The Pillar and Ground of the Truth

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 t...

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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.

Translator's Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction to the Translation
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth
I To the Reader 5
II Letter One: Two Worlds 10
III Letter Two: Doubt 14
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Translator's Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction to the Translation
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth
I To the Reader 5
II Letter One: Two Worlds 10
III Letter Two: Doubt 14
IV Letter Three: Triunity 39
V Letter Four: The Light of the Truth 53
VI Letter Five: The Comforter 80
VII Letter Six: Contradiction 106
VIII Letter Seven: Sin 124
IX Letter Eight: Gehenna 151
X Letter Nine: Creation 190
XI Letter Ten: Sophia 231
XII Letter Eleven: Friendship 284
XIII Letter Twelve: Jealousy 331
XIV Afterword 344
Clarification and Proof of Certain Particulars Assumed in the Text to Be Already Proved
XV Certain Concepts from the Theory of Infinity 351
XVI A Problem of Lewis Carroll and the Question of Dogma 355
XVII Irrationalities in Mathematics and Dogma 359
XVIII The Concept ofIdentity in Scholastic Philosophy 365
XIX The Concept of Identity in Mathematical Logic 368
XX Time and Fate 375
XXI The Heart and Its Significance in the Spiritual Life of Man According to Scripture 378
XXII An Icon of the Annunciation with Cosmic Symbolism 381
XXIII On the Methodology of the Historical Critique 384
XXIV The Turquois Environment of Sophia and the Symbolism of Sky-Blue and Dark-Blue 390
XXV Pascal's "Amulet" 407
XXVI On the History of the Term "Antinomy" 411
XXVII Estheticism and Religion 413
XXVIII Homotypy in the Structure of the Human Body 415
XXIX Remarks on Trinity 420
XXX The Basic Symbols and Elementary Formulas of Symbolic Logic (for reference) 425
Notes and Brief Comments 427
Notes 429
Clarification of Certain Symbols and Drawings 589
Index 591
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