House Order

"House Order" is one of the most significant literary works of medieval Russia. The House Order, as a regulation of family, economic, and religious life, was formed in Novgorod in the 15th century. This was a turning point in Russian life; it was during this time that the modern Russian worldview was forged, rooted in the genetic memory of the people. The text of the "House Order" is a great monument of Russian writing of the 16th century, a sort of encyclopedia of family life, domestic customs, and traditions of the Russian people. Practical advice on the economic activities of the householder was constantly supplemented. Thus, a book was formed, narrating "about spiritual structure," "about worldly structure," "about household structure." The composition of the "House Order" is as simple as the prayer "Our Father," which everyone knew. It is a unique compilation of the patriarchal family structure aimed at achieving righteousness, strengthening the family, and creating and maintaining abundance in the home, describing how to raise children, how to celebrate renewal, how to set a table for a guest, and how to avoid offending the poor. It glorified faith in God, mercy, honesty, and diligence while condemning idleness and vanity, drunkenness and gluttony, slander and greed. Subsequently, the text was edited by the well-known church and state figure, confessor of Ivan the Terrible, priest Silvester of the Kremlin's Annunciation Cathedral, who transferred this text to Moscow, adapting it for the needs of Moscow life; he compiled the "Small House Order," based on his own life experience. The free composition of the text allowed for the continuous addition of new advice – from the rituals of wedding ceremonies to recommendations for managing the household, to recipes for new dishes, and even instructions on medicinal herbs capable of reviving even a warrior wounded in battle. The "House Order" became an indispensable textbook of practical wisdom and moral purity for many generations of Russian people. And centuries after its creation, it has not lost its relevance and continues to serve as a compilation of the moral and practical principles of the Russian people.