in Ukrainian jewelry of the 19th – early 21st centuries, in particular, wedding jewelry. Conclusions. Since ancient times, it has been customary to wear pearls in the territory of modern Ukraine, and following the Hellenic-Scythian and Byzantine fashion, it was first among men. Pearls were part of the initiation jewelry of representatives of the elites of Sassanid Iran from the time of Shapur I, who ruled in the 3rd century. AD, and Shapur II (ruled in the 4th century), and gradually became part of the culture of the Greek colonies of the Crimea and the Black Sea. Pearls from the time of antiquity were a sign of initiation stems (at first, ribbons decorated with round and teardrop-shaped pearls, and later on hoops – crown-like diadems). After the first centuries after the birth of Christ, these accessories, which replaced the laurel wreaths of pagan times, became part of the complete image of the Roman emperor. Thus, as early as the 4th century, the son of Constantine the Great, Emperor Constantius II (337–361), wore a diadem with a pearl base, modeled after the Sassanid coronation ornaments. Justinian the Great, an Illyrian by origin, in 548 was depicted wearing a crown with prependulis and a fibula with pearls, later pearls firmly became part of the coronation accessories of the following dynasties of Byzantine rulers, who had both eastern (primarily Persian and Armenian) and western (Balkan) roots. Taking into account that in several centuries the heiresses of Byzantine emperors began to marry Kievan Russian princes, this tradition of using pearls gradually became part of local customs. So, already in the 10th century Svyatoslav, the son of Igor and Olga, wore a colt with pearls and a red garnet in his ear. Later pearls, including fossilized, fossil, made from a thick layer of mother-of-pearl of ancient shells (balamuts) from the 19th century gradually became part of Ukrainian wedding outfits.