Closest to the heart : a mystagogy of spiritual friendship in Pavel A. Florenskij's the pillar and ground of the truth

Abstract

This study argues that friendship is the pivot around which revolves the entire thought system of The Pillar and Ground of the Truth: An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters (1914), written by the renowned Russian polymath Pavel A. Florenskij (1882-1937), and that in our author's view, friendship is not merely psychological or philanthropic but mystagogical. It is first of all - at least in the experience of the Church – a metaphysical or ontological bond which unites two souls together. True friendship is formed not of like minds, like thoughts, or like feelings, but of something metaphysically deeper than that, i.e., of the self-revelation of the spiritual Truth itself. It is only in the Truth, self-proving and selfabasing, that any human endeavour for spiritual, life-affirming meaning is found. Theologically speaking, friendship is the encounter between God and man. The solid ground of the Triune God - defined by our author as a friendship of inextinguishable love - builds, therefore, the beautiful pillar that is human, concrete, spiritual friendship in the Church, which is, above all, lived in the heroism of everyday life. As Christ's two natures are distinct but not separate, fused but not confused, so are two souls bonded together in the communion of friendship without each ever losing their own individuality. Likewise, particular philic bonds are distinct but equally necessary for the general agapic bonds of the Church. Given today's reclaiming of paradox both as an epistemological as well as an existential category, this study could not be more relevant to today's metamodern culture. Florenskij's mystagogy of friendship has the potential to dialogue with the metamodern self who is more connected than ever before but also more confused and isolated. It can offer spiritual certitude that so lacks in our times. Our analysis of Florenskij's theodicy intends to highlight a path trodden by many generations of mystics before us so as to recover today the value of spiritual friendship.