Last modified on Tuesday August 03, 2004 at 10:29 PM EDT
This page is devoted to giving a reflection of some of the key reasoning of Vladimir Soloviev (1853–1900), the celebrated Russian philosopher, whose thought was a seminal force in the origins of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church.
Several generations of Russian thinkers, philosophers, theologians, poets and intellectuals, both Catholic and Orthodox alike, have drawn on Soloviev's ideas as on a rich source of inspiration and support.
We present below some, but by no means all, of Soloviev's core thoughts on church unity and the role of the the See of Rome, in order to give the contemporary reader a flavor for this thought that has had and continues to have such widespread influence. It is not our intention to foster any polemic by offering these texts, but simply to provide some insight into the philosophical and theological bases for the origins of our Church.
The facts of Soloviev's writings, of his entry into communion with the Holy See, and of the origin and growth of our Church are matters of history beyond dispute; the texts presented here simply reflect or shed light on those facts.
For a general review of Vladimir Soloviev's life and influence in Russia, see Prof. Gaut's article published by The Transnational Vladimir Solovyov Society.
All quotes are from Russia and the Universal Church, tran. by Herbert Rees, London: The Centenary Press, 1948.