Metropolitan Macarius Medal
RAS President, Academician Gennady Krasnikov noted that the Macarius Prize has a very long history associated with the name of Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow and Kolomna, who not only played a significant role in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church but also contributed greatly to science.
The prize was founded in 1867 under the last will of Metropolitan Macarius with the aim of "encouraging domestic talents dedicated to the cause of science and activities of public utility", and is as a weighty symbol of recognition for scientific merit.
Prize laureates
This year, 55 academic works from 21 Russian regions were nominated. 22 scholars became laureates in seven categories in the humanities. The award-winning papers included fundamental studies on the history of the Orthodox Church, history of Russia and Russians abroad, local historical studies, and the origins of Orthodox countries and peoples. Also, authors of the best textbooks and science communicators, who contributed to truthful portrayal of the history, were acknowledged.
Doctor of Philological Sciences Alexander Pigin shared that the award-winning book is devoted to studying the literary tradition of the Kargopol region in the 17th-18th centuries. It examines the old manuscripts related to the history of four monastic communities in the Upper Onega region: Chelmogorskaya (whose history formed the core of the book), Hergozerskaya, Kenskaya, and Lebyazhiia.
These manuscripts contain valuable material for studying the history, daily life, and religiousness of the residents – both clergy and peasants – of the Kargopol region, which until 1918 was part of the Olonets Governorate.
– I have been studying the culture of Kargopolye for a very long time, this being my ancestry land. I have been on multiple expeditions there with students, and studied monastery manuscripts archived in various cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Kargopol. I must say this is not my first work dedicated to the Kargopol culture. So, there is a kind of a 'Kargopol cycle' in my research.
The manuscripts are written in various genres: the life of a saint, tales of posthumous miracles, eulogies, tales of miracle-working icons and the founding of monasteries, and church services. They glorify local hermits as well as saints who founded their monasteries elsewhere but were venerated in the Kargopol region.
– The Macarius Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the humanities. I regard it as my major scientific achievement, – said Alexander Pigin.
Alexander V. Pigin is a Leading Researcher at Folklore and Literature Studies Section (comprising Audio Record Archives) of the Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History KarRC RAS, Chief Researcher at the Russian Folklore Department of the Russian Literature Institute (Pushkin House) RAS, Doctor of Philological Sciences.
Alexander Pigin is the author of over 350 academic papers. The primary research interests of the literary scholar include the study of Old Russian and Old Believer manuscript literature, Russian folklore, reverberations of folklore and Old Russian literature in 18th–20th-century literature, as well as field and archival archaeography and the history of philological science.
We congratulate Alexander Valeryevich on this well-deserved recognition and prestigious award!
Photos: foto.patriarchia.ru
