Biblical allusions and hidden quotations in the introductory portion of the “Epistle to metropolitan Daniel” of Fyodor Karpov

The article presents the results of a textual analysis of the opening part of the “Epistle to Metropolitan Daniel” by a Russian diplomat and publicist of the first third of the 16th century, F. I. Karpov. Hidden quotations from the books of the Old Testament and the Epistles of St. Clement to the Apostle James are revealed. The author justifies the hypothesis that this text also contains a reference to the Seneca tragedy “Phaedra” and concludes that biblical allusions and hidden quotations make it possible to specify the date of the “Epistle” and come closer to understanding Karpov’s views, as well as his emotional state in the middle 1530’s. The introductory part of the “Epistle” is written in order to establish contact with the interlocutor and to point out the possible closeness of their views. This was necessary because in the main part of the “Epistle”, Karpov entered into polemics with the views of Metropolitan Daniel concerning very significant issues of state administration. Thus the main goal of the introduction to the “Epistle” is to show that in the main points, that is, in assessing the current state of the country, the two interlocutors agree, and thereby to ensure the recipient’s friendly attitude to the entire text of the “Epistle”