SEMANTIC AND STYLISTIC FEATURES OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM IN THE PROSE WORKS OF VASYL BARKA

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive semantic and stylistic analysis of Christian symbolism in Vasyl Barka’s prose works as a fundamental component of his artistic thinking and worldview. The Holy Scripture and Christian morality are examined as key sources shaping the writer’s authorial model of the world, influencing the ideological orientation, imagery, and semantic structure of his texts. The study focuses on the symbols of Golgotha, the Crucifixion, the Chalice, the Temple, Paradise, and the number three, as well as on the motifs of the Way of the Cross, suffering, atonement, and spiritual renewal in the novels The Yellow Prince, Paradise, and The Redeemer and the Keys of the Earth. It is argued that Christian symbols in Barka’s prose perform not merely aesthetic or decorative functions but serve as core meaning-making constants that integrate biblical tradition, existential reflection, and the national and cultural experience of the Ukrainian people. Special attention is devoted to the interpretation of Golgotha and the Crucifixion as universal archetypes which, in Barka’s artistic system, acquire multidimensional significance – personal, collective, and metaphysical – closely connected with the tragedy of the Holodomor and the moral trials faced by the nation. The article analyzes the transformation of sacred images in the context of totalitarian reality, focusing on motifs of desecrated temples, the loss of spiritual values, and the destruction of moral foundations. It is substantiated that the symbolism of the Holy Sacraments and biblical archetypes in Barka’s works aims to affirm a moral and ethical canon based on repentance, sacrifice, and personal responsibility for spiritual choice. The study concludes that Christian symbolism constitutes a defining element of Vasyl Barka’s artistic system and functions as a means of expressing his anthropocentric concept and spiritual vision of history and human existence.