The phenomenon of old Russian icon painting in the structure of national identity

Orthodoxy is one of the defining features of the culture of modern Russia and performs in the modern Russian society spiritually-consolidating functions. Among the structural elements of the Orthodox tradition, icon painting is a backbone and informs the Orthodox culture of the necessary integrity. In the article the author defines a significant place of Orthodox art, in particular canonical Old Russian iconography, in the history of the formation of Rus and the Russian mentality. Not only the sacral, epistemological, educational essence of the icon painting culture was revealed, but also the aesthetic expressiveness and originality of the ancient iconography. It is concluded that the study of icon painting tradition acquires not only religious, spiritual, moral, art criticism, but also practical interest.