LITERATURE AND ART IN THE THEOLOGY OF PROTOPRESBYTER ALEXANDER SCHMEMANN

Abstract

The apology of artwork in the works by protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann is based on the understanding of art as creative understanding and transformation of the Universe, as collaboration with God, as revelation of the potential by God. From this it follows that theology must be art, that is to arise from one's own discovery and break-through to the reality. The dogmata aren't retired, but they have to be the basis of creative work and not tomb walls for one's liberty. In this article the genesis of such an approach to art is tracked from archimandrite Theodore (Bukharev) to V. Weidle and V. Ilyin who directly were the teachers of Shmeman.