Russian Hebrew Studies in 1820-s: Answer of Archpriest G.P. Pavskyi to Aleksey Nikolayevich Olenin about the Priest’s Robes in the Old Testament

The article is devoted to the analysis of the published correspondence of Svt. Filaret (Drozdov) with A.N. Olenin, reflecting an interest in Old Testament subjects (biblical archaeology and the Hebrew language) of prominent representatives of the cultural elite of the Russian Empire in the 1820s. Alexei Nikolaevich Olenin, acting Privy Councilor, first director of the Imperial Public Library and President of the Academy of Arts, addressed Mitr. To Filaret (Drozdov) in 1822 for an explanation of some Hebrew lexemes. His request was forwarded to the SPbDA professor and the first Russian Hebraist, Proto. Pavsky, who gave a detailed and comprehensive answer. The purpose of the study is to reveal little-known pages of the early life of the proto. Pavsky and his connections with aristocratic circles. The research materials are correspondence published in 1882. The answer is prot. Pavsky’s idea of the unique hapax legomenon lexeme for the Old Testament text (“hetonef tashbets”) was highly appreciated by the famous orientalist A.J. Garkavi 60 years later. As a result of the study, a conclusion was made about the spread of the hobby of Hebraism to representatives of the upper classes in the 1820s. In connection with the work of the Russian Bible Society (RBO) on the translation of the Old Testament into Russian, which was influenced by St. John the Baptist. Filaret (Drozdov). The answer is prot. Pavsky demonstrates a creative approach to interpreting complex passages of the Old Testament.