Konstantin Zvezdochetov. Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! no date (2000s?)

Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! (Konstantin Zvezdochetov, no date (2000s?))

This work is indicitive of the creative synthesis taking part in Russia today. Russians are not merely rejecting Communism, rather, they are taking what was good from the Soviet period and combining it with the best of the Tsarist and Old Russian traditions. In short, it is not merely a slavish imitation of American-style “democracy” (which has disappointed many in the West), but, it is a unique construct suited to the particular history, culture, and weltanshauung of Russia. That is to say, it stands in opposition to many of the accepted verities of “modernity”… thank God for that!

Olga Dolgaya. Ilya Muromets and Prince Vladimir. 1998

Ilya Muromets and Prince Vladimir (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Ivan Eggink. Grand Prince St Vladimir Examines the Faith. undated (first quarter of the 19th century?)

Grand Prince St Vladimir Examines the Faith (Ivan Eggink, undated (first quarter of the 19th century?))

Of course, this depiction is highly stylised, but, it does symbolise the fact that Grand Prince St Vladimir chose Orthodoxy over Roman Catholicism in 988. Do not forget that St Vladimir consciously rejected both Islam and Roman Catholicism… he was not merely ignorant of them. The former he considered too fanatical (for it forbade liquor) and the latter he found confusing (for his emissaries were not impressed with RC liturgy, finding it irreverent). Orthodoxy both he and his ambassadors found “just right” (“We did not know if we were in heaven or on earth”, in regards to the liturgy at Agia Sofia).

Russia is deeply Orthodox to this day… and shall remain so until the Last Trump, I am sure (Am I Orthodox? Well… I’m Russian… does that answer your question?).

Sergei Prisekin. The Battle of Kulikovo. 1994

The Battle of Kulikovo (Sergei Prisekin, 1994)

The Battle of the Field of Kulikovo is one of the turning points in Russian history. Although it occurred in 1380, the date of its anniversary is still marked with great ceremony today, it is very much alive in the consciousness of the Russian people. Grand Prince St Dmitri Donskoi led the Russian host to victory over the Tatars, and it marked the beginning of the expansion of the Russian state to the east and south. Before departing for the field of battle, St Dmitri received a blessing from St Sergei of Radonezh, who founded one of the most famous Russian monasteries, the St Sergius-Holy Trinity Lavra in Sergeyev Posad, which remains one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in all of Russia. One of the leading heroes of the battle was Prince Dmitri Bobrok of Volyn, who led the charge of the Volynian vityazi (Russian knights) that broke the Tartar line.

N. Samokish. A Troika. circa 1930

A Troika (N. Samokish, circa 1930)

Konstantin Vasiliev. The Reaper. 1966

The Reaper (Konstantin Vasiliev, 1966)

Konstantin Vasiliev. Swans. 1967

Swans (Konstantin Vasiliev, 1967)

Konstantin Vasiliev. An Elder. 1968

An Elder (Konstantin Vasiliev, 1968)

Konstantin Vasiliev. A Warrior with an Axe. 1968

A Warrior with an Axe (Konstantin Vasiliev, 1968)

Konstantin Vasiliev. A Warrior with a Sword. 1968

A Warrior with a Sword (Konstantin Vasiliev, 1968)