Bulgakov Sergei Nikolaevich, Russian philosopher, theologian, Orthodox priest: biography

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Russian philosopher-theologian Sergei Bulgakov is a man of difficult fate. He was able to go through doubts and find his way to God, creating his own doctrine of Sophia, was able to overcome the distrust of friends and church disapproval and live according to conscience and faith.

Childhood and family

Bulgakov Sergei Nikolaevich was born on July 16 (28), 1871 in the city of Livny, in a large family of a priest, rector of a small church at the cemetery. Sergei's father raised his children (and he had seven of them) in the Orthodox tradition. The family regularly attended church services, the children listened, and later read the sacred books themselves. Sergei gratefully recalled his childhood years, when he came into contact with the beauty of Russian nature, backed up by the solemn grandeur of the liturgy. It was at this time that he experienced a harmonious union with God. He was brought up as an exemplary Christian, in his early years he sincerely believed in God.

Years of study

At the age of 12 Bulgakov Sergei began to study at the theological school, at that time he was, in his words, “a faithful sonChurches . After graduating from school, he enters the religious school in his native city of Livny. At this time, he seriously thinks about connecting his life with serving God. Four years later, having completed his studies at the school, Bulgakov enters the theological seminary in the city of Orel. Here he studied for three years, but at this time there is a significant change in his worldview, he is going through a deep religious crisis, which dooms him to disbelief in God. Having lost faith in Orthodoxy, in 1987 Bulgakov left the seminary and after that he studied at the classical gymnasium in Yelets for another two years. Later he enters the Moscow State University, the Faculty of Law. In 1894, he successfully passed the final tests and received a master's degree with the right to teach.

Early views

Already in the first years of the seminary Bulgakov Sergei has great doubts about religious postulates and will experience a deep crisis of faith, which pushes him not only to leave the seminary, but also to get closer to the very popular Marxists at that time. He works hard in this new philosophical direction and quickly becomes the leading theoretician of Marxism in Russia. However, he soon realizes the inconsistency of this theory and evolves towards idealism. In 1902, he even wrote an article "From Marxism to Idealism", in which he explains the change in his views.

These changes in his views are quite consistent with the spirit of the time, for the Russian intelligentsia of that period was characterized by a passion for German idealism and subsequently religiosity. Acquaintance with Bebel and Kautsky, the works of V. Solovyov and L. Tolstoy lead him to search in the field of Christian politics to resolve the issue of good and evil. For some time, Bulgakov was fond of cosmism, following Nikolai Fedorov. These searches, which he himself designated as "social Christianity", absolutely fit into the evolution of Russian philosophical thought of this period.

Gradually, Bulgakov's thought matures and takes shape, the path of his philosophical searches perfectly reflects his first significant work - the book "Non-Evening Light".

Pedagogical activity

After graduating from the university, Sergei Bulgakov (his biography is connected not only with philosophy, but also with teaching) remains at the department in order to write a doctoral dissertation, and he also begins to teach political economy at the Imperial Technical School in Moscow. In 1898, the university sent him for two years on a scientific trip to Germany. In 1901, he defended his dissertation and received the position of an ordinary professor at the Department of Political Economy of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 1906 he became a professor at the Moscow Commercial Institute. Bulgakov's lectures reflect the path of his searches, many of them will be published as philosophical and socio-economic works. Later he worked as a professor of political economy and theology at Tauride University and a professor of ecclesiastical law and theology in Prague.

Social experiences

Joining the Marxists in 1903Bulgakov Sergei participates in the illegal founding congress of the Union of Liberation, whose members were N. Berdyaev, V. Vernadsky, I. Grevs. As part of the activities of the Union, Bulgakov disseminated patriotic views, being the editor of the New Way magazine. In 1906, the philosopher takes an active part in the creation of the Union of Christian Politics, from which he passes to the deputies of the Second State Duma in 1907. However, soon the views of the anti-monarchists cease to be close to him, and he goes over to the opposite side. From that moment on, he no longer attempts to join social movements and focuses his activity on writing philosophical and journalistic works.

Religious philosophy

In 1910, Sergei Bulgakov, whose philosophy is approaching the main point of its development, meets Pavel Florensky. The friendship of the two thinkers greatly enriched Russian thought. During this period, Bulgakov finally returns to the bosom of religious, Christian philosophy. He interpreted it in the church-practical aspect. In 1917, his landmark book “Non-Evening Light” was published, and this year, Sergei Nikolayevich takes part in the All-Russian Local Council, which restores the patriarchate in the country.

The philosopher at this time thinks a lot about the ways of development for the country and the intelligentsia. He experienced the revolution as the tragic death of everything that was dear to him in life. Bulgakov believed that at this difficult moment the priests had a special mission to preserve spirituality andhumanity. The civil war intensified the feeling of the apocalypse and pushed Sergei Nikolayevich to the most important decision in his life.

The Way of the Priest

In 1918, Bulgakov takes the priesthood. The dedication takes place on June 11 at the Danilovsky Monastery. Father Sergius closely cooperates with Patriarch Tikhon and gradually begins to play a rather significant role in the Russian Church, but the war changed everything. In 1919, he went to the Crimea to pick up his family, but he would not be destined to return to Moscow. At this time, the Bolsheviks excluded Bulgakov from the teaching staff of the Moscow Commercial Institute. In Simferopol, he works at the university and continues to write philosophical works. However, the Soviet power that came there soon deprives him of this opportunity as well.

Emigration

In 1922, Sergei Bulgakov, whose books were not pleasing to the new, Soviet, authorities, was exiled to Constantinople with his family. He was given a document to sign, stating that he was being expelled from the RSFSR forever and would be shot if he returned. The Bulgakovs move from Constantinople to Prague.

Sergey Nikolaevich never wanted to leave his homeland, which was very dear to him. All his life he spoke with pride about his Russian origin and actively supported Russian culture, forced to exist abroad. He dreamed of someday visiting Russia, but this was not destined to come true. The son of the Bulgakovs, Fedor, remained at home, whom theynever seen again.

Prague period

In 1922 Bulgakov Sergei arrived in Prague, where he began working at the Russian Institute at the Faculty of Law. At that time, Prague was called the “Russian Oxford”, and such representatives of religious philosophy as N. Lossky, G. Vernadsky, P. Struve, P. Novgorodtsev worked here after the revolution. Bulgakov taught theology here for two years. In addition, he performed services in a student church in Prague and in one of the suburban parishes.

The Bulgakovs lived in an institute dormitory called "Svobodarna", where a brilliant team of Russian scientists and thinkers gathered. Father Sergius became the founder of the journal Spiritual World of Students, which published the most interesting articles of theological content. He also became one of the main organizers of the Russian Student Christian Movement, whose members were leading Russian emigrant thinkers and scientists.

Paris period

In 1925, Father Sergius and his family moved to Paris, where, with his active participation, the first Orthodox Theological Institute was opened, of which he became dean and professor. Since 1925, he has made many trips, having traveled to almost all countries of Europe and North America. The Parisian period is also notable for Bulgakov's intensive philosophical work. His most notable works of this time are: the trilogy "The Lamb of God", "The Bride of the Lamb", "The Comforter", the book "The Burning Bush". As the dean of the St. Sergius Institute, Sergey Bulgakov creates a real spiritual center of Russian culture in Paris. He organizes work on the construction of a complex called "Sergius Compound". For 20 years of his leadership, a whole town of buildings and temples appears here. Father Sergiy also worked a lot with the youth, becoming a well-known educator and mentor for students.

Big trials fell on Bulgakov during the Second World War, he was already seriously ill at that time, but even under these conditions he did not stop his work on the creation of religious and philosophical works. He was very worried about the fate of his homeland and all of Europe.

Sophiology of S. Bulgakov

Bulgakov's philosophical concept is inextricably linked with theology. The central idea - Sophia the Wisdom of God - was not new to religious thought, it was actively developed by V. Solovyov, but with Father Sergius it became a deep inner experience, a revelation. Religious and philosophical works of Bulgakov lacked integrity and logic; rather, he confesses in his books, talks about his own mystical experience. The main spiritual concept of his theory, Sophia the Wisdom of God, is understood by him in different ways: from embodied femininity as the basis of the world to the main unifying force of existence, universal wisdom and goodness. Bulgakov's theory was condemned by the Orthodox Church, he was not accused of heresy, but he was pointed out to errors and miscalculations. His theory did not acquire a complete form and remained in the form of rather diverse reflections.

Private life

Bulgakov Sergei Nikolaevich lived an eventful life. Back in 1898, he married the daughter of a landowner, ElenaIvanovna Tokmakova, who went through all the trials of life with him, and there were many of them. The couple had seven children, but only two of them survived. The death of the three-year-old Ivashek was a deep, tragic experience for Bulgakov, it prompted the thinker to think about the wisdom of the world. In 1939, the priest was diagnosed with throat cancer, he underwent a severe operation on the vocal cords, but learned through incredible efforts to speak after that. However, in 1944 he had a stroke, which led to his death on July 13, 1944.