Poetics of likeness in ancient Russian hagiography: Alexander Oshevensky vs Alexis the man of God

The article offers a comparative analysis of two hagiographic works - the ancient Russian Life of Alexander Oshevensky (XVI century) and the Byzantine Life of Alexis the Man of God, known in ancient Russia since the pre-Mongol era. The author attempts to substantiate the hypothesis that Alexis the Man of God served as one of the hagiographic prototypes of Alexander Oshevensky. The connection between these saints was initially pointed out by the famous Russian hagiologist Nikodim (Kononov), who included in his akathist to Alexander Oshevensky (1897) the likening of Saint Alexander to Alexis the Man of God. The association with Alexis the Man of God is instigated by the worldly name of Alexander Oshevensky - Alexis, or Alexey (the Saint was born on March 17, on the day of memory of ‘the Man of God’). The two Lives share common hagiographic topoi, the textual proximity of mothers’ cries, and so on. The fates of hagiographic characters who had left their relatives, but subsequently returned to them (one as a fool, the other as a monk), are also similar. At the same time, the family theme is resolved in two Lives in different ways: while the ‘Man of God’ remains indifferent to the grief of his relatives, Alexander Oshevensky is portrayed both as a perfect monk and as a loving son. The article also considers the Life of Alexander Oshevensky in the context of other ancient Russian literature works.