“The Book of the Right Faith” in the Manuscript from the Collection of M. N. Tikhomirov

Abstract

The article delves into a significant manuscript housed within the M. N. Tikhomirov collection at the State Public Scientific and Technical Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This manuscript features “The Book of the Right Faith,” composed in 1714. The analysis primarily focuses on the Preface, which is directed towards “a pious brother and sincere friend.” The author expresses profound respect for this fellow believer, who is depicted as an older friend with considerable influence over his spiritual journey. In the Preface, the author recounts personal biographical details and extends gratitude to the addressee for encouraging him to gather evidence from respected manuscripts and early printed texts. This undertaking aims to substantiate the perspective regarding the reforms instituted by Patriarch Nikon in the Russian Church’s rites and liturgical practices. Notably, the author reveals that he dedicated two decades to exploring the nation’s major book repositories, receiving both moral and financial backing from his friend. The author articulates that the motivation behind writing the Book stems from the addressee’s request to provide “solid and known” evidence from Divine Scripture pertaining to the doctrine of true faith. He identifies this evidence as compilations drawn from Holy Scripture and patristic sources, meticulously selected over the course of twenty years. The Preface outlines the principal themes addressed in the Book’s 62 chapters and suggests authorship by Timofey Matveyev Lysenin. A comprehensive review of the topics within the Book positions it as a unique religious textbook, de-tailing the doctrinal tenets, liturgical and ritual practice of the Old Believers group of the “deacon’s agreement” (d’yakonovo soglasie) – all framed as legitimate expressions of Orthodox belief. Analyzing the Preface enriches the comprehension of the remarkable contributions of this Old Believer author and underscores the significance of “The Book of the Right Faith” as a critical source in examining the ideology of the religious and social movements of its time.