The Stalin Myth: Plot Lines and Historical Accuracy

The article is devoted to the analysis of the modern discourse of the quasi- religious Stalinist myth. This myth includes political, social, ethical, anthropological narratives embedded in the general religious and mythological context. The hermeneutic basis of the Stalinist myth is the conspiracy interpretation of the main mythological plots and themes. Thanks to it, the thesis is substantiated that despite all his atheistic statements and materialistic rhetoric, Stalin was not only a deeply religious Christian, but even achieved holiness. Stalinist hagiology is well represented in the quasi- liturgical noncanonical texts of prayers and akathists, popular on the margins of the Orthodox ritual sphere. Complex semiotics is used, which not only substantiates Stalin’s holiness, but also includes his discourses in a pseudo- New Testament context. The article presents a detailed analysis of the influence of this text on the formation of the main plot lines of the Stalinist myth, including the plot of Stalin’s murder. This mythology is reflected in iconography, which contributes to the popularization of the plots of the Stalinist myth. The studies conducted by the authors generally confirm the conclusion that the narratives of the Stalinist myth represent a complex mythological complex that unites both discursive projections of fictional plots and narratives formed as a result of the mythological hermeneutics of real events that received a religious and quasi- religious interpretation.