This article examines representations of believing and non-believing women in contemporary Russian television series produced between 2020 and 2025. The study aims to identify dominant models of female religiosity and ways of representing Orthodox Christianity in Russian popular culture. The research material consists of selected popular Russian TV series analysed from cultural and media studies perspectives using qualitative content analysis and narrative motif analysis. The study distinguishes four main models of female characters: women indifferent to religion, repentant sinners, priests’ wives (matushkas), and anti-heroines associated with the Orthodox environment. The analysis demonstrates that religion in these productions most often functions as an element of tradition, cultural ritual, or identity construction rather than as a space for profound spiritual reflection. At the same time, the study reveals relatively limited interest in women’s religiosity in recent Russian serial productions. The findings also indicate that representations of religion and spirituality remain strongly influenced by the contemporary social and political context of the Russian Federation.
