Creativity and Prayer in 20th-century Russian Orthodoxy
7. - 8. März 2019
The conference aims to explore the divergent progressions of thought from late 19th century Russian ‘traditionalism’ towards a (re)discovery of the universal dimension of the Christianity of the Fathers in the 20th century; from the narrow constraints of the Russian Academy to an openness towards some more fertile currents of Western thought; from a Russian ‘fin de siècle’ fascination with non-Christian oriental mysticism to Eastern Orthodox hypostatic prayer within an ascesis of deified personhood.
Papers should bring together theological analyses of the interrelation and mutual dependence of these trains of thought within Russian Orthodoxy. This includes but is not limited to the role of sophiology in creating an interface between modernity, traditional approaches to iconography, Biblical exegesis and interpretations of the Fathers. The interrelated theological legacies of Fr. Sergius Bulgakov, Fr. George Florovsky, Mother Maria Skobtsova, Fr. Sophrony Sakharov, and Fr. Alexander Men will be subject to critical appraisal.
In this context, the following questions may be suggested for theological reflection: * What does it mean to be a Christian person? * How does Christian doctrine relate to experience? * How does Christian asceticism relate to doctrine? * How does human creativity correspond to the divine? * Does beauty reveal Christ?
Among the confirmed speakers are Dr Rowan Williams, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Prof Andrew Louth, Prof Alexander Lingas, Sr Teresa Obolevitch, Dr Christoph Schneider, Dr Regula Zwahlen. The conference will include a concert and exhibition that seek to illustrate the principal theological themes.