Images of cult followers in Dostoyevsky's "A writer's diary"

The theme of religious sects in A Writer's diary of Fyodor Dostoyevsky is considered in the article. Dostoyevksy, who readily responded to all the vital questions of contemporary life, obviously could not ignore the theme of pseudo-spirityality and involvement of people in different organizations masked by prayerful meetings; organizations that often set political rather than religious goals. In the article the image of a stundist parson as a religious sect leader is contrasted with the image of Elder Zosima from Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov as a real saint, leading people to Christ.