HYMNOGRAPHY OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE: A THEOLOGICAL COMMENTARY TO THE STICHERA TO METROPOLITAN PETER

Ivan Vladimirovich Starunov

Sretenskaya Theological Academy, Moscow, Russia

Email: ioann.starunov@bk.ru

Issue: № 3 (35), 2026

Pages: 56

DOI: 10.24412/2309-5164-2026-3-

Annotation

This article is devoted to a theological commentary on the stichera to Metropolitan Peter, written by one of the most discussed personalities in the history of Russia, Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible. His life and activities as a political and church leader continue to be of interest to researchers. In particular, there are discussions about the 16th century, an era full of dramatic events, when, on the one hand, there was an expansion and strengthening of the state, as well as the implementation of church reforms and on the other hand, there were internal conflicts, including military expeditions of the tsar against Russian cities and conspiracies against the monarch, which eventually led to the establishment of the oprichnina and terror. At the same time, few people know that the autocrat was the author of many hymnographic monuments of Old Russian literature. These texts are filled with theological meaning, often reflecting the mood of the people of the sixteenth century. Unfortunately, at present, the researchers lack theological analysis concerning hymnography of Ivan the Terrible. The purpose of the article is a consistent theological commentary using the hermeneutic method based on the doctrine of the Orthodox Church stichera to Metropolitan Peter.

Keywords

hymnographer, tsar, translation, meaning, teaching of the Church, stichera

For citation

Starunov I. V. Hymnography of Ivan the Terrible: A Theological Commentary to the Stichera to Metropolitan Peter // Ipatievsky vestnik. 2026. №. 3. Р. (In Russian). https:// doi.org/10.24412/2309-5164-2026-3-