THE SERMON “ON THE FUNERAL OF THE HONEST WOMAN” BY SIMEON OF POLOTSK: PREPARATION FOR DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN WOMAN AT THE LAST QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY

The article is devoted to study of a funeral sermon which was written by Simeon of Polotsk (1629–1680) on the occasion of death of an unknown woman and was included
in the supplement to the sermon collection titled Spiritual Supper [Vecheria dushevnaia] (publ. in 1683). In the sermon, the preacher proposes fi ve rules of preparation for death, which should be followed by a Christian woman: remembrance of death, writing a last will, Eucharist and Anointing, the sign of the cross and saying prayers, performing good deeds during lifetime. The article analyzes the place of the sermon among other nine funeral sermons written by Simeon of Polotsk. The sermon is studied in comparison with Polish funeral sermons and with the edited version of the sermon used by patriarch Adrian on the funeral of the nun Anfi sa (tsarevna Anna Mikhailovna) in 1692. A hypothesis about the addressee of the sermon is off ered. Poetics of the sermon (imagery and usage of biblical and other quotes) is examined.