Article

Name: Semiotics of Number Four in Paisius Ligarides’ History of the Synod

Authors: Svetlana K. Sevastyanova

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

Abstract:

Nicon’s († 1681) trial – History of the Synod, contains rich numerological material. Appealing to sacred numbers and revealing their semantic meaning is one of the literary techniques of the polemicist. The purpose of the article is to analyze the symbolic content of the number four in the greeting of the Moscow clergy to those who arrived at the Great Moscow Cathedral (1666–1667) eastern Patriarchs – Macarius of Antioch and Paisius of Alexandria. Consisting of four parts according to the number of speakers, it contains many of the meanings of four known in numerical theology: from arithmological works by the followers of Pythagoras to prophetic stories about the future of Constantinople. The variety of source material used confirms Ligarides’ extensive reading and highest intelligence. Having selected metaphorical and allegorical parallels to the four ecumenical sees and their hierarchs, Ligarides showed the greatest significance for universal Orthodoxy of the council convened by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. He also emphasized the continuity of the Moscow Tsar from the Roman emperors in ensuring the church union of the ecumenical patriarchates. Having presented in symbolic images the history of Christianity and the rich experience of the development and spread of the Christian faith throughout the universe by the oldest cathedras, Ligarides in such an unusual way expressed the hopes of all Christians and the Greek patriarchs who arrived at the Moscow Council for the liberation of the Christian East from the Ottoman yoke by the Russian Tsar.

Keywords: Metropolitan of Gaza Paisius Ligarides, History of the Synod, numerical theology, four elements, tetragrammaton, tetramorph, Four Gospels, four rivers of Eden, four archangels, visions of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel

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