Written and Visual Representations of Russian History in the 1660s

Fedor Akimovich Griboedov’s ‘History of the Tsars and Princes of the Rus’ Land’ and Simon Ushakov’s Icon called ‘The Planting of the Tree of the Muscovite State’

Abstract

The relations between tsar Alexis and patriarch Nikon between 1652–1658 can be seen as the realization of the Byzantine idea of symphony, but there was a sharp break from 1658 on which finally led to the deposition of Nikon. It means that by the time Fedor Griboedov set out to write his work in the 1660s, the symphony between the tsar and the patriarch had already been over. The ideological struggle between the tsar and the patriarch exerted a great influence on the chronicle which must be interpreted in the context of this conflict. Griboedov’s chronicle completely abandoned the idea of symphony apparent in the Book of Degrees, though its structure closely resembled the latter and it quoted extensively from the Book of Degrees. The icon called The Planting of the Tree of the Muscovite State painted by Ushakov was a visual representation of the symphony existing only during Moscow’s historical past, and it also connected the salvation of Russia to the piety of the tsar and his family.