Ideas about mysticism and magic as an expression of special features of priest Pavel Florensky’s christian worldview

The article examines one of the most important features of the religious, philosophical and theological heritage of the priest Pavel Florensky. Despite the large amount of research literature, it remains not sufficiently studied. Unlike a number of other thinkers, elements of mysticism and mystical perceptions in Florensky's works are associated with his direct interest in those realities that relate to the theory and practice of magic and occultism. The article gives a brief overview of the opinions expressed by the leading researchers of Florensky's legacy, who dealt with this topic. There is a lack of serious developments on this topic after the publication of all Florensky's texts by the early 2010s. In the article, the research is carried out on three main aspects. The first one analyzes Florensky's concepts, in which his views on mysticism and mystical experience found expression. His beliefs stand out, on the basis of which he considered the mystical experience universal for all periods of human history. In the second aspect, evidence of the mystical experience of Florensky himself is revealed. Remarks are made regarding his distinction between genuine mysticism and false mysticism, respectively, as free and not free from the subjective “human factor”. The third aspect provides the main evidence of Florensky's actual attitude to the realities of “magical” relationships in the world, as well as to the theory and practice of occult teachings. It is noted that Florensky was convinced that these realities themselves are spiritually neutral, but can be used in various ways by those who have known them. The main conclusion is made that Florensky, as a Christian thinker, perceived mysticism as a “knowledge of the higher worlds” primarily in its soteriological aspect. The main danger of false mysticism, as well as the practice of “dark” magic and occultism, he saw only in the unconscious or conscious manifestation of human self-will and human subjectivity.