This Page Last Updated October 25th, 2008 (new style reckoning)
Excerpts from THE DOMOSTROI -
mid-16th century
“Foundation of a Home”
Rules for Russian Households
The Domostroi prescribes that: the father must conduct daily
religious services in the home, and the women of the house must attend church services
daily. The father is head of the house and rules the home, and the wife must be
disciplined most carefully – if she misbehaves, it is her husband's duty
to correct her. Children and servants must also be corrected for their
transgressions. The mother must keep her husband's clothes clean and mended and
prepare her daughter's trousseau, and the father must set aside his daughter's
dowry. The document states:
“Every day in the evening, any man who can read should sing
vespers, compline, and the
How to Educate Children and Bring Them Up
In the Fear of God
If God send children, sons or daughters, father and mother must
take care of these their children. Provide for them and bring them up in good
instruction. Teach them the fear of God and politeness and propriety, and teach
them some handicraft, according to the time and age of the children: the mother
instructing her daughters, and the father his sons, as best he knows and as God
counsels him. Love them and watch them and save them through fear. Teaching and
instructing them and reasoning with them, correcting them. Teach your children
in their youth, and you will have a quiet old age. Look after their bodily
cleanliness, and keep them from all sin, like the apple of your eye and your
own souls. If the children transgress through the neglect of their parents, the
parents will answer for these sins on the day of the terrible judgment. If the
children are not taken care of and transgress through lack of the parents'
instruction, or do some evil, there will be both to the parents and children a
sin before God, scorn and ridicule before men, a loss to the house, grief to
oneself, and cost and shame from the judges. If by God-fearing, wise and
sensible people the children be brought up in the fear of God, and in good
instruction and sensible teaching, in wisdom and politeness and work and
handicraft, such children and their parents are loved by God, blessed by the
clerical vocation, and praised by good people; and when they are of the proper
age, good people will gladly and thankfully marry off their sons, according to
their possessions and the will of God, and will give their daughter In marriage
to their sons. And if God take away one of their children, after the confession
and extreme unction, the parents bring a pure offering to God to take up an
abode in the eternal mansion; and the child is bold to beg God’s mercy
and forgiveness of his parents’ sins.
How to Teach Children and Save Them
through Fear
Teach well your son in his youth, and he will give you a quiet old
age, and restfulness to your soul. Weaken not in correcting the boy, for he
will not lose life from your instruction, but will be in better health: for in
such discipline you save his soul from death. If you love your son, correct him
frequently, that you may rejoice later. Chide your son in his childhood and you
will be glad in his manhood, and you will boast among evil persons and your
enemies will be envious. Bring up your child with much prohibition and you will
have peace and blessing from him. Do not smile at him, or play with him, for
though that will diminish your grief while he is a child, it will increase it
when he is older, and you will cause much bitterness to your soul. Give him no
power in his youth, but restrain him while he is growing and does not in his
willfulness obey you, lest there be an aggravation and suffering to your soul,
a loss to your house, destruction to your property, scorn from your neighbors
and ridicule from your enemies, and cost and worriment from the authorities.
How Christians Are to Cure Diseases and
all Kinds of Ailments
If God send any disease or ailment down upon a person let him cure
himself through the grace of God, through tears, prayer, fasting, and charity
to the poor and true repentance. Let him thank the Lord and beg His
forgiveness, and show mercy and undisguised charity to everybody. Have the
clergy pray to the Lord for you, and sing hymns and prayers. Sanctify the water
with the holy crosses and holy relics and miracle-working images, and be anointed
with the holy oil. Frequent the miracle-working and holy places, and pray there
with a pure conscience. In that way you will receive from God a cure for all
your ailments. But you must henceforth abstain from sin, and in the future do
no wrong, and keep the commands of the spiritual fathers, and do penance. Thus
you will be purified from sin, and your spiritual and bodily ailment will be
cured, and God will be gracious to you.
The Wife Is Always and in All Things to
Take Counsel with Her Husband
In all affairs of everyday life, the wife is to take counsel with
her husband, and to ask him, if she needs anything. Let her be sure that her
husband wants her to keep company with the guests she invites, or the people
she calls upon. Let her put on the best garment, if she receives a guest, or
herself is invited somewhere to dinner. By all means let her abstain from
drinking liquor, for a drunk man is bad enough, but a
drunk woman has no place in the world. A woman ought to talk with her
lady-friends of handiwork and housekeeping. She must pay attention to any good
word that is said in her own house, or in that of her friend: how good women
live, how they keep house, manage their household, instruct their children and
servants, obey their husbands, and ask their advice in everything, and submit
to them. And if there is anything she does not know, let her politely inquire
about it.... It is good to meet such good women, not for the sake of eating and
drinking with them, but for the sake of good conversation and information, for
it is profitable to listen to them. Let not a woman rail at anyone, or gossip
about others. If she should be asked something about a person, let her answer:
“I know nothing about it, and have heard nothing of it; I do not inquire
about things that do not concern me; nor do I sit in judgment over the wives of
princes, boiars, or my neighbors.”
How to Instruct Servants
Enjoin your servants not to talk about other people. If they have been
among strangers, and have noticed anything bad there, let them not repeat it at
home; nor should they spread rumors about what is going on at home. A servant
must remember what he has been sent for, and he must not know, nor answer any
other questions that are put to him. The moment he has carried out his
commission, he should return home and report to his master in regard to the
matter he has been sent for; let him not gossip of things he has not been
ordered to report, lest he cause quarrel and coldness between the masters. If
you send your servant, or son, to tell, or do something, or buy a thing, ask
him twice: “What have I ordered you to do? What are you to say, or do, or
buy?” If he repeats to you as you have ordered him, all is well.... if
you send anywhere some eatables or liquids, send full measures, so that they
cannot lie about them. Send your wares after having measured or weighed them,
and count the money, before you send it out. Best of all, dispatch under seal.
Carefully instruct the servant whether he is to leave the things at the house,
if the master should be absent, or if he is to bring them back home.... When a
servant is sent to genteel people, let him knock at the door softly. If anyone
should ask him, as he passes through the courtyard: “What business brings
you here?” let him not give him any satisfaction, but say: “I have
not been sent to you; I shall tell to him to whom I have been sent.” Let
him clean his dirty feet before the antechamber, or house, or cell, wipe his
nose, clear his throat, and correctly say his prayer; and if he does not
receive an “amen” in response, he should repeat the prayer in a
louder voice, twice or three times. If he still receives no answer, he must
softly knock at the door. When he is admitted, he should bow before the holy
images, give his master's respects, and tell his message. While doing so, let
him not put his finger in his nose, nor cough, nor clean his nose, nor clear
his throat, nor spit. If he absolutely must do so, let him step aside. He must stand
straight and not look to either side when reporting the message; nor should he
relate any matter not relevant to the message. Having done his duty, he should
forthwith return home, to report to his master.
How to keep your house clean and well-ordered
In a
good family, where the wife is careful, the house is always clean and
well-arranged; everything is in order, put away in its right place, cleaned and
swept. It's like going into paradise. All this is the wife's job; she must
instruct the servants and children in friendly manner or in harsher words if
that does not help. But if the husband sees that wife and servants are careless
and don't follow the rules set in this manual, he must teach his wife, reason
with her and instruct her. If she complies and does everything as it should be
done, she deserves love and favor; but if she fails to conform to precepts, to
do the work and to teach the servants, let her husband discipline her and scare
her in private; and after he should relent and speak kindly. Punishment must be
given in love and with judgment. The husband should not be angry with his wife,
nor she with him; but they should live in love and openness. Behave likewise
with servants and children: punish their offenses, correct them for their faults,
and then relent. The lady must look after the servants with good judgment; they
will then be encouraged. But if wife, son, or daughter pays no heed to word or
instruction, if they will not listen, obey, and fear, if they refuse to do what
they are told by father or mother, they should be corrected according to their
offense. Correct them in private, not in public; punish, then relent and say a
loving word.
The Russian Family Code
From the 16th century
64 Chapters on every aspect of life, on worship, honor of tsar and
the home
The
father was the head of the family, the master whom his wife, children and
servants must obey. Children should be raised in fear of punishment. Having
praised the value of punishment, The Family Code offered advice on
teaching children handicraft and housework.
A wife
must be faithful and obedient to her husband. Her greatest value was in being
“good, hardworking and quiet.” She must raise the children and work
at home, cooking, washing, sewing, preserving food being economical and
thrifty. Her every step, her every wish, must be endorsed by her husband.
Rebellion is anticipated. If the husband sees that his wife is clumsy,
insubordinate, or does not heed his advice, The Family Code permits a
lashing, a lesson for which she should be thankful. There are mercies. The
Family Code advises the husband not to get carried away, so as not to
accidentally cause serious injury.
Advice
to Fathers:
“Punish
your son in his youth and be at peace in your old age... If you have daughters,
rule them strictly, and you will protect them from harm.”
Advice
to wives:
“You
should ask about everything, get advice about everything: where to go out, whom
to invite into your house, and what to talk about with your guests.”
-
Family Code
In the
17th century Peter I changed some things. Thinness was, for Russian women of
that time, considered a real deficiency, and there were several sure methods
for gaining weight.
The
traditional Russian dress was cumbersome and heavy. It swung from the shoulders
like a bell, ensuring that the dress in no way clung to the form of the woman's
body. Neck and shoulders were covered by an expensive cloth or fur collar. The
dress was worn with a headdress, which for married women completely hid the
hair. Untidy hair was a sign of deep grief or trauma.
Peter's
new fashions . . . agitated women and made men indignant for they zealously
guarded the modesty of their wives and daughters. The new style affected men in
that they had to part with their beard.
Peter
I had a set of codes produced called An Honest Mirror of Youth.
It advised young men to be obedient to God and faithful to the tsar, to honor
the old, respect parents, and to behave politely, not only at home but on the
street or when visiting. Peter's code for youth also had this advice.
“It's
terribly rude, when someone blows his nose as if he were blowing a trumpet, or
sneezes loudly, like a scream, and frightens other people or in church scares
small children...
“If
you are walking on the street, be careful not to look around you or walk with
your mouth agape, like a lazy ass...
“When
visiting, appear neat and clean and do not forget good manners...
“Wash
your hands and sit decorously, and don't grab for the first dish. Don't eat
like a pig, splattering everywhere... don't jiggle your legs... don't wipe your
mouth with your hand... don't lick your fingers and don't gnaw on the bones...
don't talk with your mouth full, and so on.”
Times Editions
Pte1994, Pages 19-22, Women in Society - Russia, Marshall Cavendish Corporation
A Russian Spice Chest from Domostroi
Domostroi is a 16th century document, drawn up
under the auspices of Metropolitan Makery, depicting
in detail how a true Russian Christian home should be run. The most widely
known version was edited by the priest Sylvester, chaplain to Ivan the
Terrible. It emphasizes respect for the Tsar and his officials and
unquestioning obedience to their wishes. It has three sections: the first deals
with Orthodox faith and duties to the state; the second with home life; and the
third with practical matters.
Domostroi contains a detailed picture of a Russian spice chest at that time. It
mentions the following spices and flavorings:
o
Saffron (22 mentions)
o
Pepper (10 mentions)
o
Garlic (9 mentions) - garlic and onions were
described as prevalent by visitors in the early 17th century
o
Poppy seeds (8 mentions)
o
Hops (7 mentions) - (khmel’)
were used to flavor beer and fermented drinks from the 11th century onwards.
They grew wild in northern
o
Cloves (5 mentions)
o
Nutmeg (4 mentions)
o
Ginger (4 mentions)
o
Herbs (4 mentions)
o
Hemp
seed (3 mentions) - used
mainly as a source of oil, but hemp seed cakes are also mentioned. Hemp seed
was a common component of food allowances in the 16th century.
o
Lemon (3 mentions) - these seem to have been
preserved in salt or brine and were imported. Lemon rinds were a snack in the
early 17th century. (2 mentions)
o
Frankincense
and incense (2 mentions)
- for burning near icons and as church offering
o
Cinnamon (2 mentions)
o
Mace (1 mention)
o
Dill (1 mention) - added to consecrated wine
Women and the Domostroi
a student paper by Guergana Gougoumanova, Mt Holyoake College