The Monastic Rule of Iosif Volotsky

Publication Data: Kalamazoo, MI/Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 2000
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 396
Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.5 cm × 13.9 cm × 2.1 cm
ISBN: 0‒87907‒336‒5

   
Revised Edition

Edited, translated, and introduced by David M. Goldfrank

Number Thirty-six of Cistercian Studies Series

“The second edition of The Monastic Rule of Iosif Volotsky retains the basic structure of the first, but is also a thorough revision wherever content or style so warranted. [...]Iosif’s Brief Rule is now presented in a separate, full translation along with the Extended Rule. [...]Iosif, deserves to be read, because he, or at least his type of religiosity, is still a force in the now revived Orthodox Church of Russia. He remains the unique combination of dedicated pastor, effective philanthropist, lively writer, and intolerant inquisitor of the Russian Church, and his self-taught rhetoric is still an effective[...]antidote to open ecumenism.”
—“Preface to the Second Edition”

CONTENTS

Author’s Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
Table of Abbreviations
PART I: IOSIF VOLOTSKY (1439/40—1515) AND HIS RULE
   I An Hagiographic and Historical Portrait of Iosif
   II Iosif’s Rule
   The Structure of the Texts
   Iosif’s Sources
   The Content of the Rule
      Spiritual and Monastic Lexicon
      Inner Life of the Monk
      Social and Administrative Structures
      Clothing
      The Major Edifices
      The Service Typicon
      The Table Customary
      Shortcomings of Russian Monastic Life
      Women
      Russian Monastic History
      Creating Hagiography
      Eschatological Visions
      Heresy and Authority
      Relations with the Trans-Volgans
      Aspects of Iconography
      Doctrine of Man and Salvation
PART II: THE TEXTS OF THE RULE
THE BRIEF RULE
   Contents
   Discourse I^B (Communal Prayer)
   Discourse II^B (Food and Drink)
   Discourse III^B (Refectory Meal)
   Discourse IV^B (Garments and Footwear)
   Discourse V^B (Icons and Books)
   Discourse VI^B (Nocturnal Silence)
   Discourse VII^B (Enclosure)
   Discourse VIII^B (Work)
   Discourse IX^B (Alcohol/Prohibition)
   Discourse X^B (Boys/Prohibition)
   Discourse XI^B (Women/Prohibition)
THE EXTENDED RULE
   Prologue and Contents
   Discourse I (Communal Prayer)
   Discourse II (Refectory; Food and Drink)
   Discourse III (Garments, Footwear, Possessions)
   Discourse IV (Nocturnal Silence)
   Discourse V (Enclosure)
   Discourse VI (Work, Obedience)
   Discourse VII (Alcohol/Prohibition)
   Discourse VIII (Women/Prohibition)
   Discourse IX (Boys/Prohibition; Varia)
   Discourse X (Apologia: Russian Monastic History)
   Discourse XI (The Successor Hegumen)
   Discourse XII (Rule in Brief)
   Discourse XIII (The Council Brothers and Officials)
      Tradition I (XIII/i) (Communal Prayer: Supervision)
      Tradition II (XIII/ii) (Refectory: Supervision; Food and Drink)
      Tradition III (XIII/iii) (Garments, Footwear, Possessions)
      Tradition IV (XIII/iv) (Nocturnal Silence)
      Tradition V (XIII/v) (Enclosure: Supervision)
      Tradition VI (XIII/vi) (Work: Supervision)
      Tradition VII (XIII/vii) (Alcohol/Prohibition)
      Tradition VIII (XIII/viii) (Women/Prohibition)
      Tradition IX (XIII/ix) (Boys/Prohibition, Varia: Supervision)
      Protocol for Assemblies (XIII/A)
   Discourse XIV (Penances)
Appendix I: An Account with Witness from the Divine Writings of the Salvific and Soul-Profiting Books
Appendix II: Index of Biblical Citations
Bibliography
Index