Oleshko Y. Old Ukrainian sermon of the 17th century in communicative and cognitive dimension.

The dissertation outlines the main approaches to the study of preaching in modern linguistics, argues for the feasibility of a comprehensive study of the ancient texts written in the Old Ukrainian language, defines the features of the sermon as a religious institutional discourse, and reveals the dominants of homiletic discourse. Religious discourse is considered as a type of institutional discourse, which appears to be historical and socio-cultural meaningful activity aimed at broadcasting the tenets of faith and familiarizing the congregation with the system of religious beliefs. A homiletic discourse, being its component, is a meaningful activity implemented in the communication of a religious community of people and aimed at reflection, interpretation, and assimilation of dogmas. The dissertation analyzes the specific features of addressing and addresseeing; the religious discourse presupposes the presence of God, the super-agent, whose sacred knowledge is broadcast via a preacher. The implementation of the strategies and tactics of speech influence in the sermon is discussed in the dissertation as well. The organizing, isolating, and uniting strategies are among the most relevant ones. The tactics of emotional influence and conventional argumentation prevail in homiletic discourse in general. Preachers appeal to their listeners, strengthen the confidence and steadfastness of the believers, shape both rational and irrational knowledge of the congregation, and consolidate the religious community. In the Ukrainian culture of the 17th century, preaching undergoes deep changes. In the 'kazannia' as a new practice for the discursive activity of the Old Ukrainian period, there are the expanded possibilities of interpretation of the Scripture; the sermons connect biblical images and events with the life of the 17th century people. Hence, the preaching discourse reflects the then social needs, as well as interaction with European discursive practices. The dominance of such a type of the sermon, which is opposed to the previous homilies for common people, indicates the change in thinking and understanding the world as well as its dynamism.