The christening son

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Illustration to the legend of
the baptismal son .
Illustrator: Michael Sevier (1916)

The baptismal son ( Russian Крестник , Krestnik ) is a legend of Lev Tolstoy , which originated in the late winter of 1886 and in the same year in the April edition of the literature supplement Knischki Nedeli ( weekly booklet) to the Petersburg literary weekly newspaper Die Woche as a "folk tale" and - also in 1886 - in Tolstoy 4. Russian reader of the anthology Rasskasy is «Novoi asbuki» was published in Petersburg. An edition of the text in the Posrednik publishing house was banned as godless by the clergy Russian censors until 1906.

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A poor farmer cannot find a sponsor for his newborn son in the village. As he looks outside, he meets a willing stranger on the street.

Years later, at Easter, the baptized son asks his parents about the godfather because he wants to kiss him for Easter. The parents do not know the answer, but allow the search. So the baptized son goes out into the world. In fact, the boy finds the godfather in his ornate castle. The baptized son stays there for 30 years. Thereupon he disregards a ban of the godfather. The baptismal son enters the throne room and touches the staff next to the throne. All disaster begins. The four walls of the throne room slide down and the baptismal son looks in all directions at the evils of the world. When he punishes a robber with death, the godfather does not approve. On the contrary, the godfather demands of the baptized son to go out and atone for all the sins of the robber outside. He gives him another 30 years for this.

The baptized son confidently goes on his way, goes among the people, observes what they are doing and begins teaching a stupid young peasant woman. They can't get the dining table clean because they haven't washed the dirty cloth beforehand. Afterwards he instructs farmers who cannot bend a wheel rim on a block of wood at their workplace because it gives way to muscle power. The block must be fastened. And finally, he teaches shepherds the trick to using wet firewood: the flame of the dry wood that is lit first must be strong enough.

On the way, another robber harassed the baptized son, who was still up to mischief with impunity. The baptized son thinks about it, remembers the stupid peasant woman with the dirty mop and has found his first sensible step: First he has to cleanse his heart. To do this, he flees from people in the forest. When the robber realizes this, this bush thief responds for the first time to the constant teachings of the baptismal son, not as usual with anger, but secretly donates his dry bread. Nevertheless, the robber still threatens the hermit's life in the forest.

In the second step, the baptized son overcomes his agony of the robber by attaching his life to God. Just as the clumsy peasants had fastened the block of wood, so suddenly the fearful heart of the baptismal son bends like that rim.

The robber purges himself only when the baptized son weeps over him. The baptismal son can explain to the robber his long overdue retreat with the kindled strong fire in his heart, which has finally kindled the robber's heart.

The 30 years after touching the wand in the throne room have passed. The baptized son dies and is buried by the robber. The latter follows in the footsteps of the former. He purifies people.

German-language editions

  • The christening son. German by Arthur Luther . P. 168–188 in: Gisela Drohla (Ed.): Leo N. Tolstoj. All the stories. Fifth volume. Insel, Frankfurt am Main 1961 (2nd edition of the edition in eight volumes 1982, edition used)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ru: Неделя (газета, 1866–1903) (Книжки Недели)
  2. ↑ Russian народное сказание, narodnoje skasanije
  3. ↑ Russian Рассказы из "Новой азбуки", in German stories from the New Alphabet
  4. ↑ Russian vol. 10 of the 22-volume Tolstoy edition, Moscow 1982
  5. ↑ Russian Lidija Opulskaja : Commentary on the text at RVB.ru