In modern Orthodox Christianity, there is no better known scholar, theologian, or missionary than Father Alexander Shmeman, who devoted his life to serving high Christian ideals. His literary and theological heritage has turned many people's ideas about religion and Christianity. He enjoys well-deserved authority not only among the Orthodox, but also among Catholics.
Relatives
Shmeman Alexander Dmitrievich came from a noble family who was forced to leave the Russian Empire after the revolution.
- Grandfather Nikolai Eduardovich Shmeman (1850-1928) was a member of the State Duma.
- Father Dmitry Nikolaevich Shmeman (1893-1958) was an officer in the tsarist army.
- Mother Anna Tikhonovna Shishkova (1895-1981) came from a noble family.
Alexander Shmeman was not the only child in the family. Twin brother Andrei Dmitrievich (1921–2008) served as the churchwarden in honor of the Sign of the Mother of God. In addition, he headed the society of Russian cadets in exile. He worked in the metropolitanate of the West-East exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, acting as secretary of the diocese and the referent of the representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Sister Elena Dmitrievna (1919-1926) died in early childhood, not having survived the various difficulties of the life of an emigrant.
Life Path: Paris
Alexander Schmeman was born on September 13, 1921 in Estonia in the city of Revel. In 1928, the family moved to Belgrade, and in 1929, like many emigrants, settled in Paris.
In 1938, he graduated from the Russian Cadet Corps, located in Verasl. A year later, he graduated from the Lyceum Carnot. In 1943, as a student at the St. Sergius Theological Institute in Paris, Alexander married a relative of Archpriest Mikhail Osorgin. His wife Ulyana Tkachuk became a faithful companion for many years of life. In 1945, Alexander Shmeman graduated from St. Sergius Theological Institute. Kartashev A.V. was his teacher and curator of the dissertation research. Therefore, it is not surprising that the young scientist became interested in the history of the church, following his mentor. His dissertation was written at a high professional level, following her defense, he was invited to remain a teacher at the educational institution.
In addition to the above educational institutions, he graduated from Sorbonne University. In 1946, Alexander Schmeman was ordained first to be deacon and then to presbyter.
The period of his stay in Paris was quite fruitful, in addition to fulfilling the duties of a clergyman and teaching, father Alexander held the post of editor-in-chief of the diocesan journal Church Bulletin.
Even during his student life, he took an active part in the work of the Russian Christian movement among young people and students. At one time he was even its leader and chairman of youth meetings.
Life Path: New York
In 1951, father Alexander and his family moved to America.
In the period from 1962 to 1983, he headed the St. Vladimir Theological Seminary. In 1953, the priest Alexander Shmeman was elevated to the rank of archpriest.
In 1959 he defended his doctoral dissertation in Paris on the subject of Liturgical Theology.
In 1970 he was honored with being elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter, the highest rank in the Church for the white (married) clergy. Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann played a significant role in obtaining church independence (autocephaly) of the American Orthodox Church. He died on December 13, 1983 in New York.
Teaching activities
In the period from 1945 to 1951, Alexander held the post of teacher of church history at the St. Sergius Theological Institute. Since 1951, after an invitation that he received from the St. Vladimir Theological Seminary, he moved to the United States.
In this educational institution, he was offered a job as a teacher. In addition to teaching at the seminary, Schmemann taught an optional course at
Columbia University on the history of Eastern Christianity. For thirty years, he led a radio broadcast dedicated to the position of the Church in America.
Main works
- "Church and church structure";
- "The Sacrament of Baptism";
- "The historical path of Orthodoxy";
- "Introduction to liturgical theology";
- "For the Life of the World";
- "Introduction to Theology: A Course of Lectures on Dogmatic Theology";
- "Sacraments and Orthodoxy";
- "The Eucharist: The Sacrament of the Kingdom";
- "Church, Peace, Mission: Thoughts on Orthodoxy in the West";
- Great Lent.
Literary heritage
The legacy of this scientist attracts the attention of not only domestic readers, but is also an interesting source for Westerners, because he introduces the latter to the Eastern ascetic tradition, which has its roots in the desert and dates back to ancient anachoretes.
It is indisputable that the western branch of Christianity, Catholicism, and followed by Protestantism, lost this connection, yielding to various secular tendencies, lost the connecting thread between the mystical life of the church and everyday realities. This was also mentioned by Alexander Shmeman.
The books on which he worked are largely devoted to liturgical issues, because it is in the liturgy and the Eucharist that the greatest contact of a person with God takes place, and therefore this should attract a Christian and become the center of his worldview.
In his works, Alexander Dmitrievich understands the evolution of the Christian cult. From imitating the liturgical formulas of the Essenes and therapists to the unification of liturgical life in the VIII century, there is a whole abyss of various attempts to create uniformity and verified dogmatic formulas in the sacrament. Alexander Schmeman considers the structure of Christianity in his books. "Great Lent" - an essay dedicated exclusively to the mystical rethinking of Christian life, has caused many different opinions in the scientific community.
Just this historical process is one of the main points of the scientific activity of Alexander Shmeman. An analysis of the liturgical monuments can help today's Christians understand modern worship and become imbued with the mystical meaning of this action.
Publishing diaries
In 1973, the first recording was made in a large notebook. Protopresbyter Alexander Shmeman made it after reading the work of Dostoevsky F.M. "The Brothers Karamazov." In his diaries, he not only describes his experiences regarding various incidents in his personal life, but also talks about events taking place in the church life of that difficult period. There is no doubt that many church leaders have found their place in his records.
In addition to all this, the published works contain reflections on the events that the Schmemann family experienced after emigrating from Russia. The publication of his diaries took place in 2002 in English, and only in 2005 his notes were translated into Russian.
Negative attitude
It is indisputable that the position of Alexander Schmemann towards the Soviet Union was rather unfriendly. In his reports and broadcasts, he repeatedly accused the country's leaders of a negative attitude towards the Russian Orthodox Church. It should be noted that the situation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church was quite precarious.
Therefore, the works of the author could not get into the USSR.
The situation did not change after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A number of bishops of the Orthodox Church, belonging to the most conservative party, consider Protopresbyter Alexander Shmeman to be a heretic and forbid reading his scientific works.
The most striking example is the ban on reading his works at the Yekaterinburg Theological School. The ruling bishop Nikon anathematized Alexander Schmemann and forbade students to read his works. The reason for making such a decision is still unknown. Despite everything, Alexander Shmeman, whose biography remains an example of pastoral service, is the standard of life for a clergyman.