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«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «POLITOLOGIYA. RELIGIOVEDENIE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «POLITICAL SCIENCE AND RELIGION STUDIES»
ISSN 2073-3380 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2024. Vol 47

Narratives Related to the Myrrh-Streaming of Icons in the Russian Empire in the 18th–19th Centuries (Based on the Materials of the RSHA)

Author(s)
I. S. Butov, N. V. Tomin
Abstract
Based on the data of the Russian State Historical Archive, an attempt is made to identify stable narratives about myrrh-streaming in the folk tradition of the population of the Russian Empire in the 18th–19th centuries, as well as to trace the influence of these narratives on the formation of the concept of a miracle in the everyday religious consciousness of the region under consideration. Initially, tear-stained icons could manifest themselves by glowing or lightning-like brilliance, fragrant fragrance, mysterious voice, the appearance of new inscriptions on them, some of them designated themselves in a dream or were involved in poltergeist-like events. In the 19th century, the range of motives expanded: now an increasing number of icons can flow myrrh in one house, new ritual practices arise around such “centers of attraction”, and these narratives themselves are increasingly beginning to penetrate into various ethno-confessional environments. The myrrh or other liquid that appeared on the icon was perceived as a manifestation of hierophany and was self-sufficient for believers to believe in a miracle. The very outflow of liquid from the icon not only visually confirmed the possibilities of the image to create a miracle, but also through these signs allowed the believer to be personally involved in this sacred action.
About the Authors

Butov Ilya Stanislavovich, Candidate of Sciences (Agriculture), Senior Research Scientist, Center for Research of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2 building, 1, Surganov st., Minsk, 220072, Belarus, e-mail: illiabutov@gmail.com

Tomin Nikita Viktorovich, Candidate of Sciences (Technics), Associate Professor, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, 83, Lermontov st., Irkutsk, 664074, Russian Federation, e-mail: tomin.nv@gmail.com

For citation
Butov I.S., Tomin N.V. Narratives Related to the Myrrh-Streaming of Icons in the Russian Empire in the 18th–19th Centuries (Based on the Materials of the RSHA). The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2024, vol. 47, pp. 123-139. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2024.47.123 (in Russian)
Keywords
miracle, stories of miracles, myrrh-streaming, renewal of icon, narrative, motives.
UDC
271.22(470+571)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2024.47.123
References
  1. Butov I.S. Areal chudes: volny obnovlenij ikon v XIX – pervoj polovine XX veka [Area of Miracles: Waves of Icon Updates in the 19th – First Half of the 20th Century]. Minsk, Kolorgrad Publ., 2018, 168 p. (in Russian).
  2. Butov I.S., Tomin N.V. Narrativy, svyazannye s obnovleniyami i mirotocheniyami ikon, v Rossiyskoy imperii do revolyutsii 1917 goda [Narratives Related to the Renewal and MyrrhStreaming of Icons in the Russian Empire before the 1917 Revolution]. Kant [Kant], 2022, no.1, pp. 105-114. (in Russian)
  3. Butov I.S. Rasprostranenie “volny chudes” 1920-1925 godov po regionam Ukrainy: sotsialnyy kontekst i narrativnaya osnova (po materialam ukrainskikh gazet) [The Spread of the “Miracle Wave” of 1920-1925 Across the Regions of Ukraine: Social Context and Narrative Basis (Based on the Materials of Ukrainian Newspapers)]. Nauchnoe mnenie [Scientific Opinion], 2021, no. 9, pp. 17-29. (in Russian)
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