Description of a priest through the centuries: One historiographical case
https://doi.org/10.22394/2412-9410-2024-10-2-340-360
Abstract
The paper deals with K. Ullmann’s interpretation of St Gregory the Theologian’s (c. 330–390) conception of priesthood, presented in his monograph (1825). A fragment of this work underwent significant transformation when translated into Russian (1869). The article seeks to establish what meanings were conveyed unaltered, and what was considerably changed during the process of communication between the Greek and the German authors, and from the latter to the Russian translator. A comparison of these three texts is made using the methodology of Quentin Skinner. After examining the categorical apparatus of the 4th and 19th century texts with regard to their content, their outward connection (quotations and common themes) proves to be illusory, so that we can say that the hermeneutic of those who studied St Gregory’s texts was not entirely correct. With regard to the illocutionary act (i. e., the intention of the authors in a communicative situation) of these texts, we see an astonishing unanimity: they all aim not to inform the reader of the standards of priestly ministry, but to change the inner attitude of the reader towards it. Paradoxically, rather than interpret St Gregory the Theologian’s texts, 19th century authors reproduce his intention, which turned out to be important even for the functionalizing thought of modernity.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under grant № 19–78–10143 (https://rscf.ru/en/project/19-78-10143/). The project was organized by St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University
About the Author
N. K. Antonov
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Nikolay K. Antonov, Visiting Fellow
Ecclesiastical Institutions Research Laboratory
127051; Likhov Pereulok, 6; Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Antonov N.K. Description of a priest through the centuries: One historiographical case. Shagi / Steps. 2024;10(2):340-360. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22394/2412-9410-2024-10-2-340-360
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