Karion Istomin
Encyclopedia
Karion Istomin (Late 1640s, Kursk
- no earlier than 1718, Moscow
) was a Russian
poet, translator, and one of the first Muscovite enlighteners (student of Simeon Polotsky).
Karion Istomin was a celibate priest and then a hegumen
at the Chudov Monastery
. He graduated from the patriarchal school and then worked at the Print Yard in 1679-1701. Karion Istomin started as a regular scrivener
, then held the post of an editor
, and later became the head of the yard. He is known to have authored and translated from Latin
historical, religious, and pedagogical works, including his Arithmetics (Арифметика) and the Book of Reasoning (Книга вразумления), in which Istomin admonished the 11-year-old Peter I. Also, he wrote numerous acathistuses, prayers, epitaph
s, and panegyrical, congratulatory, and edifying poems. In 1690s, Istomin compiled the Small Alphabet Book (Малый букварь) and Big Alphabet Book (Большой букварь) for tsarevich Alexei Petrovich
, in which the material expressed in verse was used as means for facilitating the process of learning. Karion Istomin also wrote in verse the lives of the saints
, an edifying treatise for schoolchildren called Домострой (Domostroy
, or Household Management), and a book named Полис (Polis), which contained characteristics of twelve different sciences and most important geographical knowledge. Being an active supporter of the Petrine reforms in Moscow, Istomin was one of the first in Russia to realize the necessity of co-education of boys and girls. He elaborated methods of school education, which would be used in Muscovite schools throughout the 18th century. Karion Istomin was buried at the cemetery of the Zaikonospassky monastery
in Moscow.
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
- no earlier than 1718, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
poet, translator, and one of the first Muscovite enlighteners (student of Simeon Polotsky).
Karion Istomin was a celibate priest and then a hegumen
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
at the Chudov Monastery
Chudov Monastery
The Chudov Monastery was founded in the Moscow Kremlin in 1358 by Metropolitan Alexius of Moscow. The monastery was dedicated to the miracle of the Archangel Michael at Chonae...
. He graduated from the patriarchal school and then worked at the Print Yard in 1679-1701. Karion Istomin started as a regular scrivener
Scrivener
A scrivener was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities...
, then held the post of an editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, and later became the head of the yard. He is known to have authored and translated from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
historical, religious, and pedagogical works, including his Arithmetics (Арифметика) and the Book of Reasoning (Книга вразумления), in which Istomin admonished the 11-year-old Peter I. Also, he wrote numerous acathistuses, prayers, epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
s, and panegyrical, congratulatory, and edifying poems. In 1690s, Istomin compiled the Small Alphabet Book (Малый букварь) and Big Alphabet Book (Большой букварь) for tsarevich Alexei Petrovich
Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich of Russia
Alexei Petrovich Romanov , was a Russian Tsarevich. He was born in Moscow, the son of Tsar Peter I and his first wife Eudoxia Lopukhina.-Childhood:...
, in which the material expressed in verse was used as means for facilitating the process of learning. Karion Istomin also wrote in verse the lives of the saints
Lives of the Saints
Lives of the Saints is a novel by Nino Ricci. The author's first book, it forms the first part of a trilogy. The other two novels are In a Glass House and Where She Has Gone...
, an edifying treatise for schoolchildren called Домострой (Domostroy
Domostroy
Domostroy or Domostroi is a 16th century Russian set of household rules, instructions and advices pertaining to various religious, social, domestic, and family matters of the Russian society. Core Domostroi values tended to reinforce obedience and submission to God, Tsar and Church...
, or Household Management), and a book named Полис (Polis), which contained characteristics of twelve different sciences and most important geographical knowledge. Being an active supporter of the Petrine reforms in Moscow, Istomin was one of the first in Russia to realize the necessity of co-education of boys and girls. He elaborated methods of school education, which would be used in Muscovite schools throughout the 18th century. Karion Istomin was buried at the cemetery of the Zaikonospassky monastery
Zaikonospassky monastery
The Zaikonospassky monastery was a monastery in Kitai-gorod, Moscow, just one block away from the Kremlin.It was founded in 1600 by Boris Godunov...
in Moscow.