"Bulgakov's theological speculations Bulgakov’s teaching on sophiology is highly controversial. The attempt to understand it properly is hindered by the Divine Wisdom (Sophiology) provoked heated discussion: they never prevailed even highly political controversy surrounding it in France where his influence was greatest, and were eventually condemned as heretical by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1935 and 1930’s. {{ref|1}} It should be noted that by the 1931 there existed three separate Russian Orthodox jurisdictions in Europe: Russian Church Outside Abroad/Sremski Karlovtsi Synod under Met. Antonii (Khrapovitskii); the ‘Patriarchal’ church answering ultimately to Met. Sergii (Stragorodskii) of Moscow (of Russia.<ref>See: which the young [[Sophianism#Official_Pronouncements_Condemning_Sophianism|Sophianism: Official Pronouncements CondemningVladimir Lossky]], see also Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, [http://wwwwas a member); and the Russian Church in Western Europe (Bulgakov’s own jurisdiction as well as the church of Georges Florovsky) under Met.schmemannEvlogii (Georgievskii) that was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople.org/byhim/russiantheology.html Russian Theology: 1920-1972: An Introductory Survey]In a famous first ukaz of 7 September, December 13, 2007</ref> The "sophiology" debate has cast something 1935 of a shadow over FrMet. Bulgakov's memory, but it would be hard Sergii (not confirmed by the Synod) Bulgakov’s teaching on ‘Sophia’ was described as ‘alien’ to dispute his significance as the Orthodox faith. {{ref|2}} This ukaz was largely based on the epistolary reports (letters with a Christian role model for Russian intellectuals catenae of ‘suspect’ quotations from Bulgakov’s works) of his generationAlexis Stavrovskii."<ref> [http://www.voskrese.info/spl/XsergeStavrovskii was an ex-bulgakov.html ''Fr. Sergius Bulgakov''] at student of the StSerge Institute who due to a disciplinary problem was forced to leave the school and was later expelled from France for reasons that are not made clear in the sources. Pachomius Library</ref> He was also the president of the Brotherhood of St. Photius (Alexis Stavrovskii was president; [[John MaximovitchVladimir Lossky]], in his book ''The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God''vice-president, devotes an entire chapter on why the and Evgraf Kovalevskii [later [[sophianism]] Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Sergius Bulgakov is [[heresySaint-Denis]], specifically one as destructive as [[Nestorianism]]were also amongst the 12-15 young laymen who made up its numbers) whose members had left the jurisdiction of Met. Evlogii for that of Met. Speaking Elevtherii of those who attempt Lithuania. This exodus was in reaction to deify the Theotokos, he wrote: :''In the words [FrMet. Sergius Bulgakov]Sergii having removed, when the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the Virgin Maryon 10 June, she acquired "a dyadic life1930, human and divine; that is, She was completely deified, because in Her hypostatic being was manifest Met. Evlogii as the living, creative revelation head of the Holy Spirit" Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe (Archpriest Sergei Bulgakov, The Unburnt Bushsince Met. Evlogii had continually refused to agree to the 30 June, 1927, p. 154). "She is a perfect manifestation Declaration of Loyalty to the Third Hypostasis" (IbidSoviet government) and named Elevtherii as his replacement.In late 1935, pMet. 175), "Evlogii appointed a creature, but also no longer a creature" (P. 19 1)....But we can say with commission to look into the words charges of Stheresy levelled against Bulgakov. The commission quickly broke into factions. Epiphanius In June of Cyprus: "There is an equal harm in both these heresies, both when men demean the Virgin and when, on 1936 the contrary, they glorify Her beyond what is proper" majority report (Panarionprepared by Vasilii Zenkovskii, "Against Anton Kartashev and others) rejected the Collyridians"). This Holy Father accuses those who give Her an almost divine worship: "Let Mary be in honor, charge of heresy but let worship be given to the Lord" (same source)had serious objections about Sophiology. "Although Mary is a chosen vesselThe minority report of 6 July, still she 1936 was a woman prepared by Fr Sergii Chetverikov and reluctantly signed by nature, Fr Georges Florovsky who had only joined the commission when Met. Evlogii had insisted so that it would not to be distinguished at all from othersviewed as a whitewash. (Florovsky had a very close relationship with Bulgakov despite their theological differences. Although Some of this closeness was no doubt due to the history of Mary and Tradition relate fact that it Bulgakov was said to Her father Joachim for at least a spell in the desert, 'Thy wife hath conceived,' still this was done not without marital union and not without early 20’s the seed confessor/spiritual father of man" (same sourceFlorovsky). "One should not revere Meanwhile, the saints above what is proper, but should revere their MasterChurch Abroad formally accused Bulgakov of heresy in 1935. Mary is not God, and did not receive a body from heaven, but from The 1935 decision of the joining Church Abroad was based on Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of man and woman; and according Boguchar’s Novoe uchenie o Sofii (Sofia, 1935). Bulgakov responded to the promiseheresy accusation in his Dokladnaia zapiska Mitropolitu Evlogiiu prof. prot. Sergiia Bulgakova (Paris, like Isaac1936). Archbishop Serafim then rebutted Bulgakov in his Zashchita sofianskoi eresi (Sofia, She 1937). No final report was prepared to take part in on the sophiology controversy by the Divine Economycommission set up by Bulgakov’s own jurisdiction. ButHowever, Met. Evlogii convoked a bishop’s conference on the other hand, let none dare foolishly 26-9 November 1937 to bring closure to offend the Holy Virgin" (St. Epiphanius, "Against the Antidikomarionites")matter. The Orthodox Church, highly exalting the Mother of God bishops in its hymns of praise, does not dare to ascribe to Her that which has not been communicated about Her their statement were working from reports by Sacred Scripture or Tradition. "Truth is foreign to all overstatements as well as to all understatements. It gives to everything a fitting measure and fitting place" Archimandrite Cassian (Bishop Ignatius BrianchaninovBezobrazov)."''<ref>St. John Maximovitch, [http://www.ortodoks.dk/On_Orthodox_Veneration_of_the_Mary.htm ''The Orthodox Veneration of and Chetverikov and they concluded that the Mother accusations of God''], (Platina, Ca: St. Herman Press, 1978), p. 40f</ref> Sergei heresy against Bulgakov was an enthusiastic follower of Aleksey Khomyakov's [[ecumenism|ecumenistic]] idea of union between the Russian Orthodox Church were unfounded but that his theological opinions showed serious flaws and the Anglican churchneeded correction. He was one The future understanding of sophiology depends much on both the founders reconstruction of political events in church history in the Anglican-Orthodox ecumenical [[Fellowship 1930’s and a careful reading of St. Alban and St. Sergius]], which devoted itself Bulgakov’s teaching informed by his own multifarious sources (from German Romanticism to the establishment of such a unionnewly discovered Gregory Palamas). ==Notes==<div class="references-small"><references /></div>