Dimnik, Martin

Martin Dimnik C.S.B. (Obrije pri Ljubljani, 6. oktobra 1941), redovnik (Congregation of the Priests of St. Basil), dr. znanosti, profesor za srednji vek kijevske Rusije in dekan pri Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS) v Toronto.
Rodil se je v Ljubljani, 1945 se je preselil v Avstrijo kjer je začel osnovno šolo v Špitalu na Dravi, 1949 pa je odšel v Kanado. Tam je po končani srednji šoli (Lethbridge, Alberta) kot osemnajstletnik vstopil v red bazilijancev (Toronto, Ontario) in se usmeril v duhovniški poklic. Na Univerzi v Toronto (U of T) je napisal magistrsko nalogo: "The Apocrypha of Adam and Eve in Russia: a Historical and Literary Analysis" (1971). Junija istega leta je bil posvečen za duhovnika v Lethbridge. 1976 je doktoriral v Angliji, v Oxfordu, s temo: "The Life and Assassination of Mikhail of Chernigov: an Investigation of the Sources". Takoj po doktoratu je bil izvoljen za ‘Junior Fellow’ v PIMS (v U of T), 1983 za ‘Senior Fellow’ v PIMS, 1986 za Full Professor, Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS v U of T), 1999 Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Theology, University of St. Michael's College (USMC v U of T).
Funkcije v PIMS, USMC, in CMS: predavatelj zgodovine za srednji vek, za kijevsko Rusijo, za pokristjanjenje balkanskih narodov, in za bizantinsko numizmatiko; generalni sekretar PIMS (1987–1990); rektor PIMS (1990–1996); od 2008 pa dekan (PIMS).
Za dopisnega člana SAZU je bil izvoljen 5 maja 2011.
Pri raziskavi zgodovine kijevske Rusije, njegova specializacija, se Dimnik opira največ na ruske srednjeveške letopise. Hkrati je nekajkrat obiskal Rusijo in Ukrajino, da bi natančneje spoznal njuno politično, cerkveno, kulturno in arhitekturno zgodovino. Predvsem ga zanimajo nasledstvo na prestolu in dinastični rodovniki, posebno rodovnik dinastije Černigovskih knezov.
Rezultate svojega raziskovalnega dela je Dimnik sproti objavljal v mednarodnih revijah, v posameznih poglavjih, enciklopedijah in petih knjigah. Najpomembnejša dela so:
Dimnik M. (1978) Russian princes and their identities in the first half of the thirteenth century, Mediaeval Studies XL. Toronto: 157 - 189.
Dimnik M. (1981) Mikhail, Prince of Chernigov and Grand Prince of Kiev, 1224 – 1246. Toronto.
Dimnik M. (1982) The Place of Ryurik Rostislavich's Death: Kiev or Chernigov. Mediaeval Studies XLIV: 371 - 393.
Dimnik M. (1987) The 'Testament' of Iaroslav 'The Wise': A Re-examination, Canadian Slavonic Papers no. 4, vol. XXIX: 369-386.
Dimnik M. (1988) Oleg Svyatoslavich and His Patronage of the Cult of SS. Boris and Gleb. Mediaeval Studies 50: 349 - 370.
Dimnik M. (1993) Oleg's Status as Ruler of Tmutarakan': The Sphragistic Evidence. Mediaeval Studies 55: 137-149.
Dimnik M. (1994) The Dynasty of Chernigov 1054-1146. Toronto.
Dimnik M. (1996) Succession and Inheritance in Rus' before 1054. Mediaeval Studies 58: 87-117.
Dimnik M. (2000) The Coinage of Vladimir (988-1015) and his Sons (1015-1034), Proceedings of the 2nd International Numismatic Congress in Croatia, October 15-17, 1998, Opatija. Rijeka: 75-88.
Dimnik M. (2001) Igor’s Defeat at the Kayala (1185): The Chronicle Evidence. Mediaeval Studies 63: 245-282.
Dimnik M. (2003) The Dynasty of Chernigov 1146-1246. Cambridge University Press.
Dimnik M. (2004) The Title ‘Grand Prince’ in Kievan Rus’. Mediaeval Studies 66: 253-312.
Dimnik M. (2005) Who was the Elder Svyatoslavich, Oleg (d. 1115) or David (d. 1123)?, Zberezhennia istoryko-kul’turnykh nadban’ Sivershchyny. Hlukhiv, Ukrajina: 24-35.
Dimnik M. (2005) The Patriarchal Coins of Medieval Serbia: An Anomaly, Proceedings of the 4th International Numismatic Congress in Croatia, September 20-25, 2004, Stari Grad otok Hvar. Rijeka: 63-73.
Dimnik M. (2006) Sviatosha - the First Prince-Monk of Kievan Rus’, in Love of Learning and Devotion to God in Orthodox Monasteries. 5th International Hilandar Conference, Raška, Serbia, September 2002, Selected Proceedings 1. Beograd-Columbus: 258-265.
Dimnik M. (2006) The Rus’ principalities (1125-1246), The Cambridge History of Russia, chapter 5, vol. 1. ed. Maureen Perrie. Cambridge: 98-126.
Dimnik M. (2007) The Patrimonies of the Rostislavichi in the Kievan Lands: An Anomaly, Mediaeval Studies 69: 187-222.
Dimnik M. (2008) Dynastic Burials in Kiev before 1240, Ruthenica 7. Kiev: 71-104.
Dimnik M. (2008) Mstislav Mstislavich ‘The Bold’ (d. 1228): A Unique Prince of Kievan Rus’. Mediaeval Studies 70: 67-113.
Dimnik M., Dobrinić J. (2008) Medieval Slavic Coinages in the Balkans: Numismatic History and Catalogue. Spink, London.
Dimnik M. (2009) Ryurik Rostislavich (d. 1208?): the Unsung Champion of the Rostislavichi. Ruthenica VIII. Kiev: 31-65.
Dimnik M. (2010) The Nature of Princely Rule in Novgorod from 970 to 1136. Mediaeval Studies 72: 125-159.
Dimnik M. (2010) The Apocrypha of Adam and Eve in Russia: The Forbidden Fruit. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.
Članstvo v American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, American Numismatic Society, Canadian Association of Slavists, Early Slavic Studies Association (USA), Oxford Society.
Za svoje raziskovalno delo v Balkanskoj numizmatiki je bil leta 2009 izvoljen za dopisnega člana Hrvatskog numizmatičkog društva, Zagreb; zaslužni profesor Univerze v Torontu (2011).

(junij 2011)