The Idea of Christian Unity at the End of the Nineteenth Century (the Case of Vl.S. Solovyov)

Church History and Religious Culture. 2019. No. 99. P. 46–63.

Besschetnova E.

In the face of political rhetoric about Russia being outside of Europe both in the West
and in Russia itself, it is all the more necessary to remember that European and Russian
culture grew out of the same source: Christianity. Therefore, inter-confessional
dialogue between Russian Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic Church is particularly
relevant today. In this context, scholars have focused attention on the Russian philosopher
Vladimir Solovyov, who has been described as a forerunner of the ecumenical
movement. This article enriches accounts of his thought by shining a spotlight on the
context of spiritual and moral thought in Russia in his day. The article also shows how
Russian emperors of the nineteenth century (in particular Alexander III) promoted
the idea of a rapprochement with the Holy See. The author argues that these mutual
initiatives of the Holy See and the Russian government were the political foundation
for Solovyov’s theocratic project. The mid-nineteenth century was remarkable both for
the flowering of Russian culture and the strengthening of Russian statehood, which
together promoted the formation and articulation of key ideas in Russian intellectual
history. The author shows that Russia’s mission to restore Christian unity was central
to nineteenth-century Russian thought.

Keywords: русская мысль, Vladimir Solovyov, Соловьёв, Владимир, Святой Престол, Holy See, Ecclesiastical unity, христианское единство

Publication based on the results of: Russia and Europe: polemics and controversial unity (2019)