Theological aspects of the analysis of Evgeny Vodolazkin’s work by the example of his novel “Laurus”

The article offers a theological analysis of the novel “Laurus” by Evgeny Vodolazkin, one of the most significant novels about God, world and man. By the example of the analysis of the novel’s artistic and imaginative system such important categories as the composition of the plot construction, spatial and temporal symbols are investigated. In the context of Christian anthropology, the authors address the problem of God-seeking and ideal, the search for a higher truth and the meaning of human life as key for the writer. Crisis moments in national history and personality, expressed in the language of postmodernism in such categories as absurdity, “zaum’”, chaos, labyrinth of consciousness, fragmentation, death of the author, etc. metaphorically can be defined as «descending into hell». Appeal to the traditions of ancient Russian culture saturates the novel with ontological meanings, reflects the depth and drama of spiritual life, passing through the «labyrinth of the Minotaur» in search of God. Systemic theological approach to secular culture implies reliance on the principle of spiritual and aesthetic integrity and Christian trichotomy, which most fully reflect the genesis of cultural and religious meanings of secular art. The authors refer to E. G. Vodolazkin’s novel in the context of the Christian worldview, allowing to comprehend the historical and cultural challenges of the XX and XXI centuries.