“Hidden books.” Jewish mysticism in Slavic apocrypha: Andrey Orlov

The collection of articles is devoted to the study of early Jewish apocalyptic works that existed in the Slavic tradition. These “hidden books”, such as the “Book of the Enoch of the Righteous”, “Revelation of Abraham” and “Laman Jacob”, preserved only in Slavic translations, tell about the events preceding the creation of the visible world and what will happen to humanity at the end of time, after the terrible trial. It is they who connect the apocalyptic of the second temple and later Jewish mystical trends – heavenly devils (Heihalot) and the Divine chariot (Merkava). Analyzing these texts, the author reveals their significance in the formation of the symbols of early Jewish mysticism. These books tell about the ascension of the righteous to heaven and his transformation into an immortal heavenly creature using the so -called “dew of resurrection” – the oil of God’s grace, which expires from the tree of life. The apocryphal stories of heavenly ascension and the transformations of such biblical patriarchs as Enoch, James and Abraham played the most important thing …

Author
Orlov Andrey Alexandrovich
Publisher
Culture bridges, 2011