Russian Hymnography for the Feast of Translation of Relics of Saint Nicholas of Myra. S.A. Cherkasova (Moscow)

In her article the author points out at a series of specifically Russian feast in honour of Saint Nicholas of Myra. The most important of them is the feast of translation of the saint's relics from Myra to Bari. This feast was introduced into Russian liturgical practice by the end of ll^th – beginning of 12^th centuries; by the 14^th century or earlier they wrote an entire akolouthia for this feast, consisting mainly of the genuine Russian compositions.

The author discusses the question about how Saint Nicholas is depicted in these hymns and enumerates a number of specific literary and theological themes presented there. Then she gives a brief overview of the further history of akolouthia for the feast of translation of relics of Saint Nicholas in the Russian tradition.

As an addition to the article is presented a publication of the Old Russian melodies of a few hymns for the feast (after the codex Russian State Library, f. 379, N 65, mid-17^th century).