On the Byzantine influence on Rus and its reflection in the works of V. S. Ikonnikov (1841-1923)

Abstract

One of the central figures in the Byzantine studies  of St. Vladimir Kiev University of the second half of the nineteenth century was V.S. Ikonnikov, Professor of the Department of Russian History.His main scientific work is a doctoral thesis “The experience of research on the cultural importance of Byzantium in Russian history” (1869).Even nowadays this work is still of great interest to researchers because it covered quite a wide range of issues.Among them are the following: emergence of heresies and evolution of the education system in Byzantium, various aspects of the history of Byzantine and Russian monasticism, the influence of the Byzantine education, Church, law on the culture of Rus, etc. In the dispute with the Byzantine heretics, V. S. Ikonnikov deservedly assigned a particular active role to monasticism. V. S. Ikonnikov noted that the movement of religious sects in Byzantium itself had a significant positive meaning. In his opinion, in the fight against heretics, the Eastern Church developed a solid dogmatic system that in the future allowed to defend its independence even when the emperors were ready to sacrifice religious interests for political benefits. This conceptual conclusion was also spread in modern Byzantine studies. V. S. Ikonnikov emphasized that the influence of Byzantium on Russia in politics, the Church, culture, and education manifested itself in different ways. He fully recognized the influence of Byzantium in the religious establishment of moral principles in Russian society and in the political system, in which the religious basis also prevailed, but he did not consider the influence of Byzantium in scientific terms to be very significant. Thus, V. S. Ikonnikov rightly considered religious and political factors as one of the main directions of Byzantine influence on Russia.