Kirill Turovsky - Belarusian writer and thinker of the twelfth century, Orthodox saint, bishop. He was born and raised in a small town on the Pripyat River, in Turov. Turovsky is a medieval Russian theologian, one of the most prominent spiritual figures of Orthodoxy of the twelfth century.
Turov
The city of Turov is located in the Gomel region, in the Zhitkovichi district. This is one of the most ancient cities of Belarus. Turov is located thirty kilometers from the district center of the city of Zhitkovichi and 263 kilometers from the city of Gomel.
Until now, the former greatness of the city, unfortunately, has not been preserved. Although even without architectural attractions, it has excellent tourist potential. Not only Belarusians, but also many Russians come to Turov to bow to the holy cross. Many pilgrims are also interested in the recently erected monument to Cyril Turovsky. It is consecrated according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church and attracts many pilgrims.
The Principality of Turov was very developed in a cultural, political and economic sense. And Turov was his administrative center. The diocese was founded in it in the tenth and beginning of the eleventh centuries. Later, after the destruction by the Turks, it was transferred to Pinsk. In the second half of the twelfth century, the Principality of Turov became feudal-fragmented. Political significance has been lost. But Turov entered for some time the Principality of Lithuania.
Family, early years
Kirill Turovsky, whose biography begins in 1130 (date of birth), has never moved anywhere from his native city of Turov all his life. Despite the fact that his parents were very wealthy people, he did not like wealth. Cyril was more attracted to divine books, theology.
He received excellent home education. Later he studied science and art from Greek teachers. He perfectly mastered Old Slavonic and some folk dialects. Separately studied eloquence. He loved and knew Byzantine culture. Especially respected poetry.
Obedience
Cyril became a novice early. As a mature man, in 1161 he took tonsure at the Borisoglebsky Monastery. Almost immediately went into retreat, closing in a pillar. There he lived for some time in prayers, strictly observing all fasts. I thought a lot. It was during this retreat that he wrote several of his first works.
Bishopric
Kirill Turovsky (the biography preserved the date of his elevation to the rank of bishop - 1169) received a church promotion thanks to the local prince Yuri Yaroslavovich. After that, being already a priest, he took an active part in the church-political struggle. In his Life it is described that it was Cyril who exposed the false bishop Theodorets, who was accused of heresy and executed.
Literary heritage of Cyril of Turovsky
Cyril of Turovsky left behind a great literary heritage. For talented works in this area, he was nicknamed the "second Zlatous". Many of Cyril’s editions, preserved to this day, “speak” of the saint’s great desire for writing.
He perfectly controlled the syllable, style, way of speech. He was able to express his thoughts very competently and readily. Thanks to this, the reader’s attention did not weaken until the end of the work. He promoted Byzantine priests, whose interpretations of the Holy Scriptures in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were very popular. Particular attention is still being paid to one of his works, “The Parable of the Human Body and Soul.”
Literary calling
Cyril's works were as popular as the manuscript collections of many church fathers. The works of Turovsky traced the depth of content, high spirituality and literary skill. Researchers of his work noted that the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures Cyril brought to almost complete perfection. He combined vivid imagery with exquisite style and artistry of words.
Cyril of Turovsky not only briefly quoted the covenants. He took the liberty to conceive them, thereby turning them into a complete and harmonious narrative. For example, the episode of Jesus Christ healing a paralyzed man, he wrote in his own way.
The result was a vivid work of art. In it, the relationship of man with God was described in a simple and accessible language. It turned out even a general portrait of humanity as a whole.
In his sacred writings, he used not only Christian texts, but also noncanonical ones. Some parables of Cyril of Turov are written from plots taken, for example, from the Babylonian Talmud (“Conversation of the Emperor with the Rabbi”).
Topics of the work of Cyril Turovsky
The main theme in the works of Cyril of Turovsky is man and his service to God. Only man is capable of fighting for the triumph of God's truth in the land of God. Cyril wrote songs of praise to the man for whom the Lord created this world. God gave him everything - food, water, and most importantly - the mind. This is the creation of the Lord, therefore, taking advantage of earthly goods, including carnal pleasures, a person should not forget about higher concepts - spiritual purity and love, creation and creation.
One of the best creations of Cyril Turovsky
The theological works of Cyril of Turov contain a parable about the blind and the lame. One person grew a vineyard. He hired the blind and the lame to guard him. He decided that such wretched people would not penetrate the fence of the vineyard and could not rob it. If the work is done, he promised to pay them, otherwise the cripples would face punishment.
But the unlucky watchmen could not resist the temptation to climb into the vineyard. Lame sat on the shoulders of the blind man, and thus they were able to get into the forbidden territory. They stole all the grapes and were punished for it. That is, the "forbidden fruit" beckoned them so that it could not frighten the subsequent punishment.
Cyril endowed this parable with vivid images. The owner of the vineyard is the Lord the Father, the servants are the angels, the fence is the law of God, etc. And the images of the blind and the lame, joined together - a man.
In the interpretation of Cyril of Turov, the meaning of this parable is that God, having created the earth and the world, decided to give it to a person when the time comes. But people often transgress the law of God. And they take, as yet, not gifted on their own, that is, steal.
Moreover, the body of a person (not the soul) often cannot resist the temptation. It is the lame one who describes the delights of a vineyard and incites a blind man to sin. But both are guilty. One for temptation, the second for succumbing to him.
Worldview of Cyril of Turovsky
Kirill Turovsky emphasized that people should strengthen their spirit and resist physical temptations. Then the gates to the kingdom of God will open before them. And they will be worthy of eternal salvation. He advocated the Church, fulfilling vows and fasting, perfecting the spirit. Turovsky is ranked among the saints and the day of his memory is April twenty-eighth (May eleventh according to the new style).
Cyril was sure that only constant care for the soul, humility and daily prayers open the way to salvation. He was always an adherent of the strictest monastic rules of life. For he believed that only a complete rejection of worldly pleasures and desires leads to divine truth.
The word of Cyril of Turov carried an intransigence to dissent and various heresies. An attempt on the unity of the church always aroused his righteous anger. He personified a moral appeal to humanity, aimed at nurturing their soul and faith.
Monuments to Cyril Turovsky
The city of Turov, where Cyril was born and lived, is one of three where monuments to this saint are erected. The monument was created by sculptor Inkov and architect Lukyanchik. They installed it on the bank of Pripyat, on Castle Hill, on the eleventh of May 1993.
Its composition is based on an unusual Byzantine-shaped cross. The figure of Cyril connects with him. He, as it were, comes forward a little, while raising his head. Arms are bent and are located at chest level. In the left, the saint holds a book, on the cover of which a cross is engraved. And the right hand gesture points to this work. Around the head of Cyril is a halo, and next to the book is the inscription "St. Cyril Bishop of Turov." The height of the monument is seven meters. It is made of concrete and coated with copper.
In Minsk, a monument to Kirill Turovsky was erected on the thirty-first of November 2001. It is located next to the Belarusian State University. The sculptor of the monument was Igor Golubev.
Saint Cyril of Turov was immortalized in Gomel. The monument was erected on April 4, 2004 in one of the theatrical squares of this city. The authors of the monument were the sculptor Lev Gumilevsky and his son Sergei. Architect Nikolai Zhloba also took part in the work.
The monument was erected and opened on the day of Belarusian writing. This is a large bronze sculpture three and a half meters high, standing on a granite pedestal. Turovsky appears before people with a spiritualized, noble face. Attracts with a proud posture and expressive thin hands. In them he holds a small scroll on which a prayer is engraved.