The Solovetsky islands and their veneration as a “sacred place” for the followers of the Church of the Mother of God Derzhavnaya

In this article, the author analyzes the phenomenon of a “sacred place.” Using the example of one of the New Religious Movements (NRMs) - the “Church of the Mother of God Derzhavnaya” - the article demonstrates the important role played by the Solovetsky Archipelago in the religious worldview of the followers of this minority religious group. By systematically analyzing the religious views of both leaders and ordinary members of this NRM, the author uses various illustrative materials (doctrinal features, religious practices, iconography) to show that their religious beliefs significantly differ from traditional Orthodox Christianity and are not characteristic of the Orthodox theological tradition.