The fight of byzantian schools in ukrainian mystical anthropology: Gregory Skovorodа fnd Paisius Velichkovsky
PDF (Українська)

Keywords

Alexandrian School, School of Antioch, Gregory Skovoroda, Paisius Velichkovsky

How to Cite

Morozova, D. (2020). The fight of byzantian schools in ukrainian mystical anthropology: Gregory Skovorodа fnd Paisius Velichkovsky. Multiversum. Philosophical Almanac, 1(1), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.35423/2078-8142.2020.1.05

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to compare the influence of Byzantine anthropology on the thought of Gregory Skovoroda and St. Paisius Velichkovsky. The comparative-historical method and the Tradition history method are applied for the analysis of the role of Byzantine patristic heritage in the work of the two 18th-century Ukrainian theologians. In addition to M. G. Bartolini's recent study of Skovoroda’s use of the ideas of the Alexandrian School, the paper traces the motives that he borrowed from the School of Antioch – above all, a specific leisure philosophy and Christian Epicureanism that echoes John Chrysostom's doctrine of the ease and naturalness of the Christian way of life. Comparing the mystical anthropology of the two theologians showed the difference in the ways of their introspection. In Skovoroda it is devoted, first and foremost, to self-knowledge, while in Paisius – to the authentic search for the Other: God, teacher, ascetic community. For all the parallelism that they trace in the fates of Gregory Skovoroda and Paisii Velichkovsky, their opinion has substantially different vectors. Although peers, countrymen, and singers Skovoroda and Velichkovsky both sought to turn their lives on the path to themselves, to a large extent these paths were different in themselves. The commonality we see in their lives is one way or another related to Orthodox Christianity and classical education. But the clear differences between them - which are in vain to be explained by the dichotomy of the secular and clerical - largely embody the counterpoint of the anthropological ideals of the Alexandrian and Antiochian schools. The bright Neo-Platonist Frying pan only proves to be close to Antioch philosophy. This is reflected, in particular, in his views on work and leisure (otium and negotium), in references to the Christian epicureanism of John Chrysostom and the like. However, in general, Skovoroda's opinion is more appropriate to consider in the context of the Platonic theology of the Alexandrian School (as evidenced by M. Bartolini's research). Paisius's theological preferences, on the other hand, are largely determined by the influence of the Antioch school of patristics, with its anthropocentrism, sociocentrism, and its great propensity for cinematic writing, with its strong emphasis on communication and fellowship.

https://doi.org/10.35423/2078-8142.2020.1.05
PDF (Українська)

References

Bartolini, M. G. (2017). Know Yourself. Neoplatonic sources in the work of G. S. Skovoroda. Kyiv: Akademperiodika. 160 p. [In Ukrainian].

Briskina-Müller, A. (2018). Reading as a forgotten category of ascetic theology of St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Gregory of Sinai and St. Paisius Velichkovsky. Bo-goslovskij vestnik (Theological Bulletin), 31, 93-122. [In Russian].

Kovalinsky, M. I. (1886). The Life of Gregory Skovoroda, written in an ancient style in 1794. Kievskaya starina (Kiev old), XVI. [In Russian].

Malakhov, V. A. (2008). Christological motives in G. Skovoroda's work. Kyiv: Spirit and Letter. [In Ukrainian].

Morozova, D. S. (2017). St. Paisius Velichkovsky at the crossroads of liturgical traditions of the18th century. Afonskoje nasledije (Mount Athos heritage), 5-6, 286-300. [In Ukrainian].

Nichyk, V. M. & Khyzhnyak, Z. (2000). Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Ukraini-an-German Cultural Relations. Naukovi zapysky KMA. Istorychni nauky (Scientific notes of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Historical sciences), 18, 12-24. [In Ukrainian].

Okara, A. (1996). Paisius Velichkovsky and Gregory Skovoroda in the Context of 18th-Century Spirituality. Filosofiya. Istoriya kultury. Osvita (Reports and communications of the 3rd International Congress of Ukrainianists) (Philoso-phy. The history of culture. Education: Reports and Announcements of the Third International Congress of Ukrainianists). Kharkiv : Oko, 70-76. [In Ukrainian].

Paisius Velichkovsky. (2006). Autobiography. Life. Moscow. 203 p. [In Rus-sian].

Skovoroda, G. (2011). Complete Works. Kharkiv: Maidan. 1398 p. [In Ukraini-an].

Skovoroda, G. (1973). Complete Works in 2 Vols. Kyiv: Naukova dumka. [In Ukrainian].

Ushkalov, L. (2017). Hunting the Uncatchable Bird: The Life of Gregory Skovoroda. Kyiv: Spirit and letter. 368 p. [In Russian].

Chernomorets, Yu. P. Christian Platonism by Gregory Skovoroda. Philosophi-cal Thought (Philosophical thought), 5, 88-97. [In Ukrainian].

Schmid, M., 1984. Epicuro et l'epicureismo cristiano. Brescia, 226 p. [In Rus-sian].

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.