Orthodox Believers under Non-Orthodox Rule. The Case of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Thirteenth – Fifteenth Centuries

Šio straipsnio tikslas – pabandyti apčiuopti, kaip LDK gyventojai stačiatikiai suvokė savo padėtį valstybėje, kurios dauguma valdovų buvo pagonys, o vėliau katalikai. Rusios iškilimas IX – X a. buvo vienas iš svarbiausių veiksnių Lietuvos istorijos raidoje. Nevaisingos Rusios valdovų pastangos užvaldyti Lietuvos žemes nesustabdė Lietuvos galios augimo XIII a. Lietuvos reidai į Rusios gilumą peraugo į ekspansiją. XIII a. šaltiniai liudija apie nevienareikšmišką stačiatikių požiūrį į lietuvius. Saugiai laikyti metraščiai lietuvius apibūdina kaip vilkus, ištroškusius krikščionių kraujo. Stačiatikiai, kurie buvo arčiau Lietuvos (pvz. Pinsko valdovai) buvo atsargesni, nes buvo per silpni atremti grėsmę iš Lietuvos pusės. Pastangos neatkreipti į save dėmesio būdingos taip pat tiems rusėnams, kurių žemės XIV – XV a. pateko Lietuvos valdžion. Tuo pačiu metu galima aptikti ir labiau pozityvių lietuvių įvaizdžių – tik lietuvis stačiatikis gali būti geras lietuvis. Daugybėje (kvazi)hagiografinių šaltinių išreikšta viltis, kad visi lietuviai atsivers į stačiatikybę. Šios viltys žlugo Lietuvai priėmus katalikišką krikštą 1387 m. Nuo to laiko lietuviai pradėjo proteguoti katalikybę. Naujas politinis kursas vertė stačiatikius prisitaikyti prie naujų aplinkybių. Išliko vidinė įtampą, kurią kurstė ir Maskva. Vistik pagrindinė kryptis buvo prisitaikymas. Vietiniai stačiatikiai LDK laikė Kijevo Rusios paveldėtoja, tai labai palaikė stačiatikių lojalumą Lietuvos valdovams. Kita vertus pastarieji suteikė privilegijas stačiatikių diduomenei ir rusėnų miestams.This paper aims at casting the light on the issue of how Ruthenian Orthodox regarded pagan and later Catholic Lithuanian rule. The scarcity of source material, which could be used as evidence to show how the Orthodox regarded "the Other", compelled us to exploit it as circumstantial evidence integrated into a bigger narrative of major developments related to the Lithuanian state. Lithuanians had been neighbours of Eastern Slavs from times immemorial and the rise of Rus' in the 9-1 Oth centuries was and remained one of the most decisive influences in the course of Lithuanian history. Abortive attempts on the part of Rus'ian princes to lay claim on Lithuanian lands proved insufficient to prevent Lithuania from rising to power in the 13th century. Lithuanian raids deep into Rus'ian lands were conducive to later Lithuanian expansion into Rus'. 13th-century sourcers supply evidence to an ambiguous position taken up by the Orthodox in regard of Lithunians. Securely placed chroniclers depict Lithuanians as cruel wolves who shed Christian blood. The attitude of the Orthodox who were in close touch with Lithuanians (e. g. princes of Pinsk) was more circumspect as they were too weak to evade the impending Lithuanian rule and could express their joy at Lithuanian defeat only in the company of strong princes of Halich-Volhynia. The keeping of low profile may be regarded as characteristic of those Ruthenians whose lands fell under Lithuanian rule in 14-15th centuries. At the same time there are some signs of more positive Lithuanian image - only an Orthodox Lithuanian can be a good Lithuanian. Orthodox hopes to see the final conversion of Lithuanians to Orthodoxy may be gathered from a number of (quasi)hagiographical sources (the story of Vojšelk, the Life of Dovmont, thepassio of the Three martyrs of Vilnius). Such hopes did not come true when Lithuanians embraced the Catholic faith from Poland in 1387. Lithuanian rulers promoted Catholicism and such a new course in politics made it necessary for the Orthodox to adapt themselves to new circumstances. There was some internal tension and there is no ground to deny altogether the Moscow force of attraction as H. Joblonowski seems to have done in 1955. The main trend, however, proved to be the search for accomodation. Local Orthodox believers regarded the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as a continuation of Kievan Rus1 and this was one of the strongest assets in making them loyal to Lithuanian rulers. On their part the latter were generous enough to grant privileges to Orthodox nobility and to Ruthenian towns. Such a convergence of attitudes made a lasting impact on the integrity of the Grand Duchy. Common interests with Catholics, in spite of religious and national differences, made the Orthodox of Lithuania look not Orthodox enough in the eyes of Muscovites. This is one of the best proots indicating that Ruthenian Orthodox (progenitors of present day Bclorussians and Ukrainians) came to identify themselves ever more with the Grand Duchy