THE PHENOMENON OF 'BOGATYRSTVO' IN N. V. GOGOL'S AND F. M. DOSTOYEVSKY'S INTERPRETATION

In the analysis of the prose of Nikolai Gogol and Fyodor Dostoyevsky both writers? views on the category of "bogatyrstvo" are reconstructed and compared. The author сovers such important literary problems as interpretation of heroic selfless devotion in tems of the Orthodox tradition, as well as the role of Nikolai Gogol in the artistic consciousness of Fyodor Dostoevsky. First of all the author emphasizes that both of the classics of considered ‘bogatyrstvo’ in the context of the Christian idea of "strength in weakness" with a focus on spiritual, not physical strength of the true bogatyrs; secondly, that the deeds are committed not only by fearless warriors in armor, but also by the people "of every rank and place", that constantly fight against the various manifestations of a disorder both in the outside world and in their own souls. It was found that for both writers the symbols of ‘bogatyrstvo’ were the holy warriors. Among those Nikolai Gogol mentioned the names of reverend Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslabya. The well known Christian bogatyr Ilya Muromets, honoured by Russian people, is the ideal of Saint heroism for Fyodor Dostoyevsky.