AUTONOMOUS EXPRESSION OF HISTORICAL NARRATIVE: CONSTRUCTION OF THE DISCOURSE OF ECCLESIASTICAL INDEPENDENCE IN THE TALE OF BYGONE YEARS

Chang Yukai, Ma Jingyang

The article examines the problem of the formation of the religious and cultural autonomy of Ancient Rus' in "The Tale of Bygone Years." Using narrative analysis, the study identifies strategies employed by the Orthodox clergy to construct an independent discourse. It is proven that, despite an outward commitment to Christianity, the text contains a hidden distancing from Byzantine authority. This is manifested in the legend of the Apostle Andrew, the pragmatic depiction of the baptisms of Olga and Vladimir, and the preservation of elements of pagan ethics. The chronicle's narrative served as a tool for asserting Rus's religious and political subjectivity.

Keywords:historical narrative, narrative analysis, The Tale of Bygone Years, religious autonomy, national identity, cultural syncretism