Writer and preacher Kirill Turovsky: biography, literary activity

Kirill Turovsky is a Belarusian writer and thinker of the twelfth century, an Orthodox saint, bishop. He was born and raised in a small town on the river Pripyat, in Turov. Turovsky is a medieval Russian theologian, one of the most prominent spiritual figures of Orthodoxy of the twelfth century.

Tours

The city of Turov is located in the Gomel region, in the Zhitkovichi district. It is one of the most ancient cities in Belarus. Turov is located thirty kilometers from the district center of Zhitkovichi and 263 kilometers from the city of Gomel.

Until now, the former greatness of the city, unfortunately, has not survived. Although even without architectural attractions, he has an excellent tourist potential. Not only Belarusians come to Tours, but many Russians also come to worship the holy cross. Many pilgrims are interested in the recently installed monument to Kirill Turovsky. It is consecrated according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church and attracts many pilgrims.

The Turov principality was very developed in a cultural, political and economic sense. And Turov was its administrative center. The diocese in it was founded in the tenth - early eleventh centuries. Later, after the destruction of the Turks, she was transferred to Pinsk. In the second half of the twelfth century the Turov principality became feudal-fragmented. Political significance was lost. And Turov entered for some time to the principality of Lithuania.

Family, early years

Kirill Turovsky, whose biography begins in 1130 (the date of his birth), did not move his whole life from his native town of Turov. Despite the fact that his parents were very wealthy people, he did not like wealth. Cyril was more attracted to divine books, theology.

He received excellent home education. Later he studied science and art with Greek teachers. Perfectly mastered the Old Slavonic and some folk dialects. Separately studied eloquence. He loved and knew Byzantine culture well. Poetry was particularly respected.

Obedience

Cyril became an ambassador early. Being a mature man, in 1161 he took tonsure in the Borisoglebsky monastery. Almost immediately went into seclusion, closing in a pillar. There he lived for some time in prayers, strictly observing all posts. Much pondered. It was during this seclusion that he wrote several of his first works.

Bishopric

Kirill Turovsky (biography preserved the date of his elevation to the rank of bishop - 1169) received a church boost thanks to the local prince Yuri Yaroslavovich. After that, being already a priest, he took an active part in the church-political struggle. In his Life, it is described that it was Cyril who was the exposer of the false Bishop Theodorets, who was accused of heresy and executed.

Kirill Turovsky's literary heritage

Kirill Turovsky left behind a great literary heritage. For talented works in this area he was nicknamed "second Zlatous." Many of Cyril's editions, preserved until now, "talk" about the great thrust of the saint to writing.

He perfectly mastered the syllable, style, and manner of speech. He was very competent and able to express his thoughts. Thanks to this the reader's attention was not weakened until the end of the work. He propagandized the Byzantine priests, whose interpretations of the Holy Scripture in the twelfth-thirteenth centuries were very popular. Particular attention is paid to one of his works "The Parable of the Human Body and Soul".

Literary vocation

The works of Cyril were as popular as the manuscript collections of many church fathers. Turovsky's writings traced the depth of content, high spirituality and literary mastery. Researchers of his work noted that the interpretation of the Holy Scripture Cyril brought to almost complete perfection. He combined a vivid imagery with exquisite stylistics and artistry of words.

Kirill Turovsky not only briefly cited the covenants. He took the courage to think them out, thereby turning into a complete and harmonious narrative. For example, the episode, how Jesus Christ healed a paralyzed man, he added in his own way.

As a result, a bright work of art was obtained. In it, the relationship between man and God was described in a simple and accessible language. It turned out even a general portrait of mankind as a whole.

In his sacred works he used not only Christian texts, but also non-canonical ones. Some parables of Cyril of Turov are written from the plots, taken, for example, from the Babylonian Talmud ("Conversation of the Emperor with the Rabbi").

Themes of Cyril Turovsky's creativity

The main theme in the works of Cyril of Turov - a man and his service to God. Only man is able to fight for triumphing in the land of God's truth. Cyril wrote songs of praise to the man for whom the Lord created this world. God gave him everything - food, water and most importantly - the mind. This is the creation of the Lord, therefore, using earthly goods, including carnal pleasures, one should not forget about higher concepts - spiritual purity and love, creation and creation.

One of the best creations of Cyril of Turov

The theological works of Cyril of Turov contain a parable about the blind man and chrome. One man grew a vineyard. To protect him, he hired a blind man and a lame one. He decided that such miserable people would not penetrate the fence of the vineyard and would not be able to steal it. If the work is done, he promised to pay them, otherwise the punishment was punished.

But the unlucky watchmen could not resist the temptation to get into the vineyard. Lame sat down on his shoulders blind, and so they were able to enter the restricted territory. They stole all the grapes and were punished for it. That is, the "forbidden fruit" so beckoned them that they could not frighten the subsequent punishment.

Cyril gave this parable bright images. The master of the vineyard is the Lord the Father, the servants are angels, the fence is the law of God, etc. And the images of the blind and the lame, connected together - a man.

In the interpretation of Cyril of Turov, the meaning of this parable is that God, having created the earth and the world, and so decided to grant it to man when the time comes. But people often transgress the law of God. And they take for the time being the one who has not been promoted on their own, that is, they steal.

Moreover, the human body (not the soul) can often resist the temptation. It is the lame one who describes the delights of a vineyard and picks a blind man to sin. But both are guilty. One - for the temptation, the second - that succumbed to him.

The world view of Kirill Turovsky

Kirill Turovsky stressed that people should strengthen their spirit and resist bodily temptations. Then the gate to the Kingdom of God will open before them. And they will be worthy of eternal salvation. He advocated the Church, fulfilling vows and observing fasts, cultivating the spirit. Turovsky is numbered among the saints and the day of his memory is the twenty-eighth of April (the eleventh of May according to a new style).

Cyril was sure that only constant care for the soul, humility and daily prayers open the way to salvation. He was always an adherent of the strictest monastic rules of life. For he believed that only a total rejection of worldly pleasures and desires leads to divine truth.

The word of Cyril of Turov carried irreconcilability to dissent and various heresies. The attempt on the unity of the church always aroused his righteous anger. He personified a moral call to humanity, addressed to the upbringing of their soul and faith.

Monuments to Kirill Turovsky

The city of Turov, where Cyril was born and lived, is one of three where monuments to this saint are installed. The monument was created by the sculptor Inkov and the architect Lukyanchik. It was installed on the bank of Pripyat, on the Castle Hill, on May 11, 1993.

At the heart of his composition is an unusual Byzantine cross shape. With him the figure of Cyril is connected. He seems to be a little forward, while raising his head. The arms are bent and located at the chest level. In the left saint holds a book on the cover of which a cross is engraved. And the right hand gestures at this work. Around the head of Cyril - a halo, and next to the book is the inscription "St. Cyril Bishop of Turov." The height of the monument is seven meters. It is made of concrete and covered with copper.

In Minsk, a monument to Kirill Turovsky was installed on November 31, 2001. It is located near the Belarusian State University. The sculptor of the monument was Igor Golubev.

St. Cyril of Turov was immortalized in Gomel. The monument was installed on April 4, 2004 in one of the theatrical squares of this city. The sculptor Lev Gumilevsky and his son Sergey became the authors of the monument. The participation was also received by the architect Nikolai Zhlob.

The monument was installed and opened on the day of the Belarusian script. This is a large bronze sculpture in three and a half meters high, standing on a granite pedestal. Turovsky appears in front of people with a spiritual, noble spirit. Attracts a proud posture and expressive thin hands. In them he holds a small scroll, on which a prayer is engraved.