Liturgical space in the works of A. P. Chekhov

Abstract

The article considers liturgical features in the works of A. P. Chekhov. The author analyzes the descriptions of the Liturgy and other divine services found in the writer’s texts. An attempt is made to determine the place of liturgical notes in writer’s works. Despite numerous surviving liturgical records of the late 19th century, the author manages to find some liturgical features in the depiction of religious rites, eortology, hymnography, statutes, local distinctive liturgical traditions, hierarchical rites, missionary service, fasts, Old Believers, everyday life, as well as the peculiarities of the perception of services by worshipers, clergy and laity. Detailed and almost error-free image and positive attitude of A. P. Chekhov to worship allows the author of the article to draw a conclusion about the Christian worldview of the writer at the time of writing the works in question. On the example of the story “Student” the peculiarity of the chronotope of A. P. Chekhov’s works is revealed. The writer depicts here the liturgical background outside the usual attributes: worship outside the church or the continuation of worship outside the walls of the church. The author of the article suggests the term ‘liturgical space’ to denote this phenomenon. The author comes to the conclusion about the uniqueness of the above mentioned feature of A. P. Chekhov’s works, which makes him distinctive and distinguishes him among the writers of the era in question.