Abstract: The old Russian literature is a special phenomenon. It is characterized by the neglect of autonomous aesthetic function, author's self-expression or deliberately cultivated author's style, and thus results in the rejection of fiction and of the comic effect. Practically there were no secular works in the strict sense of the word. The old Russian literature is not organized as a system of artistic genres. Its peculiarity lies in the tact that it is understood as a sacred language, and the main task of the writer. Who is very much like a scribe, is to explain the meanings of the Bible to the public. The revival of the traditions of the old Russian literature in Russia has been occurring since the middle of the 19th century. This process can be explained by the increased interest in the Bible as source of a spiritual values and is connected with awareness of the aesthetic significance of the symbolic language of old Russian literature.

Key words: the old Russian literature, the peculiarity of literature, the continuity of literature