RAZUMI (GNOMAI) BY THALASSIOS THE LIBYAN AND EVAGRIUS PONTICUS IN OLD RUSSIAN LITERARY

This paper examines two Slavic translated collections of apophthegms, which accompany one another in all known manuscripts, – Razumi (Gnomai) by Thalassios the Libyan and Evagrius Ponticus. The only investigator of these texts was M. Speransky, who published them in 1904 according to Serbian manuscript of 15–16th century. We have revealed three more Serbian and Russian copies of 14–16th century. Moreover, an extraction from Thallasios’ Gnomai has been found in the Russian «Book of Kaaf» (known in copies of 14–15th century), and a compilation based upon Evagrius’ Gnomai has been discovered in Russian miscellanies of 15th and 17th centuries, the former of which goes back to an antigraphe of 12–13th century. Not merely textual history, but also some linguistic traits allow to make a conclusion of Russian origin of the monuments and, apparently, reckon them among the translations of the Kievan age. Simultaneously, an uninvestigated translation of Evagruis’ treatise On the Eight evil thoughts is touched upon, which also has ancient origin and Russian traits, and, in sympathy with Gnomai, preserved the author’s name (not being attributed to Nilus of Sinai). Thus, a certain connexion between ancient Rus and the translations of Evagrius is deduced. In addition, both collections of apophthegms are published according t o all now accessible copies.