Demonology in Ancient Russian Literature

Fyodor Alekseevich Ryazanovsky (1887–1936) — a graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy, curator of the Kostroma Provincial Museum, author of works on the history of the region and ancient Russian literature.

The text "Demonology in Ancient Russian Literature" was first published in 1915. Using materials from the lives of saints, chronicles, teachings, and apocrypha, Ryazanovsky reconstructs a comprehensive system of folk beliefs about unclean forces and evil spirits, showing that demonological narratives were an organic part of medieval worldview. The context reveals the place of this work in the history of science: the work emerged at a turning point when new methods for studying folk culture were replacing the abstract mythologism of the 19th century. The publication includes the full text of "Demonology in Ancient Russian Literature."