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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}[[Protopresbyter]] '''Georges Vasilievich Florovsky''' ([[August 23]], 1893 - – [[August 11]], 1979) was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian [[priest]], [[theologian]], and writer, active in the [[ecumenism|ecumenical movement]]. His writing is known for its clear, profound style, covering subjects on nearly every aspect of Church life.

Florovsky was born in Odessa as the fourth child of a [[priest]]. Inspired by the erudite environment in which he grew up, he learned English, German, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew while still a schoolboy. At eighteen, he started to study philosophy and history. After his first graduation, he taught for three years at high schools in Odessa and then made his full graduation including the licensia docendi at all universities in the Russian empire. In 1919, he began to teach at the University of Odessa, but his family was forced to leave Russia in 1920. <!-- Image does not break paragraph. -->[[Image:Florovsky book.jpg|left|frame|thumb|2004 book on Florovsky, edited by Andrew Blane]]<!-- End image; continue same paragraph. -->The young Florovsky realized at that time that there would be no return for him, because Marxism did not accept the history and philosophy he taught. Florovsky thus became part of the great emigration of the Russian intelligentsia, which also included [[Nikolai Berdyaev]], [[Sergius Bulgakov|Sergei Bulgakov]], [[Nicholas Lossky]], [[Alexander Schmemann]], and [[John Meyendorff]], the latter two of whom later followed Florovsky as Dean of [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]].

In 1949, Florovsky moved to New York City to take a position as Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary. Florovsky's oversight of the development of the theological curriculum led to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York granting the Seminary an Absolute Charter in 1953. He retired was fired as Dean in 1955 {{ref|1}} and thereafter taught at Harvard Divinity School (1956-1964), teaching patristics and Russian religious thought, and later at Princeton (1964-1972), teaching Slavic languages and literatures. He died in 1979.

== Works ==*''Collected Works. , Volume 1: Bible, Church, Tradition'' (1972)ISBN 0913124028*''Collected Works. , Volume 2: Christianity and Culture'' (1974)*''Collected Works. , Volume 3: Creation and Redemption'' (1976)*''Collected Works. , Volume 4: Aspects of Church History'' (1975)ISBN 0913124109*''Collected Works. , Volume 5: Ways of Russian Theology, Part I'' (1979)ISBN 0913124281*''Collected Works. , Volume 6: Ways of Russian Theology, Part II'' (1987)ISBN 3905238063*''Collected Works. , Volume 7: Eastern Fathers of the Fourth Century'' (1987)*''Collected Works. , Volume 8: Byzantine Fathers of the Fifth Century'' (1987)ISBN 390523808X*''Collected Works. , Volume 9: Byzantine Fathers of the Sixth to Eight Centuries'' (1987)*''Collected Works. , Volume 10: Byzantine Ascetic and Spiritual Fathers'' (1987)*''Collected Works. , Volume 11: Theology and Literature'' (1989)*''Collected Works. , Volume 12: Philosophy'' (1989)*''Collected Works. , Volume 13: Ecumenism I: A Doctrinal Approach'' (1989)*''Collected Works. , Volume 14: Ecumenism II: An Historical Approach'' (1989)

The dates recorded above are the dates of publication in the collected works, not the date of original productionpublications. The series of Florovsky's collected works was published by Nordland Publishing Co., but has been out of print for some years.

==Quotations=="Orthodoxy is summoned to witness. Now more than ever the Christian West stands before divergent prospects, a living question addressed also to the Orthodox world… The series ‘old polemical theology' has long ago lost its inner connection with any reality. Such theology was an academic discipline, and was always elaborated according to the same western 'textbooks.' A historiosophical exegesis of Frthe western religious tragedy must become the new 'polemical theology. Florovsky' But this tragedy must be reendured and relived, precisely as one's collected works was published own, and its potential catharsis must be demonstrated in the fullness of the experience of the Church and patristic tradition. In this newly sought Orthodox synthesis, the centuries-old experience of the Catholic West must be studied and diagnosed by Nordland Publishing Co. but Orthodox theology with greater care and sympathy than has been out the case up to now… The Orthodox theologian must also offer his own testimony to this world&mdash;a testimony arising from the inner memory of the Church&mdash;and resolve the question with his historical findings." ::''Ways of print for some yearsRussian Theology'' II, pp.302-304

== Quotes Reference=="Orthodoxy is summoned to witness. Now more than ever the Christian West stands before divergent prospects*{{note|1}} Andrew Blane, a living question addressed also to the Orthodox world… The ‘old polemical theology’ has long ago lost its inner connection with any realityed. Such theology was an academic discipline, George Florovsky--Russian Intellectual and was always elaborated according to the same western ‘textbooks.’ A historiosophical exegesis of the western religious tragedy must become the new ‘polemical theology.’ But this tragedy must be reendured and relived, precisely as one’s own, and its potential catharsis must be demonstrated in the fullness of the experience of the Church and patristic tradition. In this newly sought Orthodox synthesisChurchman (Crestwood, the centuries-old experience of the Catholic West must be studied and diagnosed by Orthodox theology with greater care and sympathy than has been the case up to now… The Orthodox theologian must also offer his own testimony to this world — a testimony arising from the inner memory of the Church — and resolve the question with his historical findings." NY::''Ways of Russian Theology'' IISt Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1993), pp. 302-304109ff.

*Some material taken from [[Wikipedia:Georges Florovsky]]

== External links ==