About the Origin of the First Slavic Translation of the <i>Instructions</i> by St. Dorotheus of Gaza
In the article the first Slavic translation of the Instructions by St. Dorotheus of Gaza, which was preserved in two Russian manuscripts from the 14th century, is studied (Berlin State Library, Cod. Hamilton 381 and State Historical Museum, Moscow, Cod. Chud. 14). The investigation of the language in comparison with the second translation (according to the edition of K. Dimitrov) and the Greek text made it possible to distinguish a number of Russianisms and to suggest an idea of its Old Russian origin. This translation is closest to translations of the first group according to the A. Pichkhadze classification, namely, to his special sub-group: the Pandectes by Nikon of Montenegro and the Catecheses by St. Theodore the Studite. The translation contains a lot of mistakes, it is not understandable, and it does not always follow the word-for-word principle. The composition of the Instructions in the first and second translations is different: in the first translation there is an epilogue created by the disciples of St. Theodore the Studite, while the second translation does not include this. This suggests that the Greek original of the first translation was somehow connected with the Monastery of Stoudios in Constantinople. The creation of the South Slavonic translation in the middle of the 14th century led to the complete elimination of the early Old Russian translation.