Diagram of Interior of Russian Orthodox Church, 2008

Diagram of Interior of Russian Orthodox Church, 2008.

Dostoevsky was fervently reglious, and Crime and Punishment can be read in part as a story of Christian redemption. The Russian Orthodox church, like other Orthodox churches, is rather different from non-Orthodox spaces. One of the most important differences is the presence of the templon, which shields much of the liturgy and ritual from the congregation. In addition, Russian Orthodox religious spaces are filled with objects and images; the orthodox icon is a particular kind of image that is thought to be filled with the presence of the divine, rather than being just a symbol for divinity. What kinds of connections might we draw between Russian Orthodox religious practice and formal aspects of Dostoevsky's writing?