Correspondence of G. V. and K. I. Florovsky with E. V. Spektorsky (1926–1948)

Abstract

Here are published surviving letters from the long-term correspondence of jurist Evgeny Vasilyevich Spektorsky (1875–1951) and theologian Georgy Vasilyevich Florovsky (1893–1979), and his wife, Ksenia Ivanovna Florovskaya (1893–1977). Having met in absentia in emigration in 1922, E. Spektorsky and G. Florovsky had their first meeting in person only in 1924, thus becoming close friends for many years, as well as colleagues at the Russian Law Faculty (Czechoslovakia) and at the St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Academy (USA). Elder in age, Spektorsky recognized Florovsky’s talents, found the latter an expert of philosophy and theology, and original thinker. Spektorsky and Florovsky spent most of the years of emigration away from each other, maintaining a tradition of correspondence, which was not always voluminous. Correspondence, as well as additional materials for comments, allow to present the activities of E. V. Spektorsky as a kind of spiritual kulturtrager in the Balkans and Eastern Europe before the World War II, who for many years wrote and published works in Russian, Serbian and Slovenian on the history and ritual side of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Christian religion as a whole. The revealed writings of Spektorsky on the history of the Church allow raising the question of him as the author of religious and philosophical works, whose oeuvre has not yet become the subject of study. The correspondence also makes it possible to restore previously unknown pages of G. V. Florovsky’s biography, such as the conditions of his trip from Prague to Paris to teach at St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute, the search for a new place of service in Yugoslavia in 1937 after the end of “Bulgakov Case”, and his stay during the Second World War in Switzerland and Yugoslavia. The correspondence contains unique information about the book prepared by Georgy Florovsky on the concept of Redemption in theology, from the Fathers of the Church to the Modern Times inclusive.

Keywords

• e. v. spektorsky
• archpriest g. v. florovsky
• k. i. florovskaya
• archpriest s. bulgakov
• russian law faculty
• st. sergius orthodox theological institute
• belgrade university
• ljubljana university
• first russian-serbian gymnasium
• st. vladimir orthodox theological seminary
• st. vladimir orthodox theological academy
• theological education
• ecumenism
• religious philosophy
• russian philosophy in emigration