Byzantine-Russian spiritual tradition and theology in the context of culture. Review of the monograph “Theology and culture” by A. V. Markidonov. St. Petersburg Theological Academy, 2022

This article is a review of the monograph Theology and Culture (2022) by Alexander V. Markidonov, Associate Professor at the Department of Theology of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. The basic purpose, which underlies practically all articles of the monograph and unites them, is an elucidation of a Christian approach to the relationships between the cult and culture, religion and science, man and God, spiritual education and artistic creativity. The book deals mainly with the Orthodox culture of the Byzantine-Russian tradition. Among the most important antitheses treated in the monograph are Christianity and philosophy of Antiquity, faith and scientific knowledge, beauty and the salvation, iconolatry and iconoclasm, Orthodox ascetics and idolatry of progressivism.