Georges Florovsky
Encyclopedia
Georges Vasilievich Florovsky (Russian
Георгий Васильевич Флоровский) (August 28 [=9 September], 1893 - August 11, 1979) was an Eastern Orthodox priest
, theologian, historian and ecumenist. He was born in the Russian Empire
, but spent his working life in Paris (1920-1949) and New York (1949-1979). With Sergei Bulgakov
, Vladimir Lossky
, Justin Popović
and Dumitru Stăniloae
he was one of the more influential Orthodox Christian theologians of the mid-20th century. Among his pupils is the theologian and bishop, John Zizioulas
.
in Ukraine
(then part of the Russian Empire
), as the fourth child of an Orthodox Christian priest
. Inspired by the erudite environment in which he grew up, he learned English
, German
, French
, Latin, Greek
, and Hebrew
while still a schoolboy. At eighteen, he started to study philosophy
and history
.
After his first graduation, he taught for three years at high schools in Odessa
, and then made his full graduation including the licensia docendi at all universities in the Russian empire. In 1919, he began to teach at the University of Odessa.
But in 1920 his family was forced to leave Russia. The young Florovsky realized at that time that there would be no return for him, because Marxism
did not accept the history and philosophy he taught. Florovsky thus became part of the emigration
of Russian intelligentsia
, which also included Nikolai Berdyaev
, Sergei Bulgakov
, Nicholas Lossky and his son Vladimir Lossky
, Alexander Schmemann
, and John Meyendorff
- the latter two of whom would later follow Florovsky as Dean of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
.
In the 1920s Florovsky had a close personal and vocational friendship with Nikolai Berdyaev
. The two became more distanced in later years, largely through Berdyaev's not understanding Florovsky's entering Holy Orders
, and also because of the critical attitude to Berdyaev's philosophy of religion
expressed in Florovsky's "Ways of Russian Theology".
In 1925 Florovsky was appointed professor of patristics
at the St. Serge Institute of Orthodox Theology
in Paris
. In this subject he found his vocation. The lively debates of the thinkers of the early Church became for him a benchmark for Orthodox Christian theology
and exegesis
, as well as a source for many of his contributions and critiques of the ecumenical movement. Despite not having earned an academic degree in theology (apart from several honorary degrees he was awarded later), Florovsky would spend the rest of his life teaching at theological institutions.
In 1932 Florovsky was ordained
priest
of the Orthodox Church. During the 1930s, he undertook extensive researches in European libraries and wrote his most important works in the area of patristics as well as his magnum opus
, Ways of Russian Theology. In this work he questioned the Western Christian influences of scholasticism
, pietism
, and idealism
on Orthodox, and especially Russian, Christian theology, and called for a re-evaluation and reformulation of that theology in the light of patristic writings. The work was received with either enthusiasm or condemnation - there was no neutral attitude to it among Russian émigrés. One of his most prominent critics was Nikolai Berdyaev
, the religious philosopher and social critic.
In 1949 Florovsky moved to New York City
to take a position as Dean of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
. Florovsky's oversight of the development of the theological curriculum led to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
granting the Seminary an Absolute Charter
in 1953. He was fired as Dean in 1955.
Among prominent students and successors of Florovsky is Metropolitan
John Zizioulas
.
International Journal of Systematic Theology, Volume 12, Issue 4, pages 382–403, October 2010. http://fordham.academia.edu/BakerMatthew/Papers/487803/The_Eternal_Spirit_of_the_Son_Barth_Florovsky_and_Torrance_on_the_Filioque
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
Георгий Васильевич Флоровский) (August 28 [=9 September], 1893 - August 11, 1979) was an Eastern Orthodox priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, theologian, historian and ecumenist. He was born in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, but spent his working life in Paris (1920-1949) and New York (1949-1979). With Sergei Bulgakov
Sergei Bulgakov
Fr. Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov was a Russian Orthodox Christian theologian, philosopher and economist. Until 1922 he worked in Russia; afterwards in Paris.-Early life:...
, Vladimir Lossky
Vladimir Lossky
Vladimir Nikolayevich Lossky was an influential Eastern Orthodox theologian in exile from Russia. He emphasized theosis as the main principle of Orthodox Christianity....
, Justin Popović
Justin Popovic
Saint Justin Popović was a theologian, a philosopher of the Eastern Orthodox theology, a Dostoyevski scholar, a champion of anti-communism, a writer, and a critic of the pragmatic church life...
and Dumitru Stăniloae
Dumitru Staniloae
Dumitru Stăniloae was a Romanian Eastern Orthodox priest, theologian, academic, and professor. Father Stăniloae worked for over 45 years on a comprehensive Romanian translation of the Philokalia, a collection of writings by the Church Fathers, together with the hieromonk, Arsenie Boca, who brought...
he was one of the more influential Orthodox Christian theologians of the mid-20th century. Among his pupils is the theologian and bishop, John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas is the Eastern Orthodox metropolitan of Pergamon. He is the Chairman of the Academy of Athens and a noted theologian.-Academic Education and Career:...
.
Life
Florovsky was born in 1893 at OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
(then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
), as the fourth child of an Orthodox Christian priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. Inspired by the erudite environment in which he grew up, he learned English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Latin, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, and Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
while still a schoolboy. At eighteen, he started to study philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
After his first graduation, he taught for three years at high schools in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, and then made his full graduation including the licensia docendi at all universities in the Russian empire. In 1919, he began to teach at the University of Odessa.
But in 1920 his family was forced to leave Russia. The young Florovsky realized at that time that there would be no return for him, because Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
did not accept the history and philosophy he taught. Florovsky thus became part of the emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
of Russian intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
, which also included Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev was a Russian religious and political philosopher.-Early life and education:Berdyaev was born in Kiev into an aristocratic military family. He spent a solitary childhood at home, where his father's library allowed him to read widely...
, Sergei Bulgakov
Sergei Bulgakov
Fr. Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov was a Russian Orthodox Christian theologian, philosopher and economist. Until 1922 he worked in Russia; afterwards in Paris.-Early life:...
, Nicholas Lossky and his son Vladimir Lossky
Vladimir Lossky
Vladimir Nikolayevich Lossky was an influential Eastern Orthodox theologian in exile from Russia. He emphasized theosis as the main principle of Orthodox Christianity....
, Alexander Schmemann
Alexander Schmemann
Alexander Schmemann was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian priest, teacher, and writer.-Early life:...
, and John Meyendorff
John Meyendorff
John Meyendorff was a modern Orthodox scholar, writer and teacher. He was born into the Russian nobility as Ivan Feofilovich Baron von Meyendorff , but was known as Jean Meyendorff during his life in France.Fr John Meyendorff retired as Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary on June 30, 1992...
- the latter two of whom would later follow Florovsky as Dean of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary in Crestwood, New York, in the United States. Although it is under the omophorion of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students...
.
In the 1920s Florovsky had a close personal and vocational friendship with Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev was a Russian religious and political philosopher.-Early life and education:Berdyaev was born in Kiev into an aristocratic military family. He spent a solitary childhood at home, where his father's library allowed him to read widely...
. The two became more distanced in later years, largely through Berdyaev's not understanding Florovsky's entering Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and also because of the critical attitude to Berdyaev's philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
expressed in Florovsky's "Ways of Russian Theology".
In 1925 Florovsky was appointed professor of patristics
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
at the St. Serge Institute of Orthodox Theology
St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute
The Institut de théologie orthodoxe Saint-Serge in Paris, France, or St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute is a private school of higher education in Orthodox theology, founded in 1925, in conformity with French legislation and the norms of European university education, accredited by the...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In this subject he found his vocation. The lively debates of the thinkers of the early Church became for him a benchmark for Orthodox Christian theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
, as well as a source for many of his contributions and critiques of the ecumenical movement. Despite not having earned an academic degree in theology (apart from several honorary degrees he was awarded later), Florovsky would spend the rest of his life teaching at theological institutions.
In 1932 Florovsky was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of the Orthodox Church. During the 1930s, he undertook extensive researches in European libraries and wrote his most important works in the area of patristics as well as his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, Ways of Russian Theology. In this work he questioned the Western Christian influences of scholasticism
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
, pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
, and idealism
Idealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
on Orthodox, and especially Russian, Christian theology, and called for a re-evaluation and reformulation of that theology in the light of patristic writings. The work was received with either enthusiasm or condemnation - there was no neutral attitude to it among Russian émigrés. One of his most prominent critics was Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev was a Russian religious and political philosopher.-Early life and education:Berdyaev was born in Kiev into an aristocratic military family. He spent a solitary childhood at home, where his father's library allowed him to read widely...
, the religious philosopher and social critic.
In 1949 Florovsky moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to take a position as Dean of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary in Crestwood, New York, in the United States. Although it is under the omophorion of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students...
. Florovsky's oversight of the development of the theological curriculum led to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
granting the Seminary an Absolute Charter
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...
in 1953. He was fired as Dean in 1955.
Among prominent students and successors of Florovsky is Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas is the Eastern Orthodox metropolitan of Pergamon. He is the Chairman of the Academy of Athens and a noted theologian.-Academic Education and Career:...
.
Works
- Eastern Fathers of the Fourth Century. Paris, 1931.
- The Ways of Russian Theology (online)
- The Catholicity of the Church online
- The Lost Scriptural Mind online
- On Church and Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View online
- St. John Chrysostom. The Prophet of Charity online
- The Ascetic Ideal and the New Testament. Reflections on the Critique of the Theology of the Reformation online
- The Limits of the Church, Church Quarterly Review, 1933 (online)
- 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, 1961 online
- Revelation and Interpretation online
- Scripture and Tradition: an Orthodox View online
- The Work of the Holy Spirit in Revelation online
- Holy Icons online
- 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 excerpts online
- Collected Works. Volume 3: Creation and Redemption [excerpts 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
Further reading
- A. Blane: Georges Florovsky. Russian Intellectual and Orthodox Churchman (1993) ISBN 0-88141-137-X
- 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 AguzziSteven AguzziSteven Aguzzi is an American systematic theologian and an ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church . Ordained in 2005, Aguzzi has served churches in Pennsylvania and Georgia, primarily in the field of youth ministry, and has become a voice for the ecumenical movement and interreligious dialogue...
(2010). Florosky’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 http://www.duq.edu/theology/_pdf/symbolon-logo/Aguzzi_Spr_09.pdf
External links
- Collected Works of Fr Georges Florovsky, in part online
- Lewis Shaw, Georges Florovsky's Model of Orthodox Ecclesiology
- Bishop Chrysostomos of Etna, Protopresybter Georges Florovsky
- John S. Romanides, F. Georges Florovsky, the theologian in service of the church in ecumenical dialogue Lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary 23 May 1980
- Harvard Divinity School Faculty Writings File: Georges Florovsky
- Princeton University Library: George Florovsky Papers
- Nikolai Berdyaev, Ortodoksia and Humanness, 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,"
International Journal of Systematic Theology, Volume 12, Issue 4, pages 382–403, October 2010. http://fordham.academia.edu/BakerMatthew/Papers/487803/The_Eternal_Spirit_of_the_Son_Barth_Florovsky_and_Torrance_on_the_Filioque
- Matthew Baker and Nikolaos Asproulis, "Secondary Bibliography of Scholarly Literature and Conferences on Florovsky," ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ: The Journal of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, 81/40, Vol. 4 (2010), pp. 557-396. http://fordham.academia.edu/BakerMatthew/Papers/487850/_Secondary_Bibliography_of_Scholarly_Literature_and_Conferences_on_Florovsky_
- 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. http://www.princeton.edu/~florov/