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In 1932, Florovsky was [[ordination|ordained]] to the priesthood. During the 1930s, he undertook extensive researches in European libraries and wrote his most important works in the area of patristics as well as his magnum opus, ''Ways of Russian Theology''. In this massive work, he questioned the Western influences of scholasticism, pietism, and idealism on Russian theology and called for a re-evaluation of Russian theology in the light of patristic writings. The work was received with either enthusiam or condemnation—there was no neutral attitude to it among Russian emigrés. Among the critics were Bulgakov, the head of the St. Sergius Institute and prominent exponent of the Russian theological tradition of the 19th century, as well as Berdyaev, exponent of the religious renaissance of the 20th century.
In 1949, Florovsky moved to New York City to take a position as Dean of Saint 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 as Dean in 1955 and died in 1979.
== Works ==
"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 ‘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 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 synthesis, 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."
::''Ways of Russian Theology'' II, pp. 302-304
==Source==
*Some material taken from [[Wikipedia:Georges Florovsky]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.hds.harvard.edu/library/bms/13001/bms13001florovsky.html Harvard Divinity School Faculty Writings File: Georges Florovsky]
*[http://libweb.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/florovsky.html Princeton University Library: George Florovsky Papers]
*[http://pages.sbcglobal.net/c.parks/florovsky.html The Collected Works of Fr. Georges Florovsky]: A partial list of links to works published on the web
[[Category:Modern Writers]]
[[Category:Priests]]