Moscow and St. Petersburg in the Novel by L. N. Tolstoy in the Light of the Doctrine of the Third Rome

Abstract

The article touches upon the question of L. N. Tolstoy’s understanding and interpretation of the doctrine of the Third Rome, which he implements in the novel “War and Peace.” Being familiar with state doctrine and ideology, Tolstoy presents his vision of the concept in the novel, considering Moscow as a symbol of the Third Rome, and St. Petersburg as the First one. Moscow for Tolstoy is the bearer of “peace” and life in many senses, while St. Petersburg is a city of war and death. The author of the article proves that Moscow for Tolstoy is not a political center, but the center of the Russian people, its traditions and history. Its core is not the Kremlin, but the Rostov family — an old Russian aristocratic family. “Moscow The Third Rome” is an ethnic center that organizes the struggle of life against death and those who are its conductor.

Keywords

• l. n. tolstoy
• epic novel
• “war and peace
• ” moscow
• st. petersburg
• third rome
• russian aristocracy
• orthodoxy
• russian people