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Abstract:

The article is devoted to the study of the poem “The Star of Dawn” by the National poet of Abkhazia Mushni Lasuria as an extremely rare phenomenon in modern literature — a poetic epic. In this regard, the central question of modern aesthetics is being studied: what is considered the measure of beauty — expressiveness and beauty, regardless of the spiritual content, or truth — the source of a qualitatively different expressiveness and gracious beauty. “The Star of Dawn” is considered as one of the artistic phenomena that return poetry to its original, undisturbed forms and meanings. A comprehensive connection is established between the epic character of the poem and the Abkhazian poetic tradition. At the same time, the Orthodox author’s ideal is being defined as the only center organizing an almost all-encompassing narrative. The parts of the poem devoted to the author’s trip to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Christian Sinai and the events of Sacred History are considered as semantic and formative in the poem. It is concluded that Lazuria’s poem is a Christian poetic epic, and its artistic merits are primarily determined by religious creative impulse, fearlessness and perseverance of moral search.