Orthodox Universalism: Vasily Zenkovsky’s Vision of a Christian Philosophy

Michael Kuznetsov

Authors

Michael Kuznetsov V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3232-1792

Keywords:

Vasily Zenkovsky, Russian philosophy, Orthodox theology, Kantian rationalism, Literary criticism, , Russian émigré thought, Sophiology

Abstract

This essay analyzes the life, philosophy, theology, and literary contributions of Vasily Vasilyevich Zenkovsky (1881–1962), a central figure in modern Russian thought. His project of “Christian philosophy” sought to reconcile Kantian rationalism with Orthodox theology through the concept of “Orthodox universalism.” Born in Ukraine and marked by the political upheavals of imperial and Soviet Russia, his exile from Kiev to Paris strengthened his resolve to harmonize reason and faith. His philosophical system, based on Kant's epistemology and enriched by sophrology and the patristic teachings of Gregory of Nyssa and Maximus the Confessor, addressed metaphysical, ontological, and psychological dimensions. Through a dialectical method and a holistic synthesis, Zenkovsky offered a way to understand the tensions between the material and the spiritual in modernity. The essay also examines his ecumenical vision, which maintained Orthodox identity while engaging in dialogue with other Christian traditions, and his pedagogical contribution in Child Psychology (1923), where he integrates spiritual development into education. Renowned for his History of Russian Philosophy and his literary studies on Gogol, Pushkin, and Dostoevsky, Zenkovsky established himself as a bridge between Eastern and Western intellectual traditions. His work, marked by exile and cultural dialogue, continues to offer a profound reflection on the unity between reason, faith, and humanity.

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