"The Quiet Abodes" by Vasily Rozanov: How to Reconcile Monastery Life with the Secular World

Identificator

EDN: DTBBQO ; УДК: 291.1

Authors

Bykova Ekaterina Vasilievna, PhD in Arts, associate professor of the Department of Cultural Studies, Sociology, and Philosophy, Vyatka State University. Russia, Kirov. ORCID: 0000-0002-6024-5398 . E-mail: ev2_74@mail.ru ; Gorodilova Tatyana Sergeevna, PhD in Philosophy, associate professor of the Department of Cultural Studies, Sociology and Philosophy, Vyatka State University. Russia, Kirov. ORCID: 0000-0003-1837-1515. E-mail: gtspost@yandex.ru

Journal

HERALD OF VYATKA STATE UNIVERSITY №2 (156), 2025

Section

PHILOSOPHICAL SCIENCES. PANEL DISCOURSE "RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY: AN EXPERIENCE WITH POLYPHONY"

Pages

19-27

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to show the significance of V. Rozanov's ideas, presented in his work "In the Quiet Abodes" (1904), for modern Russia. To justify the relevance, parallels are drawn between the processes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and today's reality. It is emphasized that the experience of Russian religious philosophy, to which the philosopher belongs, can serve as a source for building modern conceptual approaches to addressing the issues of developing spiritual culture and strengthening traditional values. Special attention is paid to the analysis of how V. Rozanov, known for his critical attitude towards the Christian Church, attempts to "reconcile the monastery and the world." The central focus of the study is the description of the philosopher's pilgrimage to the Sarovo-Diveevsky monasteries, which became a stage of personal "revelation" for him. The hermeneutical analysis of the text allowed us to reveal not only the meaning of the essay's title, but also to place it within the context of the author's metaphors and binary oppositions that are characteristic of V. Rozanov's philosophical thinking. The article emphasizes the philosopher's ability to see beauty in the everyday, where everyday details help to understand the specifics of religious experience. Special attention is given to the figure of Seraphim of Sarov, his activities, and his vivid images as a source of reconciliation between the philosopher and the official doctrine of the church. While aesthetic perception facilitates metaphysical religious experience, ethical principles constitute ontological grounding. Ecclesiastical and monastic contemplations reflect the philosopher’s inquiry into paradigms of spiritual revival, examining how religion and family structure traditional value systems.

Keywords

V. V. Rozanov "The Quiet Abodes" Aesthetics of Religious Art Monastery Sarov Desert Family Religion Traditional Values

Recieved

24.03.2025

Published

14.04.2026

References

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