THE SACRIFICIAL SPIRIT - A BEHAVIORAL PATTERN IN THE POPULAR MENTALITY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH
THE SACRIFICIAL SPIRIT - A BEHAVIORAL PATTERN IN THE POPULAR MENTALITY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH

Summary/Abstract: Identifying behavioral patterns which have a high degree of reflexivity potential over sacrificial gestures is necessary cultural restitution. Models that have set historical, legendary figures have been contextualized in different ages keeping their meanings in accordance with social commands. The time of their reception has thus changed into complex times, generating multi-step semantics of the message transmitted over generations. The sacrifice of the great Romanian ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu is representative for the assumption of the sacrifice act by faith in order to preserve the Orthodox faith. This sacrifice, however, has extra value: that of martyrdom, which the history of humanity has recorded as an act of exemplary aura. The circumstances of martyrdom are essential to understanding the profound significance of self-sacrifice and sacrificing one’s family, of not renouncing the foundation of life lived by one’s faith. It is the belief that you were born to certain faith and lived according to it, so to it you must die, even though you thus have to decide on the death of your own children (another component of tragedy in this destiny). It becomes the paradigm of the behavioral model of martyrdom assumed as a way of spiritual salvation.

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