Конструирование сакрального пространства в славянской народной культуре
The sacred places and their creation in the folk culture

Summary/Abstract: The space in the traditional folk culture is not homogeneous. It contains both the sacred and fearful areas. The reception of some places as sacred or fearful is determined not only by their own physical characteristics but also by their cultural context: legends, beliefs, historical events and so on. Some categories of places (as well as cross-roads, forests, sites of fi res) or single locations where the daemonic activity is noted are treated as fearful areas. Others, connected to the activity of saints are perceived as holy ones. A number of rites are executed at the sacred places and there are some typical folk legends that motivate their necessity and form. Usually the structure of these rites is similar to the hierophany – the actions of the saints sanctified the area: people pass the way, where the saint had passed, wash themselves, where the saint had washed himself, step on his steps impressed in the stone etc. Every object and detail of a sacred place is commented from the point of view of the legend and attached to the saint and his activity. So the constructing of a holy place as a form of their honoring is led.

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