Letters. Sienskaya E.

St. Ekaterina Sienskaya (1347-1380), an Italian religious figure and writer, belongs to the number of figures that determined the appearance of the era in which she had to live. The scale of the personality of Catherine is such that today interest in her does not fade away. Her biography and works are studied in different countries, and not only Catholics, but her image and ideas inspired many cultural figures: artists who captured the saint on their canvases (among them - both contemporaries of Catherine Andrea Vanny, Giovanni di Paolo, and many later painters ), and writers who have devoted whole works to her (in particular, M.I. Tchaikovsky, A.M. Allen, A. R. Bandini). Ekaterina Sienskaya was recognized as the heavenly patroness of Rome, Italy (together with St. Francis of Assis), the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the media and communication. Throughout the world there are societies, monastic congregations and communities, named by Catherine.

as the author of literary works, Ekaterina Sienskaya is known primarily by her letters, which she sent for ten years (from 1370 and up to it. your death). This is a rare example of medieval religious prose belonging to the pen of the nun and distinguished by undoubted artistic virtues. The letters address the most important political, social, religious problems of that era: transfer, Holy See from Avignon to Rome and the struggle against a split within the church, reconciliation of church and secular authorities, reform of the Church, the relationship of Italian cities, and the establishment of peace in Italy. We have to only be surprised that the modest Dominican nun, who received a very limited education, was able to not only understand the previous problems of her time, but also significantly affect their decision. The addressees of her letters, in addition to ordinary people (her relatives, acquaintances, sisters in the Order, monks of other orders, etc.), were the pope of the Roman, cardinals, bishops, persons of royal blood, representatives of the aristocracy and urban government, people of art.

letters of Catherine Sienskaya are not only an invaluable evidence of her inner life, but also an important historical source, a document of the era in which a unique combination of the mystical and historical principles occurred. Catherine’s influence on the spiritual tradition, confirmed in 1970 by the reckoning of the saint (the first of women, along with Teresa of Aville), is indisputable to the number of church teachers. and explaining the concepts and realities of the second half of the XIV century, as well as a pointer of names and full -color illustrations, including the Paolo work cycle, written on the occasion of the canonization of the saint, and a complete set of miniatures (100 pcs.) From the unique manuscript of her life of the 15th century.