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Russia
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Vladimir Solovyov

Timeline (1853 - 1900)

Poems by Vladimir Solovyov
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Vladimir Solovyov, Vladimir Solovyov poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Eastern Orthodox poetry, poetry, Secular or Eclectic poetry

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Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov (sometimes written in English as Soloviev) was a philosopher, poet, literary critic and a mystic with an intense connection to the Divine in the form of the feminine archetype of Sophia or Holy Wisdom. His writings had a strong influence on Russian Symbolist poetry and on Russian spirituality in general in the early 20th century.

Solovyov was born in Moscow in 1853. His father was a famous historian and a professor at Moscow University. At the age of nine, triggered by the first frustrated longings of love for a girl, Solovyov had the first in a series of three mystical encounters with Sophia.

At the age of 13, Solovyov renounced the Orthodox Church and began a troubled exploration of the philosophies of materialism and nihilism. He initially studied natural history and biology at university, but his grades began to slip. He switched to studies in history and philosophy.

Sometime around the age of 20, he "reconverted" to the Orthodox Church, and became a lay theological student and lecturer. He later traveled to London to do research among the religious and spiritual texts at the British Museum.

It was then, while studying in the British Museum, that Solovyov had his second encounter with Sophia, where he saw only her face. Pleading with her to see her full form, Solovyov was told to meet her in Egypt. He went to Egypt and Sophia once again appeared to him in the desert at dawn. This time she revealed herself to him fully, completely transforming him. She also showed him a vision of the Earth transfigured, all of nature, all things, unified within her form as the Divine Feminine.

After his return to Russia, Solovyov briefly taught philosophy at Moscow University, but soon left because he disliked university politics. He then moved to St. Petersberg where he wrote and taught.

Solovyov taught an engaged Christianity of service and activism, in which the binding power of Sophia -- the Mother/Wisdom/Love nature of God -- could heal the world. For Solovyov art could be a modern form of prophecy to bring greater awareness of this mystical unity to humanity.

Among his many works of poetry, his masterpiece is Tri Svidaniya or "Three Meetings" describing his three mystical encounters with Sophia. In his poetry, his encounters with Sophia are permeated with radiant azure and violet.

Solovyov was a good friend of the great Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Poems by Vladimir Solovyov

	If desires fly by like shadows,
	The Sign
	Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
	All in azure today
	Three Meetings
	Near, far off, not here, not there,
	Sophia in Egypt (from Three Meetings)

Recommended Books

	Dostoevsky and Soloviev: The Art of Integral Vision, by Marina Kostalevsky Amazon.com
	The Heart of Reality: Essays on Beauty, Love and Ethics, by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov / Edited by Vladimir Wozniuk Amazon.com
	The Justification of the Good: An Essay on Moral Philosophy, by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov / Edited by Boris Jakim Amazon.com
	Lectures on Divine Humanity: (Library of Russian Philosophy), by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov / Edited by Boris Jakim Amazon.com
	The Meaning of Love: (Library of Russian Philosophy), by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov Amazon.com
	Russia and the Universial Church, by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov Amazon.com
	A Solovyov Anthology, by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov Amazon.com
	Vladimir Soloviev: Russian Mystic, by Paul M. Allen Amazon.com
	Vladimir Soloviev: The Man and the Prophet, by Eugenia Gourvitch Amazon.com
	Vladimir Solovyov's Poems of Sophia, Translated by Boris Jakim / Translated by Laury Magnus Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Vladimir Solovyov (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/solovyov.htm A brief biography and in-depth survey of Solovyov's philosophy.
	Introduction to Sophiology http://home.zonnet.nl/chotki/introduction_to_sophiology.htm A brief article exploring the philosophy and mysticism of Sophia in the Eastern Othodox tradition, with several references to Solovyov.
	Vladimir Solovyov http://max.mmlc.northwestern.edu/~mdenner/Demo/poetpage/soloviev.html A small selection of Solovyov's poems translated into English.
	Diakonia Vol 29:3 http://academic.uofs.edu/organization/ecsc/DIAKONIA.HTML Includes an article entitled "Mary in the Eschatology of Vladimir Solovyov" by David Matual.
	Philip Holliday - Russian Vision http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC15/Holliday.htm A brief article on Sophia and Solovyov.
	Vladimir Solovyov - Yahoo! Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solovyov/ This group is for discussion of the work and legacy of the Russian philosopher Vladimir Solovyov (1853-1900). Solovyov is generally considered to be his country's greatest 19th century philosopher. He was a decisive figure in the birth of Russia's "Silver Age" in the arts, literature, philosophy and religion (about 1895-1922).

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

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Vladimir Solovyov

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