The symbolism of the trinity in the icon-painting tradition of the late XX century: from the origins to the modern understanding

This article covers the basic principles of the icon-painting in the modern culture. It describes the main elements of the Saint Trinity’s iconography. The paper highlights the specificity of the contemporary art, showing its close relationship with the tradition of the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the appeal to the famous Rublev''s image of the Trinity of the Old Testament and its interpretation by contemporary artists. The author shows development of several story lines in the iconography of the Trinity, their different understanding and interpretation by contemporary artists. The article also presents a critical analysis of the key trends in the modern Russian icon-painting tradition, focuses on the development of Hesychast tradition and its refraction in the works of Russian artists of the late XX - early XXI century.