The Phenomenon of Russian Religious Music in the Research of Cultural Scientists

This article examines the phenomenon of Russian religious music from the standpoint of cultural studies. The relevance of the topic is determined by the heightened interest in sacred music during the post‑Soviet period, when ecclesiastical art experiences a phase of revival and development. It is noted that, to date, there is no single, generally accepted classification of Russian religious music, which necessitates recourse to diverse approaches and conceptual frameworks for its analysis. The aim of the study is to offer an original theoretical and analytical interpretation of this phenomenon based on contemporary research. In the course of the investigation, the historical stages of the development of Russian sacred music, its genre diversity, philosophical‑aesthetic foundations, and cultural functions were identified. The study demonstrates how spiritual‑religious values shaped the specific character of musical creativity in different epochs and how modern researchers classify and interpret these processes. The conclusions emphasize the importance of sobornost (conciliarity), the categories of the beautiful and the sublime, as well as the continuity of tradition in the phenomenon of Russian religious music.