“Vexation of Spirit”: Some Remarks about Pr. G. Florovsky’s Criticism on Pr. P. Florensky’s Works

Abstract

The article examines the critical remarks made by prot. George Florovsky concerning priest Paul Florensky’s book The Pillar and the Ground of Truth. It is noted that some important features of Florensky’s works are related to the deep crisis he experienced in his youth. Florensky searched for evidence of objective existence of the universal Truth and found it in the philosophy of Plato and Vladimir Solovyov. He received a systematic theological education after his basic beliefs were definitively established. The general conclusion is that Florensky indeed considered the knowledge of Truth in an eschatological perspective, but this caused him not «vexation of spirit», but joy of waiting for the transformation to come.