The Biblical plot about the sorcerer Valaam in the Old Russian “Word about the Star of Irania

The story about the prophecy of sorcerer Valaam is an essential plot component “Word Star Irania,” ancient Russian homily dedicated to Christmas events. source study text under consideration was performed by comparing it with various texts Old tradition treating history from perspectives narrative (with Menaion services cycle, Explanatory Palea, Historical Palea). analysis revealed in Irania” be connected Palea. However, its author uses several unique readings Palea: Balaam’s service Baal, desire curse, and Persian recording prophecy, possibly related Jewish exegetical comments on Pentateuch Moses. Another proves word “Adoration Magi” Prologue, second (Large) edition. It confirmed unity components plan paraphrastic processing separate fragments prologue Irania.” context handwritten collections where exists literary connections indicate that Kirill Turovsky, or scribes his school, were involved creation. Word genre specificity “allows us define monument as a homily.