The Role of the Bible in the Formation of Philosophical Thought in Kievan Rus’ (as Exemplified by Ilarion of Kiev, Kliment Smolatič, and Kirill of Turov)

The article is an attempt to critically evaluate the manifestations of the philosophical culture sprouting in Rus’. With the baptism in the Byzantine Rite, Rus’ in the 10th century joined the family of Christian nations and defined the future direction of her own cultural development. The Middle Ages in Rus’ were eminently theocentric. Literature (which was mostly translated from the Greek in Bulgarian monasteries) had a religious character. Sacral content, assimilated in Rus’ mainly through the Old Church Slavonic (due to the scarce knowledge of Greek) had a decisive influence on formation of the philosophical worldview of Rus’ intellectual elite. The Bible thus became the main reference framework for the first Rus’ thinkers-philosophers: Ilarion of Kiev († 1055), Kirill of Turov († 1183) and Kliment Smolatič († 1164). Ilarion of Kiev, the first metropolitan of the Kievan Rus’ in his rhetoric work (which postulated the superiority of the New Testament to the Old) expressed a philosophical thesis of the equality of all Christian nations before God. Kliment Smolatič, the second metropolitan of Rus’, in his Letter to Presbyter Foma, defended the allegorical method of interpretating the Bible. Kirill of Turov, in his turn, in his Parable of the human soul and body allegorically tried to answer the question about the relationship of the body and the soul. For the Rus’ thinkers the content of the Bible served as a pretext for philosophical reflection, e.g. on the role of man in the universe, on the nature of reality, on the relation between matter and spirit. In their works we find the beginnings of the theory of knowledge, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics

Stamp Ornamented Pottery From the Kniazha Hora Site (based on excavations 1958–1965)

The article is devoted to the publication of the pottery with a stamp design from the Kniazha Hora Old Rus fortress. During field seasons of 1958–1965, a representative collection of ceramic products was found on the settlement by a detachment of the Slavic-Rus archaeology of the Kaniv complex expedition under the direction of Halyna Mezentseva. Pots that are decorated with geometric figures-stamps are noteworthy because they are rare for the Kniazha Hora area. Studying ornamentation is very important because the décor reflects some aspects of the spiritual culture of ancient population. However, these unique findings have not been given due attention by previous researchers. In the papers, the stamp type of ornament is associated with the West Slavonic tradition. It testifies one more peculiarity of the Old Rus society’s culture, in particular, of the Kniazha Hora fortress

The Return of the Edwardians in Contemporary Fiction

My research stems from the hypothesis that a subgenre exists within the contemporary historical novel in English with a series of features that can be labelled as neoEdwardian and belong in a broader social and cultural phenomenon. Thus, trough the analysis of a series of recent novels set in the years prior to the First World War, this dissertation could contribute to the study of the relationship that we establish with the past, especially when History and fiction interact in novels. The main goals of this research are: 1. To delve into the state of the art of contemporary historical fiction in English. 2. To trace the state of the art of the neo-Edwardian novel, including a chronology of primary works and their evolution. 3. To analyse a series of primary works that could be considered neo-Edwardian and to obtain some common features. 4. To investigate critical concepts about our contemporary views on the past that can be related to this subgenre. 5. To contribute to the study of the neo-historical novel. In order to achieve this, a thorough examination of a selection of contemporary novels set in the Edwardian period is being carried out. The theoretical framework employed revolves around memory in contemporary fiction and the evolution of the historical novel in the 20th and the 21st centuries.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Viking Rus’ in Eastern Europe: Geopolitics, Trade Networks and State Building

Many school-aged children in America are taught about the Vikings in social studies, but only in a shallow manner. During the early medieval period, Vikings achieved a place of infamy in history. To many, the name Vikings evokes images of pirate-warriors with round shields and horned helmets, travelling in longships crowded with oarsmen. Often Vikings are simplified as ruthless Scandinavian explorers who became infamous for the “raping and pillaging” of Europe. But there is much more to the Vikings. The Viking Rus’ were not simply pirates. During the 8th - 11th centuries they developed a society that was based on more than looting and raiding. By analyzing the strategies employed by the Viking Rus’ during that time period, one can achieve a better understanding of their influence in the region. The process of applying a geopolitical study of Kievan Rus’ through themes of state-building, expansion, and conflict, demonstrates the impact they had during the height of their rule on an exceedingly volatile region. By applying certain strategies, the Kievan Rus’ established themselves in Eastern Europe, an especially sought-after region, at the confluence of major land masses and powerful empires – where East meets West. These tactics were their combined use of military prowess, mercantile aptitudes, and fluvial-navigation abilities which allowed the Viking Rus’ to flourish and create Kievan Rus’ – the first economic and political state within the region of Eastern Europe – which in turn became the precursor to Russia

Displaying Mr Selfridge

Whereas, in literature a stream of recent bio-fictions have focused their efforts on resurrecting great Edwardian authors, the first season of Mr Selfridge (2013), based on Lindy Woodhead’s biography Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge (2007), features a capitalist hero and constitutes an intriguing object of study which connects the present context with the history of England and of costume drama itself. Consequently, this paper will analyse the series in terms of how it relates to and differs from other representations of Edwardian characters, in an attempt to explore what the impulse lying behind Mr Selfridge’s filmic return could be.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Rus v Comcare: The Rules of Evidence in the AAT

The Rus v Comcare cases arise from a claim for compensation by the widowed Ms Rus. The cases saw a highly contentious piece of evidence tendered. This evidence was hearsay of a lay opinion that answered the ultimate issue. The evidence was considered by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) and the Federal Court of Australia (‘Court’). These considerations demonstrate the uncertainty of how the rules of evidence are applicable in tribunals. Specifically, the cases raise applicability of the rules against opinion and hearsay evidence. Further, the relevance of delay and the parol evidence rule to these cases is raised. The principles and policies governing these issues are analysed, which warranted minimal if any discussion in the cases, to assist practitioners in similar cases