Byzantium and Byzantism in Historical Memory, Religious Consciousness and Culture of Russia and the Orthodox World

Abstract. The year 2023 is marked by two anniversaries that are extremely significant for Russian culture and social thought. 170 years have passed since the birth of Vladimir Solovyov, one of the greatest Russian philosophers and predecessor of the Silver Age. Half a millennium has passed since the moment when Philotheus of Pskov coined the formula: “Two Romes have fallen, the hird stands, and there will be no fourth”. The intersection of the symbolic vectors embodied in these two iconic figures of the Russian history of ideas is the text, the title of which has been chosen as the topic of this issue. The essay “Byzantism and Russia” can be viewed both as a reflection of the ideological and political agenda of the late 19th century, and as a landmark in the centuries-old dispute over the historical path of Russia, where the last point has not yet been put. On this anniversary we propose to reflect on the eternal questions, the comprehension of which are prompted by the insights and warnings of two Russian prophets: the “Byzantine vector” of Russian history and its interpretation in Russian historiosophy and social thought; the place and significance of the heritage of the Byzantium in the culture, ideology, political and legal traditions of Russia; the inspiring motives and dangerous temptations of doctrines and concepts, derived from the idea of Byzantine heritage; the extent to which these ideas can be relevant today, and to what extent we remain hostage to their misinterpretations.

Keywords: Byzantium, Byzantine Commonwealth, Byzantine heritage, Divine election, New Jerusalem, Cyril and Methodius tradition, Horde heritage, Eurasianism.