Why the name Svetlana is not recognized by the Church

The formation of Russian names occurred centuries under the influence of many factors and cultures. Despite this, our imenoslov hard to call flexible. This is particularly well visible in the pre-revolutionary era, when a new name could appear only in the case of the canonization of the new Saint. Naming children as it is today, at its discretion, parents could not, but some names that are not associated with the Orthodox tradition, still unable to settle down. One of these few names — Svetlana.

Many believe that the name Svetlana came to us from pre-Christian times, but it's not. The history of this name well known to scientists, primarily because it is original, that is, invented by a specific person. It appeared in the early 19th century and at first was present only in the pages of literary works. But then, it is loved by people and they started calling children.

Alexander Khristoforovich Vostokov

For the first time this beautiful woman's name appeared in the poem "Svetlana and Mstislav," written by philologist and poet and Slavophile Alexander Khristoforovich Vostokova in 1806. But after the publication of "the heroic story of four songs", stylized Slavic antiquity, it has not become popular. Much more made for his "introduction to the masses," another Russian writer Vasily Zhukovsky.

Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky

In 1813 Zhukovsky, which is considered the founder of Russian romanticism, publishes a ballad called "Svetlana". You might think that there had been plagiarism, but it is not. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the most different things were in great fashion, so the light appears various Dobrava, Milolika and acceptance generated by the imagination of writers and poets.

Gad Svetlana. Karl Bryullov, 1836

Almost always these heroines, appearing in the work of one author, immediately migrated into the work of others. In the early 19th century literature was saturated pseudo-exotic names, but they all sank into Oblivion, remaining only a tribute to the literary fashion. But the name Svetlana had a different fate — it has become an accepted and even popular.

So Svetlana can thank two people — Vostokova, who invented this name and Zhukovsky, whose genius attracted worldwide attention. The ballad "Svetlana" has become not just popular, it was called a national. This is an amazing example of how a piece written for nobility, was leaked to the national environment and and became.

The frigate "Svetlana", 1856

Very soon began to appear imitation "Svetlana," parody and free paraphrase and then a separate poems. In 1856 appeared the frigate "Svetlana", and in 1913, this name was called lamp factory. Of course, business owners were attracted to the consonance name, purpose products, designed to bring light to the masses.

The Svetlana health resort in Sochi. 1910

But the clergy were not interested in the true origin of the name Svetlana — they knew that in the calendar it is not, and therefore to bless the parents to call them daughter not. In 1912, "industry publication" the journal "Church Bulletin" wrote about it this:

Despite his seemingly tough stance, the Synod once made an exception. Was allowed to call Svetlana, the daughter of the commandant of the fortress, but due to the fact that the request by her uncle — the captain of a warship "Svetlana".

Stalin with daughter Svetlana. The 1930-ies

Over time, Svetlana became more and more promoted that Stalin's daughter was named that way. Especially a lot of people the daughter of the leader was among the party leadership to give it the name of the child was considered a sign of good taste. Ordinary citizens, too, are not far behind, and a name firmly established in the five most popular for years to come.

Holy Fotini Palestinian

It got to the point that even Church leaders relented, and in 1943, picked up the Greek analogue of Svetlana — the name Fotini is derived from the Greek "photos", then there is light. This meant that girls in Orthodox families could be called Lights, but in baptism they were named uniquely Votingapi.