КВІНТЕСЕНЦІЯ ДУХОВНИХ ХРАМІВ ВОЛИНІ КІНЦЯ ХІХ – ПОЧАТКУ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ У ПРОПОВІДЯХ АРХІЄПИСКОПА ВОЛИНСЬКОГО І ЖИТОМИРСЬКОГО ДИМИТРІЯ

Abstract

The analysis of the sermons of the Archbishop of Volynskyy and Zhytomyrskyy Dimitriy, delivered on the occasion of the opening of the Orthodox Churches in Volyn region at the end of XIX – early XX centuries, is relevant. It helps to analyze and reveal the symbolic and essential features of the Orthodox Church, to compare the outlook and religious views of modern Orthodox adherents in assessing the role of the spiritual temple, determining its place in the life of the modern man. Spiritual temples of Volyn region at the end of XIX – early XX centuries as religious and cultural centers have been played an important role in the life of the region. The purpose of this article is to analyze the main symbolic content of the architectural forms of the Orthodox Church, to find out their meaningful content, to convey to the modern generation the spiritual and sacred meaning of the religious temple through the prism of Christian virtues. Research methods: according to the purposes a wide range of methods was applied. The historical method was used to clarify the foundations and purpose of the first religious buildings of Christianity. Structural-functional method was used for revealing the basic ideas of architectural forms of the temple, their symbolic and sacred content related to basic criteria of life of the Orthodox adept: attending spiritual temples, Divine liturgies; observance of the Decalogue, the sacraments of the Orthodox Church; love, morality, humility. The method of comparison and analogy was applied to highlight the vital priorities of a true Orthodox adept. The author notes that the spiritual temple is the God's Kingdom on earth, the source and the original guardian of spiritual and religious values. The quintessence of the spiritual temples of Volyn at the end of XIX – early XX centuries is expressed by: firstly, the spiritual temple is a symbol of the impulse of human essence to heaven, eternal, sacred; secondly, the spiritual temple is a holy and unity place (holiness is expressed by the concentration of the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, unity is expressed by the uniting power of believers of the Orthodox people); thirdly, the value of the spiritual temple, according to the thoughts of Archbishop of Volynskyy and Zhytomyrskyy Dimitriy, is not determined by external decoration, but by the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, sincere prayer.