History of Stavr Godinovich’s bylinas. Revision of research approaches

Abstract

The article deals with the research of the Bylinas about Stavr Godinovich: a brief review is devoted to the works of the representatives of the theory of borrowings (V.V. Stasov, G.N. Potanin, A.N. Veselovsky, I.P. Sazonovich), more detailed - to the works of the representatives of the historical direction in epic studies. In particular, the methods and hypotheses of V.F. Miller, B.A. Rybakov, V.L. Yanin and M.N. Kozlov. The researchers correlated characters from written sources with the epic hero: the centurion Stavr from the annals of 1118, Vladimir Monomakh’s voivode named Stavko Gordyatich and the son of the Novgorod rebel Gyurata Rogovich. The biography of the “historical” Stavko and together with him the epic hero with each research and introduction of new sources (birch bark letters, graffiti inscriptions in the building of the Sofia Cathedral in Kiev) grew with facts and details. Researchers reconstructed practically all periods of life of “historical” Stavr: his young years, family ties, relations with representatives of power, life-changing events, etc. Thus, alternative realities were created for Stavr Godinovich, in which not only he, but also other epic characters (Vasilisa Mikulichna), events and details became “historical”.