The Historical and Cultural Significance of Traditional Spiritual Values in the Fate of the State and Society: on the 25th Anniversary of the Glorification of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
Research Article
Abstract
The article is devoted to some aspects of the significant event celebrated in 2025: on August 13-16, 2000, at the Jubilee Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, the canonization (glorification as saints) of 1,097 new martyrs and confessors of the 20th century, who suffered for their faith during the brutal post-October repressions, took place. The author emphasizes that through their works and their lives, the ascetics of piety asserted the inviolability of the evangelical ideals, on which Russian statehood was born and grew. However, as fundamental values are trampled upon and forgotten, the risks of losing our former power and our national and cultural identity increase. The testaments of the Holy Martyrs are especially relevant in the modern era and symbolically resonate with the statements of President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of preserving Russia's national heritage in order to achieve leadership in key areas of Russia's progress, provided that historical memory and traditional values are preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Success is only attainable for those who «develop on this moral, historical, and traditional foundation».
Keywords:
Russian Orthodox Church, Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, canonization, holy martyrs, traditional values, spiritual values, Russian society, statehood, national and cultural identity
References
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Zinovii (Zinkovskii), ieromonakh. 2014. Svyatootecheskie kategorii i bogoslovie lichnosti. M.: Izdatel'stvo Olega Abyshko. 256 s. (RUS.)
Il'in I.A. 1993. Aksiomy religioznogo opyta. M.: Rarog. 448 s. (RUS.)
Kanonizatsiya svyatykh v KHKh veke. 1999. M.: Izd-vo Sretenskogo monastyrya. 256 s. (RUS.)
Meiendorf Ioann, protopresv. 2000. Istoriya Tserkvi i vostochno-khristianskaya mistika. M.: DI-DIK. 576 s. (RUS.)
Osipov A.I. Doklad na konferentsii «Sergievskie nauchno-bogoslovskie chteniya», posvyashchennoi 700-letiyu rozhdeniya prp. Sergiya Radonezhskogo MPDA 01/05-14. (RUS.)
Ottsy i uchiteli Tserkvi III veka. 1996. M. T. II. 466 s. (RUS.)
Pervoierarkhi Russkoi Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi. 2009. SPb: Izd-vo Patriarshego podvor'ya. 92 s. (RUS.)
Pospelovskii D.V. 1995. Russkaya Pravoslavnaya Tserkov' v KHKh veke. M.: Respublika. 512 s. (RUS.)
Svyatye, koim Gospod' daroval osobuyu blagodat' istselyat' bolezni i podavat' pomoshch' v drugikh nuzhdakh (sost. T.S. Oleinikova). 1995. Voskresensk. 672 s. (RUS.)
Sovremenniki o Patriarkhe Tikhone (sost. i komm. M.E. Gubonina): sbornik. 2007a. M.: Izd-vo PSTGU. T. 1. (RUS.)
Sovremenniki o Patriarkhe Tikhone (sost. i komm. M.E. Gubonina): sbornik. 2007b. M.: Izd-vo PSTGU. T. 2. (RUS.)
Tsypin Vladislav, protoierei. 2006. Istoriya Russkoi Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi: Sinodal'nyi i noveishii periody. 2-e izd., pererab. M.: Izd-vo Sretenskogo monastyrya. 816 s. (RUS.)
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Article
Received: 01.04.2026
Issue
Section
IDEAS AND MEANINGS
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