6.10 FC – Apocrypha, Apocalypses and Eschatology

This paper examines the early 18th-century manuscript “Passion of Christ” (Страсти Христовы), which represents a significant contribution to early Russian literature. As A.I. Sobolevsky has observed, this work transforms Jesus Christ from a purely sacred figure into a subject of artistic exploration. The manuscript’s significance is further augmented by its context within contemporary literary discourse….

During the first three centuries, in the Christian communities, several apocalyptic writings emerged containing revelations of the otherworld and the Last Judgement. The most famous is the Revelation attributed to Saint Apostle John (included in the biblical canon), while other similar works (attributed to Old Testament personalities) had a marginal status within the Church. This…