List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2018. Vol. 23
Semiotics of a New Hagiological Myth and Formation of Noncanonical Cults
The article deals with the semiotic features of a hagiological myth, which is understood as a complex of mythological discourses describing irrational causes and consequences of real or imaginary acts of a «future saint» in the context of manifesting his supernatural abilities. The author proves that the specificity of non-canonical cults is that the hagiological myth precedes the cult, and does not form while the latter is developing. Moreover, it can be assumed that it is the hagiological myth that is the instrument of formation and propaganda of new cults. Since the goal of a hagiological myth is not the hagiography of the image of the saint, but providing the rationale for his cult, giving reasons for worship. A mythological myth is not very informative, but it has significant illocution that is directed toward the apologetics of a certain saint. The analysis of the discourses of a hagiological myth leads to a conclusion that their mythological components are often interrelated in the form of simple binary oppositions peculiar to mythological thinking.
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