The Word Lost and Found: Speech, Silence, and Muteness in Old Russian Literature

The author presents an analysis of the fundamental concepts of Christian culture, including the notions of “word,” “language,” “speech,” “speechlessness,” and “silence.” These concepts are examined in the context of Christology, Christian anthropology, soteriology, demonology, and ascetic practices, with a particular focus on their evolution during the Russian Middle Ages. This article presents a novel inquiry into the interrelationship between the most pivotal theological concepts that emerged during these periods of literary growth in the country. It is of particular interest to analyse the changes in the perception of the spiritual and social significance of human speech in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, based on previously unpublished and under-researched sermons from the collections The Feast of the Soul and Statir. The author highlights texts that concentrate on a specific form of speech condition, namely muteness. These texts illustrate how preachers employ metaphorical language to portray this concept and encourage the overcoming of mundane “muteness,” as well as the liberation from the sinful speech of pastors and laypeople of diverse backgrounds. This is perceived as a means of contributing to the objective of stabilising social relationships. It is not the intention of this article to provide a comprehensive account of the historical development of the motifs of gaining the gift of speech and muteness in Old Russian literature. However, it is hoped that this publication will serve to direct the attention of researchers to the topic, and to highlight the principal aspects of the problem, based on the material presented in works of different genres. Of particular interest are the works of the seventeenth century, which saw the emergence of church and state documents regulating written texts and oral communication. The influence of the Church on society and state policy is further reinforced.