Biblical allusions in the Old Icelandic “Saga of Bishop Thorlak”

Abstract

This article for the first time in Russian science analyzes in detail the nature and functions of biblical allusions (references to the Old and New Testaments) in the Old Icelandic “Saga of Bishop Thorlak” (version A), compiled at the beginning of the XIII century, shortly after the death of Thorlak Thorhallsson, the sixth head of the episcopal see of Skalholt in the south of Iceland. Especially frequent are references to the Gospel texts, the epistles of the Apostle Paul and the Psalter (usually mentioning the name of the biblical king and the prophet David). The place of bishop sagas in Old Icelandic literature is noted, as well as the use of narrative techniques typical of Icelandic family sagas and the influence of continental hagiography. Consistently analyzing the place and role of biblical allusions in the biography of Bishop Thorlak, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that the people of ancient Iceland, having early fallen under Roman Catholic influence and remaining outside the gracious gifts of the Universal Orthodox Church, nevertheless wanted to see in their priesthood those ethical ideals that the Christian literature from the Continent brought, primarily the Bible and the lives of saints. The use of biblical allusions in the “Saga of Bishop Thorlak” is aimed at revealing the evangelical ethical ideals that the Icelandic people have been striving to since their baptism in 999/1000. The conclusions of the article are supported by copious quotations from the “Saga of Bishop Thorlak”, made in the author’s translation from the Old Icelandic language.