Dawna Ruś w twórczości rosyjskich katolików wieku XIX. Wprowadzenie do problematyki

After converting to Catholicism, many Russian converts left their country and settled in Western Europe, including France and Italy. Scholars studying Russian Catholicism have often posited that its adherents, captivated by Western culture, renounced their native roots. However, an examination of the literature produced by Russian Catholics prompts a re-evaluation of such claims. This article analyses selected literary works by Princess Zinaida Volkonskaya (1783-1852) and texts by Jesuits Ivan Martynov (1821- 1894) and Paul Pierling (1840-1922). It demonstrates the presence of Old Russian themes in their works and explores how these themes were received in Western Europe. This paper aims to offer a preliminary analysis of texts that reflect the genuine cultural identity of Russian Catholic converts and their attachment to their national heritage despite the influence of Western European culture on them.