Интерпретации

The paper deals with two issues: that of the canon itself, and the fields, institutions and segments of the society where this canon is manifested. After a review of some possible conceptions of the canon (a set or body of carefully selected texts, conceptions centered around the outstanding Great Works: “canon-as-texts” vision vs. conceptions with reference to a certain rule beyond the objects: “canon-as-language” view of the canon), it is concluded that canon does not belong to the sphere of realization or phenomena, but rather to that of the system, and canonicity is a version of the range of interpretations; canon can be regarded as an entrenched or even institutionalized variety of the interpretation which is canonical; what changes is a certain set of interpretive assumptions. In this respect, what is opposed is the idea that a text could be canonical by its own inner quality. Making, changing and maintaining the canon is the function of some groups of professionals. They are often characterized by their preoccupation with the canon and, conversely, canon is almost exclusively approached as the principal field of a specific group of people. Canon is a field of operation for them as well as a field of reward.

Traditionally, creating sacred biographies (narrative texts of the saint's life) was a way of giving some structure and coherence to traumatising experiences in order to strengthen integrity of Christian community. But even more, sacred biographies are providing both linguistic and philosophical frame for the community understanding of such experiences and these experiences' theological, moral and political implications in a situation of new ideological needs. Imitatio Christi receives additional significance, being charged with special value as an argument believers to take part in liberation movements when national ideology was considered to share common features with magistral ideas of Christianity. More traditional authors emphasize the situation of renunciation to present models of behaviour worthy of emulation-texts provide a documentary witness of sanctification for community and in thus become themselves a part of the sacred tradition they serve to document. But there also appear interpretations of recent saints as ancestors of national heroes because the sameness of their sacrifice for a glorious idea. Genre's rhetorical practices and purposes undergo change and contribute to the construction of a national pantheon and acceptance of new personae and deeds. In the new biographical practices authors also often seek to model hero's suffering on that of Christ or to adopt certain topoi from hagiography and Scripture in an attempt to locate personal events in some larger absolute frame. As most preferable are distinguished the debate or bringing to court situations. Biographical and paradigmatic are brought together to assure legitimacy for biographical texts and auto/biographical intention. Discussing different aspects of sacred biography in 19th century we tend to conclude that recent saint's legitimacy is based chiefly on the existence of properly composed vita of a saint. At the same time conventions well known from hagiography affect different life-writing practices and continue to play a significant role in giving shape to personal experience.