The Symbolism of P. Florensky and Historicism A. Schmemann as the Antinomy of Believing Reason and Rational Faith

Abstract

The article deals with such theological approaches as symbolic and historical interpretation of the Liturgy. These approaches are clearly expressed in the works of the priests Pavel Florensky and Alexander Schmemann. The article develops the thesis that theological symbolism and historicism correlate with the concepts of believing reason and reasonable faith (as per their manifestations). In turn, believing reason and rational faith are the antinomy of faith and reason. An explanation of these terms, including symbol and antinomy, which were actively used in their works by the authors in question, is given. Antinomical method used in the article shows the difference between the symbolic and the historical perception of worship as mutually exclusive and yet concludes that symbolism and historicism need each other and form a unity of a living religious experience. The author of the article offers theological interpretation of the Liturgy through a balanced combination of symbolic and historical approaches. The aim of the work is to study the theological and philosophical heritage of priests Pavel Florensky and Alexander Schmemann using the comparative method. An attempt is made to typologize their philosophical thought as respectively «schools of believing reason» and reasonable faith. On the example of symbolic and historical interpretation of the small entrance to the Liturgy, it is shown what priorities are chosen by the priests-philosophers, what they are interested in first of all: the meaning of the ceremony, its spiritual component or the meaning of what is happening. On this basis the conclusion is made about the tendency of philosophical thought Р. Florensky to mysticism, and A. Schmemann - to rationalism (in a spiritual sense - to contemplation and reasoning). However, attention is drawn to the ambiguity of this definition of theological positions.