Religious and philosophical understanding of life and death in the works of M. A. Bulgakov

The article lists the factors that infl uenced the formation of the religious and philosophical character of the artistic creativity of the Russian writer M. A. Bulgakov. The author conducts a study of three plotrelated works by M.A. Bulgakov: two novels "The White Guard", "Notes of the deceased (Theatrical novel)" and the story "Secret Friend". Based on the analysis of the thoughts and actions of the heroes of his works, a number of common spiritual values are established. The similarity of the writer's axiology with the axiology of the Russian religious thinkers P. A. Florensky, S. N. Bulgakov, N. A. Berdyaev is noted. The author names the names of modern Russian scientists who have devoted their works to the study of the connection of the literary work of M. A. Bulgakov with Russian philosophy and culture of the XX century. The article also notes the writer's interest in the religious and philosophical understanding of the topic of death. The analysis of M. A. Bulgakov's artistic works allows the author to establish the Christian symbols of life and death contained in them, to determine the meanings they accept.