Domostroy. A New English Translation

Description

The classic 16th century Russian manual for managing a Christian household according to the established norms of ancient piety practiced in Muscovite Russia.

This English edition is a new translation that seeks to present this work as an historical documentation of a living piety, rather than an academic work. The style of translation was made using terms and phrases already familiar to Old Orthodox readers so that the work may finally be enjoyed in English without the distraction of odd words or condescending or even inaccurate footnotes.

The Domostroy includes instructions on how to maintain piety within the home and between the husband and wife, how to manage domestic affairs, maintain good order, manage servants, and how to grow and prepare food throughout the seasons of the year, which revolves around the Ecclesiastical Calendar. The book also includes an extensive commentary on the wedding rituals in Muscovite Russia, for both nobility and commoners, both of which are vastly intricate. The book ends with a letter from the main author of the work, the protopriest Sylvester, to his only son, with added encouragement on living a godly life and maintaining a godly marriage and household.

This is not a scholarly edition. Those who are looking for copious footnotes should look to the Pouncy translation. Her edition is a proper scholarly work. This edition is intended for those who view the Domostroy as a historical guide to living a pious life from within the context of Old Orthodoxy, rather than a curiosity of the past.