Summary: Pavel Florensky’s The Pillar and Ground of the Truth

This chapter summary is part of my reading summaries series. Click here for more information on the series.

Pavel Florensky, identified by many as the greatest Russian Orthodox theologian of his time, wrote largely at the beginning of the twentieth century. Drawing from his broad education in philosophy, religion, art, and folklore, he wrote The Pillar and Ground of the Truth: an Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters while a student, finishing it in 1908. It was published several years later in 1904. The book is composed of twelve letters, written to a “brother” or a “friend”, and is a broad exploration of Russian Orthodox theology.

It can be ordered here.

Letter One: Two Worlds

Letter Two: Doubt

Letter Three: Triunity

Letter Four: The Light of the Truth

Letter Five: The Comforter

Letter Six: Contradiction

Letter Seven: Sin

Letter Eight: Gehenna

Letter Nine: Creation

Letter Ten: Sophia

Letter Eleven: Friendship (Part One)

Letter Eleven: Friendship (Part Two)

Letter Eleven: Friendship (Part Three)

Letter Twelve: Jealousy