NEW NARRATIVES OF STALIN MYTH

Introduction. The article contains the results of the analysis of the specifics of the mythologization of the image of I. V. Stalin in the context of modern ideological and religious issues. The author postulates that the modern Stalin’s myth at the structural level goes back to the Soviet ideological discourse of the 30-50 s. of the twentieth century, but at the semantic level is a fundamentally new phenomenon. Modern mythologization of the image of Stalin, in contrast to the Soviet one, is aimed at "privatizing" his image and attempting to fit it into a new context in which he appears as not only a political, but also a sacred figure. This is ensured by reference to such concepts as "Eurasianism", "communality" and "the chosenness of the Russian people". Content. The modern "Orthodox" interpretation of the image of Stalin has led to the emergence of a corpus of narratives in which Stalin appears as a secret Orthodox Christian and even a hero of the faith. Under the guise of an orthodox Marxist and atheist was hidden a deeply religious man who was blessed by some elders to fight against the enemies of Russia - "the Jews". The discourse records claim that Stalin was secretly ordained to the priesthood and took monastic vows, was the actual successor to the tsarist power and the creator of conditions for the restoration of the monarchy in the future. At the same time, attempts are recorded to interpret Stalin in the context of the neo-pagan semiosphere. In these cases, Stalin is understood as a sacred figure of neo-pagan and (or) esoteric discourse, possessing supernatural powers, priestly or shamanic initiation. To substantiate these claims, both reinterpreted biographical data and appeals to the logic of the conspiracy myth are used. Conclusions. A comparative analysis of the narratives allows us to conclude that the formation of the mythological complex “Stalin is a pagan sorcerer/priest” is formed as an inversion of the corresponding pseudo-Orthodox mythology and is pragmatically aimed at solving similar goals.