Stones-notes on Maximilian Voloshin’s Grave

A comparative analysis of vernacular 'cults' at two sacred sites—Maximilian Voloshin’s grave in Crimea and a tower of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow—reveals that both attract visitors who leave inscribed stones with requests for health, family well-being, prosperity, and success. While these appeals mirror societal values reflected in sociological surveys, they primarily serve as aesthetic or symbolic gestures rather than expressions of urgent need. The study quantifies the structure of these messages, demonstrating parallels between the two sites despite differences in context, and underscores their role as tourist attractions where 'honoring' the mythologized figures is more about ritualistic gaming than practical petitioning.

Gromov, D. V. (2024). STONES-NOTES ON MAXIMILIAN VOLOSHIN’S GRAVE. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. “Literary Theory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies” Series, (4), 92–111. https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2024-4-92-111