Femininity in History of Russian Thought, Culture and Art

Abstract

Femininity in this article is considered in the broad sense of the word. First, attention is drawn to
Sophia the Wisdom of God, merging the ancient image of Pallas Athena and the old Testament
image of the virgin of Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs. The article then presents the historical
figure of Princess Olga, through whom Christianity began to penetrate Russia. The next figure
of Euphrosyne of Polotsk a prominent 12th century enlightener. Standing out in the 17th century
the author finds the bright person of Princess Sophia, who fought with Peter the Great for power.
She was a pupil of Simeon of Polotsk, well-educated, knew Greek, Latin, Polish, and possessed
a literary gift. But the time for such educated rulers will come only in the 18th century, the most
significant of which will be Catherine the Great, a kind of philosopher on the throne, who did a
lot for the prosperity of Russia.