Between “German Land” and Rostov: Historical Realia in the Life of Isidore of Rostov

Abstract

The article, based on the historical realia mentioned in the Life of Isidore of Rostov, tries to date this source more precisely, as well as to find out more about the time St. Isidore spent in Rostov. The data obtained allows for a more detailed understanding of a social, political and cultural contexts of the appearance and development of the worship tradition of Isidore, who was the first Russian saint to be canonically accepted as a Fool-for-Christ (yurodivy). This tradition would later strongly influence the development of Russian yurodstvo in Late Middle Ages and Early Modern times.