A Criticism of the Lack of Concern for Doctrine Among Russian Orthodox Believers
by Father George Florovsky
The late Metropolitan Eulogius was discussing the recent
religious revival among Russians, both at home and in exile, during the early years of
Russian emigration. The fact was obvious: there was an awakening. The reasons were
obvious, also: the shock of tragic events, insecurity and uncertainty, suffering and fear.
But exactly what was it that attracted Russians to the Church? The dogmas, the Orthodox
doctrine? Yes, said the Metropolitan, so it was in the past, and especially in Byzantium
among the Greeks, but not in Russia. There was a time when even lay people were deeply
interested in questions of faith. But Russians, the Metropolitan contended, with the
exception of the few educated theologians, have not yet reached the point at which they
would be concerned with the problems of abstract theological thought, and in fact they are
not interested in them at all. It may be, the Metropolitan conceded, that the Church has
failed to develop an interest in theology among believers. But, in his opinion, the true
reason for this lack of interest among the Russians was that they neither cherish, nor
understand the theoretical aspect of the realization or embodiment of the Church's ideals
in the lives of men. Above all, they cherish the ritual aspect of religion, the beauty of
services, ikons, melodies, and the like. The Metropolitan proceeded to explain the
emotional and educational value of the rites. He added, however, that all this ritual may
be little understood, and that people do not really know what truth is witnessed or
symbolized in the rites. Yet, he contended, rites themselves are so touching and moving,
exalting and inspiring, regardless of their meaning.
Whether this is a fair description of the Russian approach to
Christianity is open to doubt. But the attitude described by the late Metropolitan is
typical of certain elements in the Russian Church. It is persistently asserted by various
writers that Russians learn Christianity not from the Gospel but from the Lives of Saints.
It is also asserted that for the Orthodox in general, Christianity is not
"Doctrine" but "Life." The Orthodox are concerned not with
"dogmatic systems" but with "living." They comprehend the truth not
through the mediation of intellectual understanding, but through the mediation of
"the heart" and in an aesthetical manner. One should look for Orthodox teaching
not in systems but in images, rites and ikons. It is even asserted that in the Orthodox
East there is "no theory of Christianity," but that instead there are saints,
ikons, poetry and so on.
No Orthodox, and no Catholic, would deny the basic importance of sacred
rites and the life of sanctity. What is embarrassing in the statements which we have just
quoted is their exclusiveness, their emphasis on not—but. One should ask why
"doctrinal systems" and "intellectual understanding" are so carefully
restricted, so contemptuously devaluated and almost altogether eliminated. The balance
seems to be broken. In any case, this over-emphasis on the "artistic" aspect of
the ritual is not in agreement with the actual tradition of Orthodox art itself. And if
one can be instructed by Orthodox hymnography and ikons, it is precisely because a very
definite "theory of Christianity" is embodied and expressed there.
"Theory" means above all "contemplation;" it is an insight and a
vision, a poetic insight and an intellectual vision. According to Orthodox spiritual
tradition, the Nous is the ruling power of the inner life, "to hegemonikon."
Traditional Eastern Orthodox hymnography, inherited by Russians from the Greeks, is
not just lyrics; it is marked not by emotion, but by sobriety. It is high poetry, indeed,
but it is "metaphysical poetry," or rather "theological poetry," and
does not hesitate to sometimes use elaborate theological terminology. Indeed, some of the
greatest hymns of the Eastern Church are simply paraphrases of dogmatic definitions: a
Son, who was born before ages of the Father without mother, and who hath in no way
undergone either a change, or intermingling, or division, but hath preserved in their
entirety the peculiarities of each nature (Dogmatic Theotokion, in the 3rd tone.) This
is precisely the definition of the Council of Chalcedon, and it requires theological
understanding. It was aptly said that Orthodox Ikons are "dogmatic monuments"
(V. V. Bolotov.) They witness the same truth which is defined in doctrine, and according
to the Seventh Ecumenical Council, they must be controlled by sound doctrine. In brief,
there is no room for this disjunction: not -but. Of course, dogmas must be lived
and not assessed by abstract thinking alone, but for that very reason it is misleading to
urge not doctrine but life. This habit of division and disjunction only
distorts the "life" itself. One cannot separate "spirituality" and
"theology" in St. John of Damascus, or in St. Gregory of Nazianzus. One misses
the very center of the spirituality of Father John of Kronstadt when it is deliberately
"abstracted" from his theological vision. Holiness in the Orthodox tradition is
always interpreted "theologically," and not in the categories of aesthetic
emotion or exaltation, but in the categories of spiritual sobriety, in faithfulness to
truth.
It is really embarrassing that there is so little concern for
"dogmatic systems," as well as for the Doctrine of the Church, in various
circles and quarters of the Orthodox society of our day, and that "devotion" is
so often forcefully divorced from "faith." There is too much concern with
"the vessels" and too little concern with the Treasure, which alone makes the
vessel precious. Symbols and rites are vehicles of the truth, and if they fail to convey
the truth, they simply cease to function. Unfortunately, it is often suggested that
"interest in doctrines" is something rather archaic and is a Greek attitude
rather than a Russian one (again, not—but). There is but one Orthodox
Tradition of faith, and it transcends all national barriers. The feast of Orthodoxy, which
we still faithfully celebrate on the first Sunday in Lent, is precisely a theological
feast. The Legacy of Fathers is the core of our Orthodox tradition, and it is a
theological legacy. The Doctrine of Fathers is the spring of Orthodoxy in life. One is
fully justified in contending that our modern confusion in life comes directly from the
contemporary neglect of "sound teaching," from the lack of "sound
learning" in matters of faith.
Orthodoxy stands by its faithfulness to the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
It is so often forgotten that the Councils were engaged precisely in the formulation of
Christian Doctrine, in the elaboration of "dogmatic systems." Is it a step
forward that now we are not moved or impressed by the dogmatic teachings of those great
men who gave their entire lives to the establishment of the Right Faith, of Orthodoxy? We
praise the Three Hierarchs, who were above all the ecumenical teachers, the
teachers of the right faith, but we are strangely indifferent to their perennial
contribution to the life of the Church: namely—their teaching, their theology,
their interpretation of the Christian truth "in the words of reason." And do we
not need, as a matter of first priority, for our intellect to be illuminated by the
"Light of Reason" in the present days of intellectual confusion? Without a sober
guidance, without the stable element of sound doctrine, our feelings would but err and our
hearts would be blinded.
One should accept the present revival of religion, the awakening of the
heart, as a gift of Grace, as a token of Divine Mercy, but also as a stem summons and
invitation to study and understanding, to the Knowledge of Truth which embraces our
Eternal Life. There is an unfortunate prejudice, one which does not stem from Orthodox
sources, that "doctrines" are abstract and "theology" is
intellectualism. Our Lord and Redeemer is the Logos, and He illumines all men; and the
Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, is the Spirit of Truth. "Emotions" are human
moods, but the truth is Divine.
Let us adorn the vessels, but not forget that vessels are of clay. Yet
in them an Eternal Treasure is hidden: the Word of Life.
From The Collected Works of Georges Florovsky, ed. Richard S.
Haugh (Belmont, MA: Nordland), Vol. XIII, Ecumenism I: A Doctrinal Approach, pp.
168-170.
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"What our generation wants, especially in our country [America], is a true
theological revival—a revival of a living theology, which would unlock
for us the Truth that one can find in the Scriptures, the Tradition, and the Liturgical
life of the Church, but which is concealed from us by our ignorance and neglect. Today
more than ever before, we need just such a 'band of spiritual firebrands' who can inflame
minds and hearts with the fire of a loving knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, the
Redeemer. In our generation God is calling us to be his witnesses and messengers. How can
men believe if they do not hear the quickening Word? Even if we are men of unclean lips,
let us respond to the Divine call, and the fire of the Spirit will cleanse us for the
ministry of the Word." ("The Witness of the Orthodox Church," ibid.,
p. 173).
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