Ideology of Armenian and Russian Orthodoxy in the mirror of ritual objects: khachkars and wayside crosses

Abstract

The authors describe the main ideas and specific features of the Armenian and Russian Orthodoxy based on the analysis of Orthodox religious rituals and religious objects used in them. The authors reveal deep cognitive functions that these religious objects enable, first of all, the creation of a sacred milieu, unification of the Orthodox believer with God, and the formation of Orthodox memory. At the same time, it is noted that the Armenian khachkars are closer to pagan cultures in comparison with wayside crosses of the Eastern Slavs; the fact that can be conditioned by the cultural history of these peoples.

Keywords

• culture
• religion
• christianity
• armenia
• eastern slavs
• khachkar
• vishap
• wayside cross
• road chapel
• paganism