JOSEPH OF VOLOKOLAMSK

JOSEPH OF VOLOKOLAMSK, abbot, “possessor,” St. (1439/40–1515). At the end of the 15th c. the kingdom of Muscovite Rus’, or Great Russia, was about to coalesce. At this time the so-called “Judaizing heresy” (q.v.) arose and, when two Novgorodian priests converted to the movement transferred to Moscow, it became marginally influential in the capital. The main opponent of the “Judaizers” was Joseph of Volok (Iosif Volotskii), abbot of the Volokolamsk Monastery. He successfully pursued them until they were condemned by a church council (1504). Subsequently, Tsar Ivan III dealt harshly with them.

Joseph is best known in Russian history as the spokesman for the “possessors,” who believed in extensive church holdings and close cooperation with secular authority in order to do God’s work. His opponent was Nilus of Sora (Nil Sorskii, 1433–1508) leading the “non-possessors,” who minimized church holdings and preferred a separation between Church and state (q.v.), espousing the contemplative ideal of hesychasm, which he had learned on Mt. Athos (qq.v.). Theologically, the non-possessors were definitely legitimate representatives of Holy Tradition (q.v.), though they were in the minority and politically suspect.

Scripture (q.v.) figured in Joseph’s controversies with the non-possessors no less than it had with the “Judaizers.” The non-possessors, anticipating what would occur in the West later in the same century, considered only Scripture (i.e., “God’s commandments”) truly binding, as opposed to tradition and human custom, which could be critiqued and changed. Although both Joseph and Nilus were canonized, Joseph’s “establishment” position better accommodated the rising centralization of the Muscovite state, while some of Nilus’s disciples were condemned as heretics. Joseph educated monks for service in the Church and state in high office, and Muscovy expanded in the 16th c. with this leadership.