June 13, 2023

Medieval Musings


Medieval Musings
The collapse of the ceiling in the State Duma of the Russian Empire, 1907. Wikimedia Commons.

The Russian education system may see the reintroduction of Domostroy, a medieval guide to life and ethics authored by Archpriest Sylvester, Ivan the Terrible's confessor.

The proposal came from Alexei Didenko, deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) faction in the State Duma. Didenko argued that Domostroy should be mandatory reading for students of all ages due to the perceived decline in the significance of marriage in contemporary Russia, where over half of registered unions result in divorce.

“This leads to a decline in the population and a crisis in the institution of the family,” Didenko said, “The return of Domostroy will help overcome this problem. This ancient guide to everyday life and family life should become a subject in schools and universities so that our citizens learn from childhood to build strong and happy families."

Domostroy is divided into three sections, each offering guidance on different aspects of life. The first section focuses on proper conduct and prayer within the church, while the second emphasizes respect for leaders. The third section covers domestic life and household management.

The book also advocates physical discipline in child-rearing, suggesting that parents should discipline their children from a young age and take pride in their courage. It also offers recommendations on how to treat wives, suggesting that they should be obedient and kept clean but advises caution when administering punishment, suggesting the polite use of a whip – while holding their hands.

Furthermore, Domostroy promotes a sense of fear and reverence towards one's leaders, considering them representatives of God on Earth.

You Might Also Like

Sweet Somethings
  • November 01, 2017

Sweet Somethings

As fall deepens and winter approaches, what could be better than a warm honey drink imbued with Russian history.
Food of the Gods
  • March 01, 2017

Food of the Gods

We look at the special place in Russian culture occupied by tvorog, and of course offer a tasty recipe...
Fugitive No. 1
  • March 18, 2023

Fugitive No. 1

Russian President and Indicted War Criminal Vladimir Putin had a bad day.
Fighting for God and Putin
  • October 04, 2022

Fighting for God and Putin

Patriarch Kirill says that Russians can fast-track their way to heaven by fighting in Ukraine.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955