Orthodox memorial churches as neural basis of collective memory

The article describes memorial cathedrals, churches, and chapels which exist in Novosibirsk and serve as markers conveying historical, spiritual, and edifying information, and fostering ethnic and social identity of the people. A comprehensive overview of all ninety-five Novosibirsk churches has revealed that memorial churches constitute about a quarter of all buildings. They include two cathedrals dedicated to Michael the Archangel in the monastery of St. John the Baptist and Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky; twelve churches dedicated to Michael the Archangel, Assumption of the Mother of God, Intercession of the Mother of God, Royal Martyr Nicholas II, Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky at the Headquarters of the 41st General Army, Great Martyr Barbara in the village of Gvardeyskiy, Holy Martyr Eugene, Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, St. Oleg of Bryansk, St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Icon of the Saviur Not-Made-by-Hands in the Vostochnyi Residential Complex, Icon of the Saviur Not-Made-by-Hands from Zashiversk, and eight chapels dedicated to the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, Holy Martyr George in the Park of Glory, Holy Prince Dimitry Donskoy, Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, St. Sergius of Radonezh, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The commemorative reasons for their creation include the revival of memory about the churches which existed in their places, fixation of memorial places, perpetuation of personalities and memorable dates, gratitude for funding construction of a church, appeal for protection from the heavenly patrons, creation of memorials, and museumification. These reasons correspond to commemorative traditions of Orthodoxy with the only exception of burial churches. In some cases, there were several reasons for commemoration in a single building. Due to specific features of human thinking process, memorial churches can be considered to be a set of instruments and mechanisms of neuropsychological nature, fundamental for collective memory.