On the Specifics of Parish Prose as a Genre of Spiritual Realism

Abstract

The article is devoted to an interpretation of parish prose as a distinctive genre phenomenon within Russian literature of spiritual realism. The study is situated in the contemporary context of a reassessment of the literary heritage of the twentieth century, undertaken beyond former ideological constraints and with due consideration of the religious-philosophical, existential, and cultural factors of the period. The methodological premise of the research is the understanding of spiritual realism as a particular type of artistic thinking, within which realist poetics are combined with an orientation toward the metaphysical and religious-moral foundations of human existence. Special attention is given to the genre of “parish prose,” which is examined as a form of artistic expression focused on the everyday life of an Orthodox parish, the spiritual experience of clergy and laity, moral choice, repentance, and the inner transformation of the individual. The article analyzes the genre and stylistic features of this type of prose, including the chronicle-like mode of narration, an emphasis on documentary authenticity, a confessional and memoiristic character, narrative simplicity, and the predominance of skaz-like storytelling. The unity of the vertical (human–God) and horizontal (human–human) dimensions, which determines the concept of personality in parish prose, is emphasized. The study concludes that parish prose represents a unique phenomenon in Russian literature, capable not only of preserving but also of developing the traditions of spiritual realism, actualizing them within the conditions of the contemporary cultural situation. The results of the research may be applied in literary studies, courses on the history of Russian literature and religious culture, as well as in the analysis of contemporary prose. The materials of the article contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of genre formation and the role of spiritual experience in the writer’s artistic thinking. This, in turn, expands the interpretative possibilities of the genre and confirms its significance in the current literary process and in shaping the value orientations of the modern reader within the context of the spiritual and moral quests of contemporary Russian society.

Received 26 January 2026

Revised 29 March 2026

Accepted 14 May 2026

For citation: Cintula, I., 2026. On the Specifics of Parish Prose as a Genre of Spiritual Realism. Slavic World in the Third Millennium, 21 (1–2), pp. 123–134. https://doi.org/10.31168/2412-6446.2026.21.1-2.07