Archpriest John Bazarov and V.A. Zhukovskii: From the History of the Religious–Philosophical Quest of the Russian Educated Society of the 1840s

Abstract

Based on an extensive range of sources, including unpublished ones, the history of relations between V.A. Zhukovskii and Archpriest John Bazarov is studied. The biographical and historical–cultural context of these relations has been explored. Bazarov’s participation in Zhukovskii’s religious–philosophical projects of the 1840s has been studied (Russian translation of R. Stier’s book The Words of the Lord Jesus, German translation of A.S. Khomyakov’s treatise “The Church is One”), as well as their joint charitable activities. The theme of “living faith” in the creative dialogue between Bazarov and Zhukovskii is explored. The history of their relationship is considered as an example of the influence of the Orthodox clergy on figures of Russian culture and social thought in the second quarter of the 19th century.