Tortured and suffering Soul is rising and uniting with the beloved heavenly Bridegroom. Dramatism of the subject is expressed in the attempt to break out, to escape, to overcome the power of Satan preventing the soul to unite with the Beloved. The forces of Hell are intensively trying to keep the Soul in their claws, to prevent the Ascension of the striving Soul. The painting reflects the texts written by Apostle Philip called "The Study of Soul". In the image of God's Bride we see the Soul itself which is captured by the evil forces. But it is predetermined to be the wife of Heavenly Bridegroom. In its inherent essence the Russian fairy tale about Finist is quite close to "the Study of Soul". In this fairy tale Marjushka experiences consecutively all the stages of the formation. Suffering and overcoming all the obstacles, she wins finally and unites with the Beloved.

(A. Rekunenko)