The Rock of Faith, a.k.a. The Stone of Faith (Russian: Камень веры), is a major anti-Protestant treatise written by archbishop, Stefan Yavorsky in 1713–1715. Its full title "The Stone of faith: for the sons of the holy Orthodox Church — for affirmation and spiritual creation; for those who stumble over a block of stumbling and temptation — for getting up and correcting", Church Slavonic: Камєнь вѣры: православнымъ цєрквы святыѧ сыномъ на утвєрждєнїє и духовноє созиданїє. Прєтыкающымсѧ жє ω камєнь прєтыканїѧ и соблазна. На востанїє и исправленїє. Later it was also published under the title, The Stone of Faith of the Orthodox Catholic Eastern Church, Russian: Камень веры православно-кафолическия восточныя Церкви...
Peter the Great forbade its publication: at these times Russia needed to attract foreigners, and such work would be detrimental to this. It was published in 1728 under Peter II.
An anonymous pamphlet that has eventually become known in historical works under the title, "Hammer on the Rock of Faith" (Молоток на „Камень веры“, Molotok na kamen very), a rebuttal of Yavorsky's treatise, appeared between 1732 and 1734.
Summary
The Rock of Faith consists of twelve chapters that cover the following issues: the icons; the cross; the relics; the Eucharist; prayers to the saints; prayers for the departed; tradition; liturgy; fasting; good works; and punishment of heretics.
References
- ^ Adam Drozdek, "STEFAN IAVORSKII AND PROTESTANTISM"
- Митрополит Стефан (Яворский) и книга «Камень веры», citing Anton Kartashev, Очерки по истории Русской Церкви, vol. II, 2006. p. 473
- Grigoryev A.B. ЗАГАДКИ СОЧИНЕНИЯ «МОЛОТОК НА КНИГУ “КАМЕНЬ ВЕРЫ”» (contains a text of The Hammer..., in Russian, based on an 18th century manuscript from Russian archives)