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Georges Vasilievich Florovsky (
Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
: Гео́ргий Васи́льевич Флоро́вский; – August 11, 1979) was a Russian Orthodox
priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
,
theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
, and
historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the st ...
. Born in the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
, he spent his working life in Paris (1920–1949) and New York (1949–1979). With
Sergei Bulgakov Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov (; russian: Серге́й Никола́евич Булга́ков; – 13 July 1944) was a Russian Orthodox theologian, priest, philosopher, and economist. Biography Early life: 1871–1898 Sergei Nikolaevich B ...
, Vladimir Lossky, Justin Popović and
Dumitru Stăniloae Dumitru Stăniloae (; – 4 October 1993) was a Romanian Orthodox Christian priest, theologian and professor. He worked for over 45 years on a comprehensive Romanian translation of the Greek Philokalia, a collection of writings on prayer by the ...
he was one of the more influential Eastern Orthodox Christian theologians of the mid-20th century. He was particularly concerned that modern Christian theology might receive inspiration from the lively intellectual debates of the
patristic Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...
traditions of the undivided Church rather than from later Scholastic or
Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
categories of thought.


Life

Georgiy Vasilievich Florovsky was born in
Yelisavetgrad Kropyvnytskyi ( uk, Кропивницький, Kropyvnytskyi ) is a city in central Ukraine on the Inhul river with a population of . It is an administrative center of the Kirovohrad Oblast. Over its history, Kropyvnytskyi has changed its name ...
,
Kherson Governorate The Kherson Governorate (1802–1922; russian: Херсонская губерния, translit.: ''Khersonskaya guberniya''; uk, Херсонська губернія, translit=Khersonska huberniia), was an administrative territorial unit (als ...
,
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
on 9 September 1893 as the fourth child of an Orthodox
priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
. He grew up in
Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...
. Raised in an erudite environment, he learned
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
,
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
,
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
,
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
,
Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
, and
Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
while a schoolboy, and at eighteen he started to study
philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. ...
and
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
. He graduated from the University of Odessa in 1916. After his first graduation, he taught for three years at high schools in
Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...
, and then made his full graduation including the
licentia docendi A licentiate (abbreviated Lic.) is an academic degree present in many countries, representing different educational levels. It may be similar to a master's degree when issued by pontifical universities and other universities in Europe, Latin Ame ...
at all universities in the Russian empire. In 1919 Florovsky began to teach at the
University of Odessa Odesa I. I. Mechnykov National University ( uk, Одеський національний університет Iмені І. І. Мечникова, translit=Odeskyi natsionalnyi universytet imeni I. I. Mechnykova), located in Odesa, Ukraine, i ...
; but in 1920 his family was forced to leave Russia. Florovsky realized at that time that there would be no return for him, because
Marxism Marxism is a Left-wing politics, left-wing to Far-left politics, far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a Materialism, materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand S ...
did not accept the history and philosophy he taught. He was part of the
emigration Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country). Conversely, immigration describes the movement of people into one country from another (to permanent ...
of Russian
intelligentsia The intelligentsia is a status class composed of the university-educated people of a society who engage in the complex mental labours by which they critique, shape, and lead in the politics, policies, and culture of their society; as such, the i ...
, which also included
Nikolai Berdyaev Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev (; russian: Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Бердя́ев;  – 24 March 1948) was a Russian philosopher, theologian, and Christian existentialist who emphasized the existential spiritual sig ...
,
Sergei Bulgakov Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov (; russian: Серге́й Никола́евич Булга́ков; – 13 July 1944) was a Russian Orthodox theologian, priest, philosopher, and economist. Biography Early life: 1871–1898 Sergei Nikolaevich B ...
, Nicholas Lossky and his son Vladimir Lossky,
Alexander Schmemann Alexander Dmitrievich Schmemann (russian: Алекса́ндр Дми́триевич Шме́ман, ''Aleksandr Dmitrievich Šmeman''; 13 September 1921 – 13 December 1983) was an influential Orthodox priest, theologian, and author who had mo ...
, and
John Meyendorff John Meyendorff (french: Jean Meyendorff; russian: Ива́н Феофи́лович Мейендо́рф, tr. ; February 17, 1926 – July 22, 1992) was a leading theologian of the Orthodox Church of America as well as a writer and teacher. He s ...
(the last two of whom would follow him in the USA as Dean of
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is an Eastern Orthodox seminary in Yonkers, New York. It is chartered under the State University of New York and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. It is a pan-Eastern Or ...
, New York). In the 1920s Florovsky had a personal and vocational friendship with the existentialist philosopher
Nikolai Berdyaev Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev (; russian: Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Бердя́ев;  – 24 March 1948) was a Russian philosopher, theologian, and Christian existentialist who emphasized the existential spiritual sig ...
, but the two became distanced later, through Berdyaev's not understanding Florovsky's ordination to the presbyterate (1932), and because of the critical attitude to Berdyaev's
philosophy of religion Philosophy of religion is "the philosophical examination of the central themes and concepts involved in religious traditions". Philosophical discussions on such topics date from ancient times, and appear in the earliest known texts concerning p ...
expressed in Florovsky's ''Ways of Russian Theology'' (1937). In 1924 Florovsky received his M.A. in Prague. In 1925 he became professor of
patristics Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...
at the St. Serge Institute of Orthodox Theology in
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
. In this subject he found his vocation. The lively debates of the thinkers of the early Church became for him a benchmark for Christian
theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...
and
exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. In modern usage, exegesis can involve critical interpretation ...
, as well as a base for his critique of the ecumenical movement, and despite his not having earned an academic degree in theology (he was later awarded several honorary degrees) he would spend the rest of his life teaching at theological institutions. In 1932 Florovsky was
ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
of the
Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...
. During the 1930s he undertook extensive research in European libraries and published in Russian valuable patristic studies, such as his book on 'Eastern fathers of the fourth century' (1931) and 'The Byzantine fathers fifth to eighth centuries' (1933). These were followed by his
magnum opus A masterpiece, ''magnum opus'' (), or ''chef-d’œuvre'' (; ; ) in modern use is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, ...
, ''Ways of Russian Theology'' (1937). In this work he questioned the Western-European Christian influences of
scholasticism Scholasticism was a medieval school of philosophy that employed a critical organic method of philosophical analysis predicated upon the Aristotelian 10 Categories. Christian scholasticism emerged within the monastic schools that translat ...
,
pietism Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christian life, including a social concern for the needy an ...
, and
idealism In philosophy, the term idealism identifies and describes metaphysical perspectives which assert that reality is indistinguishable and inseparable from perception and understanding; that reality is a mental construct closely connected to ...
on Orthodox, and especially Russian, Christian theology, and called for its reformulation in the light of patristic writings. The work was received with enthusiasm or condemnation—there was no neutral attitude to it among Russian émigrés. One of his most prominent critics was
Nikolai Berdyaev Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev (; russian: Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Бердя́ев;  – 24 March 1948) was a Russian philosopher, theologian, and Christian existentialist who emphasized the existential spiritual sig ...
. Florovsky remained professor of patristics at the Institute until 1939, and from 1939 to 1948 taught there as professor of dogmatics. In 1949 Florovsky moved to the United States of America, to take a position as Dean of
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is an Eastern Orthodox seminary in Yonkers, New York. It is chartered under the State University of New York and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. It is a pan-Eastern Or ...
in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. There his development of the curriculum led to the Board of Regents of the
University of the State of New York The University of the State of New York (USNY, ) is the state of New York's governmental umbrella organization for both public and private institutions in New York State. The "university" is not an educational institution: it is, in fact, a lic ...
granting the Seminary an Absolute
Charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the re ...
in 1953. In 1955 Florovsky was asked by his synod overseers to "lay down the deanship."Andrew Blane, ed., ''George Florovsky—Russian Intellectual and Orthodox Churchman'' (1993. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood NY), pp. 109ff. He became a professor of divinity at Harvard University, and ended his academic years as a professor at
Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
. He died on 11 August 1979 in
Princeton Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nin ...
.


Works

* Eastern Fathers of the Fourth Century (1931. Paris) * The Ways of Russian Theology
online
* The Catholicity of the Churc

* The Lost Scriptural Min

* On Church and Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox Vie

* St. John Chrysostom. The Prophet of Charit
online
* The Ascetic Ideal and the New Testament. Reflections on the Critique of the Theology of the Reformatio

* The Limits of the Church, Church Quarterly Review, 1933

* Following the Holy Fathers (Excerpt of The Collected Works of Georges Florovsky Vol. IV, "Patristic Theology and the Ethos of the Orthodox Church," Part II, p. 15-22
online
* St Gregory Palamas and the Tradition of the Fathers, 196

* Revelation and Interpretatio

* Scripture and Tradition: an Orthodox Vie

* The Work of the Holy Spirit in Revelatio

* Holy Icon

* Collected works published 1972-1979 (vol. 1-5) in Belmont, Mass. by Nordland Pub., and 1987-1989 (vol. 6-14) in Vaduz, Europa by Büchervertriebsanstalt. **''Collected Works. Volume 1: Bible, Church, Tradition'' **''Collected Works. Volume 2: Christianity and Culture'

**''Collected Works. Volume 3: Creation and Redemption'' xcerpts online**''Collected Works. Volume 4: Aspects of Church History'
excerpts online
**''Collected Works. Volume 5: Ways of Russian Theology, Part I'' **''Collected Works. Volume 6: Ways of Russian Theology, Part II'' **''Collected Works. Volume 7: Eastern Fathers of the Fourth Century'' **''Collected Works. Volume 8: Byzantine Fathers of the Fifth Century'' **''Collected Works. Volume 9: Byzantine Fathers of the Sixth to Eight Centuries'' **''Collected Works. Volume 10: Byzantine Ascetic and Spiritual Fathers'' **''Collected Works. Volume 11: Theology and Literature'' **''Collected Works. Volume 12: Philosophy'' **''Collected Works. Volume 13: Ecumenism I: A Doctrinal Approach'' **''Collected Works. Volume 14: Ecumenism II: An Historical Approach''


See also

*
List of Russian philosophers Russian philosophy includes a variety of philosophical movements. Authors who developed them are listed below sorted by movement. While most authors listed below are primarily philosophers, also included here are some Russian fiction writers, ...
*
Eastern Orthodox Christian theology Eastern Orthodox theology is the theology particular to the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is characterized by monotheistic Trinitarianism, belief in the Incarnation of the essentially divine Logos or only-begotten Son of God, a balancing of ...
*
Philosophers' ships The philosophers' ships or philosopher's steamboats (russian: Философский пароход) were steamships that transported intellectuals expelled from Soviet Russia in 1922. The main load was handled by two German ships, the ''Oberbür ...


References


Further reading

* A. Blane, ''Georges Florovsky; Russian Intellectual and Orthodox Churchman'' (1993) . * Peter A. Chamberas, "Georges Vasilievich Florovsky: Russian intellectual historian and orthodox theologian - 1893-1979 - Religious Historians, East and West", ''Modern Age,'' Winter 2003
FindArticles online version
. * Steven Aguzzi
"Florovsky’s 'The Boundaries of the Church' in Dialogue with the Reformed Tradition: Toward a Catholic and Charismatic Ecumenical Ecclesiology,"
''Ecumenical Trends''; 39:3 (2010), 8–14.


External links



* *

Lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary 23 May 1980

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110610175656/http://diglib.princeton.edu/ead/getEad?eadid=C0586&kw Princeton University Library: Georges Florovsky Papersbr>St. Vladimir's Seminary Library: The Fr. Georges Florovsky Papers
1937, Critique of Florovsky's "The Way of the Russian Church" * Matthew Baker, 'The Eternal ‘Spirit of the Son’: Barth, Florovsky and Torrance on the Filioque', in ''International Journal of Systematic Theology''; 12:4 (2010 October), p. 382–403

* Matthew Baker and Nikolaos Asproulis, 'Secondary Bibliography of Scholarly Literature and Conferences on Florovsky', in ''ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ: The Journal of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece'', 81/40, Vol. 4 (2010), pp. 557–396

* Fr. Georges Florovsky Orthodox Christian Theological Society: A graduate student organization of Princeton University dedicated to promoting the study of the life and work of Fr. Georges Florovsky and of Orthodox theology

{{DEFAULTSORT:Florovsky, Georges 1893 births 1979 deaths Writers from Kropyvnytskyi People from Yelisavetgradsky Uyezd Eastern Orthodox theologians American theologians Eastern Orthodox priests in the United States Eastern Orthodox writers Schoolteachers from the Russian Empire Emigrants from the Russian Empire to France Christian writers 20th-century Eastern Orthodox priests Odesa University academic personnel