Publications
Between Transcendental and National: Wooden Churches of Slovakia
Wooden churches in Slovakia's Carpathian Mountain region serve as enduring symbols of both transcendental worship and national resistance, embodying a holistic tapestry of ecological, historical, and cultural significance. These structures, dating from the 18th century, have withstood political upheavals including Austro-Hungarian rule, Nazi occupation, and Socialist suppression, while retaining their aesthetic and spiritual value. The study contrasts traditional typological analysis with phenomenological approaches to reveal deeper meanings rooted in lived experience, highlighting how these churches integrate seamlessly with their landscapes and communities. This dual perspective affirms their cultural importance, appealing to both worshipers and tourists as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Mountain Last Judgment and Rural Apocalypse: Patterns of Imagery
This study reveals that the Last Judgment iconography in the Carpathian Mountains and the illuminated Apocalypses of the Russian North represent unique cultural and religious expressions shaped by eschatological imagery. The research demonstrates that these traditions, while influenced by multiple cultural and religious sources, developed distinct characteristics that cannot be reduced to borrowed motifs. The study employs a comparative analysis of visual and textual sources from the 15th–19th centuries, tracing the evolution of Last Judgment themes in the Carpathians and the enduring eschatological beliefs among Old Believers in the Russian North. It highlights the significance of these visual materials as keys to understanding medieval religious culture, including political theology and popular demonology.
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