Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature 1607-6192 2713-2226 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2023-22-272-291 Research Article Articles Biblical Issues in the Holy Word to Peter, Alexy and Jonah by Prince S.I. Shakhovskoy Medvedev Alexander A. old-rus@imli.ru 2023 22 272 291 Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article examines the consideration and functioning of biblical quotations and images in the unpublished Holy Word to the Moscow Metropolitans Peter, Alexy and Jonah by Prince S.I. Shakhovskoy, which is in the collection of prince’s works (RDM RSL, f.173.1, no. 231, ll. 213–267). Prince S.I. Shakhovskoy actively used extensive quotations from the Holy Scriptures in the monument dedicated to the Moscow saints. This circumstance is dictated by the intention of the work — educational and didactic. Biblical quotations of commendable word (prelates Peter, Alexy and Jonah are presented to readers as saints of God, scribes depict the spiritual qualities of monument heroes), it can be introduced into the text and indicating the source (or author) and without it, exactly or with a change in the quote form, as well as a paraphrase. All biblical quotations and analogies that are found in the text are intended to glorify the saint and enhance the emotional coloring of author’s speech. As it was traditional in Old Russian texts, biblical borrowings are used by author to narrate events and explain their course, to depict characters in a laudatory word, and also to enhance the emotionality of the narration, to create an expressive and embellished language that differs from everyday speech.