Interpretation of Decalogue in Handwritten Catechism of Simeon Polotsky

Abstract

The article deals with the role the Decalogue played in Russian catechetical literature of the 17th century. From the 13th century on in Western Christianity the Ten Commandments were of key-importance in Church instruction, and were regarded as a summary of God’s law. Eastern-Christian tradition paid less attention to the Decalogue: one can meet the Ten Commandments only sporadically in the legal writings. The inclusion of Decalogue in Russian catechisms of 17th century was a result of Catholic influences on the Orthodox tradition. Handwritten catechism of Simeon Polotsky can be regarded as an example of those influences: the interpretation of the Decalogue was borrowed from “Hortus pastorum” – a Catholic manual, written by Belgian theologian Jacobus Marchantius.