The value orientations in the experience of Soviet and Russian prisoners of war (based on the material of the wars of the XX-XXI centuries)

The paper explores how the value orientations of Soviet and Russian prisoners of war transformed due to their experience of captivity. The situation prisoners of war found themselves in presented them with existential challenges. Captivity limited their freedom, but more importantly, caused hardships and threatened early death. Yet, on the other hand, prisoners of war were keen on preserving their honor and their humanity in this inhumane situation. It is shown that Orthodox beliefs regarding good and evil, as well as the Orthodox attitude toward suffering, played a crucial role in coping with these existential challenges and helped to survive in captivity. Using materials from prisoners of war memoirs, the author demonstrates that, once suffering acquired meaning, fear ceased to be absorbing and death ceased to be frightening and was accepted by a person. Consequently, at the spiritual level, man can remain free, taking responsibility for his actions and his life.