INTERPRETATION OF MEDIEVAL APOCRYPHA THROUGH BIBLICAL AND BOGOMILLIAN CONNECTIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize apocryphal literature in the context of medieval literature. With this paper, we aim to bring the apocryphal texts closer to the target audience through a multimedia approach and in a creative-interpretive way. When we started working on this paper, we had in mind the lack of representation of the Apocrypha in primary and secondary education programs. Accordingly, we hypothesized that young people would not have knowledge and understanding of these medieval texts. To confirm our assumption, we conducted research by surveying 114 respondents who are part of the educational process. Those 114 respondents are pupils and students in different schools and faculties, and they are also from institutions from different municipalities. The survey confirmed the hypothesis. Specifically, according to the results of the survey, a very small percentage of respondents have knowledge of the term Apocrypha. Therefore, we made a video - material that will be available to the young population through social networks. The video material will be available and distributed to the teachers of the respondents, who we hope will emphasize the apocryphal texts as part of the minimum number of classes dedicated to medieval literature. Within the framework of this paper, we also talk about the authorship of the Apocrypha, and locate their origin. We emphasize the division of the Apocrypha. In terms of authorship, we emphasize the fact of the existence and beginnings of Bogomilism on Macedonian soil, thus starting the connection of apocryphal literature with the Bogomil movement. Also, through this paper we highlight the biblical connections of the Apocrypha. We confirm this through an interpretative approach to several medieval apocrypha, and by determining the similarities and differences in them. Hence, in many apocrypha only motifs are taken from the Bible, and the rest of the text has no correspondence with the Holy Scriptures. Apart from the motifs, toponyms and personalities are biblical. We emphasize the Bogomil connections of the Apocrypha in terms of their authorship.