ИСТИНА

The article analyzes the image of the Trinity Sergius Lavra on the example of the novel “Sergey Radonezhsky” (St. Sergius of Radonezh) by Boris Zaytsev. The Russian emigrant authors believed that their mission was to preserve the pre-revolutionary Russian culture, so themes of Ortodox culture and spirituality were very important for them. Zaytsev’s “Sergey Radonezhsky” is a part of author’s trilogy about Saints. So we can compare St. Sergius with other Saints. Zaytsev showes as private and spiritual life as his social activity of St. Sergius. His hero is a delicate, modest and selfless man at the same time he is a spiritual leader and a significant puplic person. He never avoids secular matters: takes a part in the building of the Trinity Sergius Lavra (Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius) and supports Russian princes in their state affaires. According to Zaytsev medieval Russia was easily captured by the enemy because of dissociation. So St. Sergius couldn’t stay indifferent to the fate of the motherland and wanted to save it from the Tatar-Mongol oppression. Before the Battle on Kulikovo Field (1380) against Tatars he blessed Dmitry Donskoy and sent him two monks. So in the book fate of medieval Russia depends not only on the battle but also on the spiritual efforts and hearty praying in monastic cells of the Trinity Sergius Lavra. So in Zaytsev’s novel the monastary has a significant influence on the Russian medieval society and plays an important role in revival of Russian medieval state. The Trinity Sergius Lavra is showed like the spiritual and cultural center of the Russian Orthodox community.