The Pillar and Ground of the Truth
An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters
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The Pillar and Ground of the Truth
An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters
About this book
Pavel Florensky--certainly the greatest Russian theologian of the last century--is now recognized as one of Russia's greatest polymaths. Known as the Russian Leonardo da Vinci, he became a Russian Orthodox priest in 1911, while remaining deeply involved with the cultural, artistic, and scientific developments of his time. Arrested briefly by the Soviets in 1928, he returned to his scholarly activities until 1933, when he was sentenced to ten years of corrective labor in Siberia. There he continued his scientific work and ministered to his fellow prisoners until his death four years later. This volume is the first English translation of his rich and fascinating defense of Russian Orthodox theology.
Originally published in 1914, the book is a series of twelve letters to a "brother" or "friend," who may be understood symbolically as Christ. Central to Florensky's work is an exploration of the various meanings of Christian love, which is viewed as a combination of philia (friendship) and agape (universal love). Florensky is perhaps the first modern writer to explore the so-called "same-sex unions," which, for him, are not sexual in nature. He describes the ancient Christian rites of the adelphopoiesis (brother-making), joining male friends in chaste bonds of love. In addition, Florensky is one of the first thinkers in the twentieth century to develop the idea of the Divine Sophia, who has become one of the central concerns of feminist theologians.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- CONTENTS
- TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSLATION
- THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH
- CLARIFICATION AND PROOF OF CERTAIN PARTICULARS ASSUMED IN THE TEXT TO BE ALREADY PROVED
- NOTES AND BRIEF COMMENTS
- NOTES
- CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN SYMBOLS AND DRAWINGS
- INDEX