Sacred images of family life in the works of I. S. Shmelev and N. V. Gogol (based on “The year of the Lord” and “The old world landowners”)

The article explores the realization of the concept of “sacred” in the domestic spaces of the novellas by N. V. Gogol and I. S. Shmelev, its interpretation in the artistic worlds of both writers, and the axiological justification for the sacralization of the material world in these works. The article highlights the similar perspective of the authors on the harmony between the material and spiritual realms, the unity of the mundane and existential foundations, and their focus on the hidden and profound meanings of the characters' everyday lives. Special attention is given to the motive of the intrusion of dark and ominous forces, contrasted with the enclosed sacred space in the texts, forming the key ontological opposition of “evil versus good”. The symbolic significance of domestic imagery and the spiritual context of the authors’ depictions of home life, culinary culture, and daily routines are analyzed in detail.