Eighteenth-Century Popular Ruthenian Religious Songs in the Context of the “Folk Bible”

Eighteenth-Century Popular Ruthenian Religious Songs in the Context of the “Folk Bible” Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Ruthenian religious songs played a significant role in popular piety, primarily addressing the spiritual needs of Orthodox communities through accessible language and familiar musical forms. Composed or adapted by monks, they merged popular culture with sacred narratives, forming part of the “folk Bible” – an oral tradition conveying biblical and saintly stories. These works fulfilled evangelistic and penitential roles, making spiritual themes accessible and relatable. The songs collected and presented in this article encompass Christmas carols, praise hymns, and humorous songs reflecting everyday life. Embedded in local customs and missionary activities, some pieces were canonised in printed collections like Bohohlasnyk, while others persisted through oral or manuscript transmission, contributing to the enduring and diverse expression of Ruthenian popular religiosity.

18th century · Christmas carols · Evangelism · humorous songs · missionary work · Oral tradition · Orthodox Christianity · popular piety · Musicology and Musical Analysis · Reformation and Early Modern Christianity · Ukrainian Cultural and Linguistic Studies