Who wrote the “Word of the law and grace”? This question is asked by many who are just beginning to study the texts of famous Russian priests, which have survived and have survived to this day. This work is considered one of the oldest in the history of Old Russian literature , it was created at least a few decades before the more popular "Tale of Bygone Years". In fact, this "Word ..." is the solemn speech of Metropolitan Hilarion of Kiev, recorded by him in the XI century.
The author of "Words ..."
Now you know who wrote the "Word of the law and grace." This is Metropolitan Hilarion. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Biographers believe that he was born around 990. He became the most famous under Yaroslav the Wise. He is considered the first metropolitan in the Old Russian state, who was of Slavic origin.
However, very little is known about his biography. At most, most will remember him when asked who wrote the "Word of the law and grace." Extremely scarce information has been preserved about the author of this work. Moreover, not all of them with full confidence can be attributed precisely to Metropolitan Hilarion. Here, the opinions of researchers differ. For example, some scholars believe that Larion, whose name is also mentioned in the annals of the time, is the same person as the metropolitan who wrote the "Word of Law and Grace."
He is also mentioned in the Charter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise when it comes to church courts. In particular, the prince writes that it was with Metropolitan Larinon that many important decisions of that period were made. So you can say with confidence that it was under Yaroslav that Hilarion became known and respected. Most historians believe that he was elected Metropolitan in 1053.
But his further fate is almost unknown. Already in the Novgorod annals it is mentioned that in 1055 there was a new metropolitan on the throne named Ephraim. Therefore, it is assumed that Hilarion was removed from his high position immediately after the death of Yaroslav, which occurred in February 1054. It is also possible that Hilarion died his death.
Creativity of the Metropolitan
Of course, his most famous work is The Word of the Law and Grace. It has reached our time in more than 50 lists, the origin of some of them is very doubtful, but the original text, as was often the case with works of those times, has not been preserved.
In addition to this work, he is considered the author of texts such as “Confession of Faith”, “Prayer of the Reverend Father of our Hilarion”, praise to Prince Yaroslav the Wise, as well as “Words on the Renewal of the Tithe Church”.
Summary of "Words ..."
The summary of “Words on the Law and Grace” will help you quickly learn the main events of a work without reading it in its entirety. Interestingly, the full title of the book is much longer and very ornate, as was customary at the time. In particular, it mentions the Law given to the laity through Moses, Jesus Christ, and Truth and Grace (that is, with a capital letter) have since filled the whole Russian land. Right in the title, the author praises Prince Vladimir, who baptized Russia, and also addresses with prayers to God from all Russian land.
Knowing who wrote the “Word of the Law and Grace,” you can better understand and realize this work. After all, in fact, this is a festive sermon, speech, as many believe, primarily addressed to Yaroslav the Wise. All the main topics that are outlined in it are initially listed in the title.
Law and Grace
Among them, it is worth highlighting the superiority of "grace" over "law", in the sermon it is interpreted as the Old and New Testaments, and is also compared with Judaism and Christianity, reasoning about the popularity and dissemination of Christian teaching among as many people as possible, attracting new peoples , including Russian. Praise is given to the baptist, Prince Vladimir the Red Sun.
In the “Word of Law and Grace,” which you are now reading in brief, after a short but capacious rhetorical introduction, Hilarion addresses people ignorant of what he calls them. At the same time, he considers them to be like-minded people who are already full of "book sweetness." After this, the metropolitan begins to unfold parallel images from the Scriptures, and then interpret and interpret them in the context of his own topic. For example, he calls Sarah and Hagar (respectively) the type of Grace and the Law.
Appeal to the Book of Genesis
Now you know who wrote the "Word of the law and grace." The author’s surname, however, did not reach us, but we all know that we called him Hilarion. It is noteworthy that in his work he turns to the Old Testament texts.
For example, describes a plot that Sarah and Abraham did not have children. Out of this difficult situation, Sarah finds herself, who offers her husband to have a child from the slave Hagar, and then raise him together.
Retelling this well-known biblical story in sufficient detail, the author adds from himself that Grace promises God to descend to earth and save the world when the Law is finally established.
As a result, a son named Ishmael is born from Abraham from Hagar. After this, God does indeed descend to Sinai to personally pass the Law to Moses, which Metropolitan Hilarion directly calls the shadow, and by no means the truth.
God and Abraham
You will find a lot of information about the author and the analysis of “Words on the Law and Grace” in this article. Hilarion pays particular attention to the fellowship between God and Abraham. The author links many others with these images, which he cites as an example.
It is God who succeeds in giving Sarah a child, and she gives birth to Isaac. According to the formula of Hilarion, a free woman gives birth to a free child. This he considers the true prototype of Grace, when it is the truth, and not a shadow or the Law.
After some time, Sarah begins to pay attention to the fact that Ishmael, at any opportunity, tries to offend or humiliate Isaac. Then she still asks Abraham to expel both Hagar and her son, since now they have the opportunity to raise their own child.
Hilarion draws a parallel, saying that just as the Jews were expelled from their country, and the moonlight gave way to the sun - Grace surpassed the Law.
The role of Russia in the Christian world
Now, knowing who wrote the “Word of the law and grace”, it will be easier for you to understand his thoughts. Especially when the Russian metropolitan begins to talk about the entry of Russia into the family of Christian peoples, as well as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
The final part of this work is dedicated to the praise that Metropolitan Hilarion praises in honor of Prince Vladimir the Red Sun. The author of the "Word ..." is convinced that Vladimir himself miraculously came to Christianity, and then brought all his people to him, for which he must be grateful.