Algirdo teologinis laiškas Konstantinopolio patriarchui: autentiškumo problema ir svarba senosios lietuvių religijos supratimui

LTStraipsnis skirtas vadinamajam Algirdo teologiniam laiškui Konstantinopolio patriarchui, pateiktam XIV a. Bizantijos istoriko ir teologo Nikiforo Gregoro „Romėjų istorijoje“ ir iškeliančiam Saulę kaip pagrindinę Algirdo garbintą dievybę. Nagrinėjama šio teksto autentiškumo problema, identifikuojamas ryšys tarp jo pateikėjo Nikiforo Gregoro ir Algirdo pasiuntinio bei jo kandidato į Rusios metropolitus Romano, tikslinamas datavimas, taip pat ieškoma tekste išryškinto Saulės kulto atspindžių kituose lietuvių religijos bei mitologijos šaltiniuose. Bendrai Nikiforo Gregoro „Romėjų istorijoje“ pateiktas Algirdo teologinis laiškas pripažįstamas patikimu ir ypač svarbiu liudijimu apie Algirdo, o kartu ir visų lietuvių religinę pasaulėžiūrą. Raktiniai žodžiai: Algirdas, Nikiforas Gregoras, Romanas, Saulė.

ENThe paper reviews the so-called Grand Duke Algirdas’ “theological letter’ or statement to the patriarch of Constantinople provided in Nicephorus (or Nikephoros) Gregoras’ Roman History and emphasising the cult of the Sun as the main goddess of the Lithuanian pantheon. Researchers of the ancient Lithuanian religion and mythology used to neglect this source and doubt its authenticity writing it off as a mere fantasy of Nicephorus Gregoras, however, this paper proves its credibility and importance for the understanding of the system of the ancient Lithuanian religious beliefs. It reveals that Nicephorus Gregoras had a direct contact with Roman, Algirdas’ envoy and candidate to the position of the metropolitan bishop of Rus,’ as he described his appearance, education and in general took the side of the Lithuanians in the dispute of the said position. The two had common enemies and overlapping interests related to the Hesyschast controversy or dispute between the supporters of Gregorius Palamas and his opponents. Nicephorus Gregoras was the leader of the latter and the previous metropolitan bishop of Rus’ Theognost was his supporter. However, after Theognost’s death in 1353, his successor Alexy apparently joined the Palamists, as they gained the upper hand at the moment of his appointment. Nevertheless, they success was short-lived, as the coup of John V Palaiologos turned the tables in Nowember 1354. The pro-Palamist Patriarch Philotheus was replaced with a relatively neutral Calisto, Nicephorus Gregoras was released from the Chora Monastery where he had been confined and Roman also came to Constantinople hoping that the new patriarch would favour his claim to the Metropolitan of Rus’ against Alexy.Hence, Roman was interested to establish contacts with the anti-Palamists and their leader Nicephorus Gregoras, whereas Nicephorus Gregoras was also interested to endorse Roman’s claim in order to secure the Metropolitan of Rus’ to his supporter. He also realised the benefits of converting Lithuania into the Cristian Orthodox faith which Algirdas promised in return for appointing his candidate to the Metropolitan of Rus’. However, after long negotiations. Patriarch Calisto decided the Metropolitan of Rus’ to Alexy and Algirdas responded with the statement we hereby discuss claiming that, disapointed by the corruption of the Roman patriarchs, he would rather worship the Sun. We cannot say for sure, whether Nicephorus Gregoras recounted that statement from memory or transcribed the original written text but we lean to the later. Nicephorus Gregoras mentioned letters by the Ruthenian people testifying Alexy s crimes. Hence, if Algirdas and Roman decided to present the claims against Alexy in written, the statement of Algirdas himself should have been presented in written as well. Its Greek version could have been prepared by Roman whom Nicephorus Gregoras described as a well-educated person or his scribes. One way or another, the Algirdas’ statement presented in Nicephorus Gregoras' History of the Romans should be treated as a credible source providing an invaluable insight into the ancient Lithuanian religion and putting the cult of Sun right in its centre. Other medieval and later sources prove the existence of such cult as well, although, until now, researchers couldn’t quite grasp its importance. The available materials enable reconstruction of the entire mythological biography of the Mother-Sun. In the beginning of the times, the Sun was forged by the divine smith Teliavelis who threw her into the sky so she could give light and warmth to the entire world.The Sun grew up into a maiden and married the male god Moon in the first spring. The Earth and other planets are called the daughters of this couple, but the marriage wasn’t happy. The Moon fell in love with the Morning/Evening Star (also identifiable with the goddess Žvorūna-Medeina appearing in the from of a bitch). After witnessing that, the Sun cut her unfaithful husband to pieces with or sword or that was done by the thunder god Perkūnas. Later the Sun was captured by some evil forces and locked in a tower, from which she was rescued by the Signs of Zodiac who smashed the tower with a huge iron hammer - this implies that the rescue mission was also led by Perkūnas. Afterwards, the new world order has been set: the Sun divorced the Moon and became closer to Perkūnas, with whom she cooperates regulating the weather. However, their relationship remains ambiguous: on the one hand, Perkūnas can be seen as the second husband of the Sun, on the other, given that he appears as a spouse to the Earth goddess Žemyna, we can perceive him as Suns son-in-law. One way or another, this cosmogonic myth evolves around the Sun and establishes the roles of other divinities including Perkūnas, though he appears more like a noble knight serving the queen rather than the sovereign in his own right. The role of the Sun itself is rather passive, but she maintains her status as the queen and mother of all the living. Moreover, she embodies the true virtue and value, which is also reflected in Algirdas' statement where the Sun is contrasted to gold and silver that “cannot even hold the reflection of her beams” Algirdas also calls the Sun “a witness of the shameful behaviour” of the Roman Patriarchs which also correlates with the perceptions of the Sun in the Lithuanian folklore saying that sinful eyes are afraid of light and that only the virtuous can look straight into the Sun. [...] Keywords: Algirdas, Nicephorus Gregoras, Roman, Sun.

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