Symbolism of light and fire in the Ural-Siberian patericon

The article is devoted to the symbolism of light and fire in the text of Ural-Siberian Patericon created on Lower Yenisei in the second half of the 20th century by the «chapel» group of Old Believers, who hadn’t had the sacred hierarchy and some sacraments since 1840s, wherefore problems of the holy and sanctified were acute. The article considers the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion of candles and oil lamps as a symbol of holiness. It is noted that, in the minds of the «chapel» group of Old Believers, the miraculous fire along with other similar indicators often acted as a sign either giving the assessment of an event or foretelling it. In all cases, it was supposed to be an interpreter, translator from the «otherworldly» language into the ordinary one. A pure Old Believers’ version of the miraculous light associated with the Sacrament by Epiphany Water (consecrated during the evening divine service at the feast of the Epiphany) is identified. The interpretation of such celestial phenomena as halo, polar light and others as the light of the Kingdom of Heaven is mentioned. The ambivalence of symbolism of light and fire is shown in the Patericon stories about the demonic fire and flame of hell. The Heaven’s light sometimes turned to be the flame punishing for sins (punishment for blasphemy and desecration of saints). In this case, it is aligned with the fire of hell, according to the function. The similarity of symbolism of light with the Russian Orthodox Church tradition is specified, including the period after the reforms of Patriarch Nikon (spontaneous combustion of candles on the graves of saints and near the icons, pillars of the miraculous light over the bodies of the righteous, etc.). In general, Orthodox tradition wonders of the phenomenon of light were often associated with not yet canonized locally venerated saints, and exactly in this respect, the phenomenon of otherworldly fire and light in the Ural-Siberian Patericon can be considered as traditional.