Icons, Feasts, Churches and Narratives: How did the medieval Novgorodians commemorate the siege of Novgorod in 1170?
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Další prezentace na konferencích |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| Přiložené soubory | |
| Popis | In 1170, Novgorod the Great, under the leadership of the young prince Roman Mstislavich, triumphed against the siege of Suzdalian prince Andrey Bogolyubsky and “the whole land of Rus’.” Vastly outnumbered, the City of Saint Sophia achieved this remarkable victory through the valour of its people and leader, as early chronicles attest. However, beginning in the 14th century, chronicles began to emphasize a different narrative, introducing the divine intercession of the icon of Our Lady of the Sign (Znamensky icon of the Theotokos), which was credited with protecting the city and smiting its enemies. This narrative shift represents a fascinating ideological evolution in historical memory, transitioning from a focus on human agency to divine intervention. Our paper aims to classify and analyse how the Znamensky narrative transformed from the 12th to the 16th century, as reflected in Novgorodian and non-Novgorodian chronicles. We explore how this shift from communal heroism to the veneration of the Mother of God mirrors broader cultural and theological developments. In addition to examining the textual tradition, we will discuss other forms of commemoration tied to the battle, such as the construction of churches and the establishment of religious feasts, which further solidified the icon’s centrality in Novgorodian identity and its theological framing of the battle. This paper highlights the role of narrative in shaping perceptions of power and divine authority in medieval Rus’, exemplifying Novgorod’s ideology as a “chosen city.” |