Pavel (Paul) Alexandrovich Florensky (also P.A. Florenskiĭ, Florenskii, Florenskij, Russian: Павел Александрович Флоренский, January 21 [O.S. January 9] 1882 - December 1937 by some sources) was a Russian Orthodox theologian, philosopher, mathematician, electrical engineer, and Neomartyr sometimes compared by his followers to Leonardo da Vinci. Image File history File links Pavel_Florensky. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Old Style or O.S. is a designation indicating that a date conforms to the Julian calendar, formerly in use in many countries, rather than the Gregorian calendar, currently in use in most countries. ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian: ), also known as the Orthodox Christian Church of Russia, is a body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs and primates of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... Leonhard Euler, considered one of the greatest mathematicians of all time A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study and research is the field of mathematics. ... Electrical Engineers design power systems… … and complex electronic circuits. ... From the words νεο (neo, new) the Greek prefix for new and μάρτυς (martys), the Greek word for witness. The title of New Martyr or Neomartyr of the Eastern Orthodox church was originally given to martyrs under heretical rulers (the original martyrs being under pagans), then later to the Churchs martyrs... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ...

Biography

Pavel Alexandrovich Florensky was born on January 21, 1882 into a family of a Railroad engineer in the town of Yevlakh located in western Azerbaijan. His father came from a family of Russian Orthodox priests while his mother Olga (Salomia) Saparova (Saparashvili) was of the Georgian-Armenian nobility ^{[1] [2]}. After graduating from Tiflis gymnasium he entered the Department of Mathematics of Moscow State University, and simultaneously studied Philosophy. is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Yevlakh (Azeri: Yevlax) is a small town in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of capital Baku. ... The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian: ), also known as the Orthodox Christian Church of Russia, is a body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs and primates of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... Location of Tbilisi in Georgia Coordinates: , Country Georgia Established c. ... A gymnasium (pronounced with or, in Swedish, as opposed to ) is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English Grammar Schools and U.S. High Schools. ... Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russian: Московский государственный университет имени М.В.Ломоносова, often abbreviated МГУ, MSU, MGU) is the largest and the oldest university in Russia, founded in 1755. ...

After graduating from Moscow State University in 1904, Florensky refused to accept a teaching position at the University. Instead he procedded to study theology at the Ecclesiastical Academy in Sergiyev Posad. Together with his fellow students Ern, Svenitsky and Brikhnichev he founded a society, the Christian Struggle Union (Союз Христиaнской Борьбы), with the revolutionarly aim of rebuilding Russian society according to the principle of Vladimir Solovyov. Subsequently he was arrested for membership in this society in 1906. But he later lost his interest in the Radical Christianity movement. 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... Slavic Greek Latin Academy (Славяно-греко-латинская академия in Russian) was the first higher education establishment in Moscow, Russia. ... Monument to St. ... Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov (Владимир Сергеевич Соловьёв) (1853 - 1900) was a Russian philosopher, poet, pamphleteer, literary critic, who played a significant role in the development of Russian philosophy and poetry at the end of the 19th century. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Mikhail Nesterov Philosophers Pavel Florensky and Sergei Bulgakov 1917

During his studies at the Ecclesiastical Academy his interests included Philosophy, Religion, Art, Folklore. He became a prominent member of the Russian Symbolism movement, started his friendship with Andrei Bely, published works in the magazines New Way (Новый Путь) and Libra (Весы). He also started his main philosophical work The Pillar and Ground of the Truth: An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters. The complete book was published only in 1924 but most of it was finished at the time of his graduation from the Academy in 1908. Image File history File links Nesterov_Florensky_Bulgakov. ... Image File history File links Nesterov_Florensky_Bulgakov. ... Holy Vision to Youth Bartholomew (1890) Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov (May 19, 1862, Ufa - October 18, 1942, Moscow) was a leading representative of religious Symbolism in Russian art. ... Mikhail Nesterovs Philosophers, Pavel Florensky (left) and Sergei Bulgakov 1917 Fr. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Mikhail Nesterovs painting Vision to Youth Bartholomew (1890) is often taken as a starting point of Russian Symbolism. ... Leon Bakst Portrait of Andrei Bely Andrei Bely (Андрей Белый) was the pseudonym of Boris Nikolaevich Bugaev (October 14, 1880 (Old Style)- January 8, 1934), a Russian novelist, poet, theorist, and literary critic. ... Year 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

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. Christ is the English term for the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ... Same-sex union can refer to: same-sex marriage -- the civil or religious rites of marriage that make it equivalent to opposite-sex marriages in all aspects. ... Sophiology is a branch of Christian theology primarily concerned with the Wisdom of God. ...

After graduating from the Academy he taught philosophy there and lived at Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra until 1919. In 1911 he was ordained into the priesthood. In 1914 he wrote his dissertation About Spiritual Truth. He published works on Philosophy, Theology, Art Theory, Mathematics, Electrodynamics. Between 1911 and 1917 he was the chief editor of the most authoritative Orthodox Theologian publication of that time Bogoslovskiy Vestnik. He was also a spiritual teacher of the controversial Russian writer Vasily Rozanov, urging him to conciliate with the Orthodox Church. The Trinity Lavra of St. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Electromagnetism is the physics of the electromagnetic field: a field, encompassing all of space, composed of the electric field and the magnetic field. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Vasily Vasilievich Rozanov (Василий Васильевич Розанов) (1856 - 1919) was one of the most controversial Russian writers and philosophers of the pre-revolutionary epoch. ...

After the October Revolution he formulated his position as: I am of a Philosophical and scientific world outlook developed by me, which contradicts the vulgar interpretation of communism... but that does not prevent me to honestly work for the state service. After the closing down, by the Bolsheviks, of the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra (1918) and Sergievo-Posad Church (1921), where he was the priest, he moved to Moscow to work on the State Plan for Electrification of Russia. (ГОЭЛРО) Under the recommendation of Leon Trotsky who strongly believed in Florensky's ability to help the government to electrificate Russia. According to contemporaries, Florensky in his priest's cassock, working alongside other leaders of a Government department, was an astonishing sight to behold. For other uses, see October Revolution (disambiguation). ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... GOELRO plan (Russian: план ГОЭЛРО) was the first ever Soviet plan of recovery and development of the state economy, a prototype of Five Year Plans. ... Leon Trotsky (Russian:  , Lev Davidovich Trotsky, also transliterated Leo, Lyev, Trotskii, Trotski, Trotskij, Trockij and Trotzky) (November 7 [O.S. October 26] 1879 – August 21, 1940), born Lev Davidovich Bronstein (), was an Ukrainian-born Bolshevik revolutionary and Marxist theorist. ...

In 1924 he published a large monograph on Dielectrics, as well as his The Pillar and Ground of the Truth An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters. He also worked simultaneously as the Scientific Secretary of Historical Commission on Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra and published his works on Ancient Russian Art. He was also rumored to be the main organizer of the plot to save the relics of St. Sergii Radonezhsky which had been ordered destroyed by the government. Year 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A monograph is a scholarly book or a treatise on a single subject or a group of related subjects. ... A dielectric, or electrical insulator, is a substance that is highly resistant to electric current. ... A relic is an object, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of someone of religious significance, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial, Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism, some denominations of Christianity, Hinduism, shamanism, and many other personal belief systems. ... Venerable Sergii Radonezhsky (Сергий Радонежский) (born Varfolomei – Варфоломей, corresponds to Bartholomew), also translated as Sergey Radonezhsky and Sergius of Radonezh (1322 – 1392), was the...

In the second half of the 20s he mostly worked on physics and electrodynamics, publishing his main "hard science" work Imaginary numbers in Geometry devoted to the geometrical interpretation of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Among other things he proclaimed that the geometry of imaginary numbers predicted by the theory of relativity for a body moving faster than light is the geometry of the kingdom of God. In mathematics, an imaginary number (or purely imaginary number) is a complex number whose square is negative or zero. ... “Einstein” redirects here. ... Two-dimensional analogy of space-time curvature described in General Relativity. ...

In 1928 Florensky was exiled to Nizhny Novgorod. After the intercession of Ekaterina Peshkova (wife of Maxim Gorky), Florensky was allowed to return to Moscow. In 1933 he was arrested again and sentenced to ten years in the Labor Camps by the infamous article fifty eight of Stalin's criminal code (clauses ten and eleven - agitation against the Soviet system and publishing agitation materials against the Soviet system). The published agitation materials were the monograph about the theory of relativity. Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nizhny Novgorod (Russian: ), colloquially shortened as Nizhny, is the fourth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. ... Ekaterina Peshkova Ekaterina Pavlovna Peshkova nee Volzhina (Russian: , 1887-1965) was a Russian human rights activist and humanitarian, first wife of Maxim Gorky. ... Aleksei Maksimovich Peshkov (In Russian Алексей Максимович Пешков) (March 28 [O.S. March 16] 1868–June 18, 1936), better known as Maxim Gorky (Максим Горький), was a Soviet/Russian author, a founder of the socialist realism literary method and a political activist. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gulag ( , Russian: ) was the government body responsible for administering prison camps across the former Soviet Union. ... Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვი&#4314...

He served at the Baikal Amur Mainline camp, until 1934 when he was moved to Solovki, there he conducted research into producing iodine and agar out of the local seaweed. In 1937 he was transferred to Saint Petersburg (then known as Leningrad) where he was sentenced by an extrajudicial NKVD troika to execution. According to a legend he was sentenced for the refusal to disclose the location of the head of St. Sergii Radonezhsky that the communists wanted to destroy. The Saint's head was indeed saved and in 1946 the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra was opened again. The relics of St. Sergii became fashionable once more. The Saint's relics where returned to Lavra by Pavel Golubtsov, later known as archbishop Sergiy. Baikal-Amur Magistral in green; Trans-Siberian line in red The Baikal-Amur Mainline (Russian Байкало-Амурская Магистраль, Baikalo-Amurskaya Magistral’, BAM) is a railway line in Russia. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Solovki is located in the Solovetsky Islands, White Sea, Russia. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iodine, I, 53 Chemical series halogens Group, Period, Block 17, 5, p Appearance violet-dark gray, lustrous Standard atomic weight 126. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ascophyllum nodosum exposed to the sun in Nova Scotia, Canada Dead Mans Fingers (Codium fragile) off Massachusetts coast For the band, see; Seaweed (band) For the rock musician, see; Seaweed (musician) Seaweeds are any of a large number of marine benthic algae. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград) may mean: St. ... Extrajudicial punishment is physical punishment without the permission of a court or legal authority, and as such, constitutes a violation of basic human rights (such as the right to due process and humane treatment). ... What does it mean? The Russian word troika (threesome, triumvirate) denoted commissions of three persons as an additional instrument of extrajudicial punishment (внесудебная расправа, внесудебное преследование) introduced to supplement the legal system with a means for quick punishment of anti-Soviet elements. ... Venerable Sergii Radonezhsky (Сергий Радонежский) (born Varfolomei – Варфоломей, corresponds to Bartholomew), also translated as Sergey Radonezhsky and Sergius of Radonezh (1322 – 1392), was the... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Official Soviet information stated that Florensky died December 8, 1943 somewhere in Siberia, but a study of the NKVD archives after the disbanding of the Soviet Union have shown that information to be false. Florensky was shot immediately after the NKVD troika session in December 1937. Most probably he was executed at the Rzhevsky artillery range, near Toksovo, which is located about twenty kilometers north-east to Saint Petersburg and was buried in a secret grave in Koirangakangas near Toksovo together with 30,000 others who were executed by NKVD at the same time. is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Siberian” redirects here. ... The NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del  ) (Russian: , ) or Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the leading secret police organization of the Soviet Union that was responsible for political repressions during Stalinism. ... What does it mean? The Russian word troika (threesome, triumvirate) denoted commissions of three persons as an additional instrument of extrajudicial punishment (внесудебная расправа, внесудебное преследование) introduced to supplement the legal system with a means for quick punishment of anti-Soviet elements. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Toksovo(Russian: ) is a townlet 20 km North-East to Saint Petersburg. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

References and Notes

1. ^ Oleg Kolesnikov Pavel Florensky (Russian)
2. ^ Pavel V. Florensky, Tatiana Shutova Pavel Florensky Nashe Nasledie (Russian)

See Also

• Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov
• Sergei Bulgakov
• Sophiology
• Imiaslavie

Vladimir Sergeyevich Soloviev (Владимир Сергеевич Соловьёв) (1853 - 1900) was a famous Russian philosopher. ... Mikhail Nesterovs Philosophers, Pavel Florensky (left) and Sergei Bulgakov 1917 Fr. ... Sophiology is a branch of Christian theology primarily concerned with the Wisdom of God. ... Schema-monk Illarion Imiaslavie (Russian: ) or Imiabozhie (Имябожие), also referred as onomatodoxy, is a dogmatic movement which was condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church, but that is still promoted by some affiliated with Gregory Lourie of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (a splinter group of the Russian Orthodox Church), and by...

External links

• (Russian) Site devoted to Florensky
• (Russian) biography
• (Russian) Church biography
• (English) The Pavel Florensky School of Theology and Ministry (Euclid Extension), offers distance programs in Orthodox Theology
• (Italian) DISF: P.A. Florenskij - Dizionario Interdisciplinare di Scienza e Fede: voice by N. Valentini
• (Italian) eSamizdat about some Florenskij's books
• (Italian) Vita di Paolo Florensky - dell'Abate Herman e di Padre Damascene
• (Italian)Antonio Maccioni, Pavel Aleksandrovič Florenskij. Note in margine all'ultima ricezione italiana
• (Greek) Page devoted to Florenskij

• Florensky, Pavel (2004). The Pillar and Ground of the Truth: An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-11767-6. 
• Florensky, Pavel (1999-02-13). Salt of the Earth (The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit in Russia Series, Vol. 2). Saint Herman Press. 
• Florensky, Pavel (1996). Iconostasis. Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 
• Florensky, Pavel (2006-08-15). Beyond Vision: Essays on the Perception of Art. London: Reaktion Books. 
• Florensky, Pavel. Onomatodoxy as a Philosophical Premise (excerpts). A. F. Losev page. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.

• Pavel Florensky on Brotherhood Rite (translated from Russian by Fr. German Ciuba). Gay.ru. Russian National GLBT Center. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
• Titova, Irina. "'Russian da Vinci' May Be Among Remains", St. Petersburg Times, 2002-10-01, pp. 73. Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
• Pavel Florensky's House - Sergiev Posad. Golden Ring of Russia (2007-02-14). Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  • Article and photos of Florensky's Russian home
• Leach, Joseph H. J. (Fall 2006). "Parallel Visions - A consideration of the work of Pavel Florensky and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin". Theandros 4 (1). Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
• Rhodes, Michael C. (Spring 2005). "Logical Proof of Antinomy: A Trinitarian Interpretation of the Law of Identity". Theandros 2 (3). Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
• Berdyaev, Nikolai (February 1917). "Khomyakov and Fr. Florensky" (reprint, translation from Russian). Journal Russkaya Mysl (257). Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
• Steineger IV, Joseph E. (Spring/Summer 2006). "Cult, Rite, and the Tragic: Appropriating Nietzsche's Dionysian with Florenskii's Titanic". Theandros 3 (3). Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
• Bird, Robert. The Geology of Memory: Pavel Florensky’s Hermeneutic Theology. equestrial.ru. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
• Seiling, Jonathan (September 2005). Kant's Third Antinomy and Spinoza's Substance in the Sophiology of Florenskii and Bulgakov (RTF document). Florensky Conference. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
• Reardon, Patrick Henry (1998-09-01). Truth Is Not Known Unless It Is Loved: How Pavel Florensky restored what Ockham stole (fee required). Books & Culture. Christianity Today. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
• Dvoretskaya, Ekaterina. Personal approach to Symbolic reality. crvp.org. Council for Research and Values in Philosophy. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.

• (Italian) Florenskij, Pavel A. at the Open Directory Project