An Inquiry Into Russian Orthodox Asceticism In The 14th-15th Centuries

The 14 th and 15 th centuries were an important period in the development of Russian Orthodox asceticism,which played a historical role of connecting the past with the future.The ascetic thought of this period was developed under the framework of reclusiveness,and on the basis of absorbing the Byzantine reclusiveness and asceticism,it laid a theoretical foundation for the development of unique reclusiveness Presbyterianism in Russia.The discussion of asceticism in the later Russian retreats did not deviate from the theoretical basis and framework of the 14 th and 15 th centuries.The influence of Russian asceticism is not only limited in monasteries,but also has certain influence on the social and cultural life of the Russian people.This paper first discusses the origin of asceticism,the influence of dualism on asceticism in ancient Greek philosophy and Manichaeism,and the relationship between hermonism and asceticism.After that,the author sorts out the ascetic thoughts of the main representatives of Russian asceticism in the 14 th and 15 th centuries,such as Szecherky Radonezhsky,Niall Solsky and Joseph Volotsky,and finally discusses the influence of asceticism on Russian social life and literature and art.The influence of asceticism on the social life of Russia includes the influence on the marriage of the clergy,the influence on the fasting system and the influence on the worship of the holy fool among the Russian people.The influence on literature and art can be described mainly by the famous iconographer Andrei Lublyov in the 14 th and 15 th centuries and by the ascetic ideas in the works of writers Gogol,Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy.