I thought it might be of interest to those who post in this forum to know there is a thread in 'The Ancient Way' for those who wish to pay their respects to the great Russian writer and confessor of the Faith who has just reposed.
Memory eternal
Peace,
Anglian
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Dear Anglian. I wish to let you know, that I totally eradicate any ill - feeling from the depths of my heart, and completely refuse disputing over matters of belief. I sadly see one reason why many men and women are at a loss, of what to believe. I say this humbly and with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in christ.
I will pray a Rosary for him tonight. May our Father welcome home his son.
__________________ Yours in Christ
Rev. Christopher
Deacon- IOCC
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(How could a follower of Franco be considered saintly?)
Up until this thread I had never heard of the man. According to Wikipedia he was a devout follower of Orthodoxy. I don't know much about him, but with a beard like this, he's got to be Orthodox!
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"Thy bridal chamber, O my Saviour, do I behold all adorned, and a garment I have not that I may enter therein. Illumine the garment of my soul, O Giver of Light, and save me."
(How could a follower of Franco be considered saintly?)
I don't know who you've gotten him confused with (there were lots of literary anti-semites), but Solzhenitsyn likely never entered Spain in all his life. He was a Russian persecuted by Stalin. Or are you a leftie who calls all anti-Communists "facists"? (Misspelling intentional--whenever you see it spelled without the "s", you know that person is a Communist of some type.)
Korah
I don't know who you've gotten him confused with (there were lots of literary anti-semites), but Solzhenitsyn likely never entered Spain in all his life.
A lot of people think they know about Solzhenitsyn when they really don't. They assume his popular novels are the sum of his being and intellect, and that's far from the truth.
Actually, Solzhenitsyn was a devoted supporter of Franco. It's actually very well known and documented. He actually did go to Spain in 1976, even appearing on Spanish television speaking against the democratic reforms of the King, immediately after Franco's celebrated death.
He was a Russian persecuted by Stalin. Or are you a leftie who calls all anti-Communists "facists"?
I'm a leftie but not a Stalinist- why do you have to label me with such a negatively loaded phrase? Is that so you can put me down and discount my pretty well-researched opinion on Solzhenitsyn?
(Misspelling intentional--whenever you see it spelled without the "s", you know that person is a Communist of some type.)
Korah
Korah, it doesn't matter if one spells fascism correctly or not. It's a term that comes from a Latin phrase, and has a proper spelling. It is a genuine political ideology (with more than one form) and it's a word that certainly does fit the bill when it comes to Solzhenitsyn's political ideals. He wasn't a Nazi-type fascist, but was more of what some call a "primitive fascist", believing in union between the corporation and the state within the confines of democracy.
I don't think Solzhenitsyn should be celebrated as a saint, because I doubt very much he was a genuine Christian (or a genuine anything for that matter). He was an anti-semite, supported fascism, lied in his books (which has come to light since 1991 and the release of the KGB files) and like most Russian dissiidents living abroad (then and now) had a penchant for having a critical view of everything but only offering bizzare solutions in return.
While one can loudly and heartily applaud his early literature about the harshness of the Gulags (and it was approved by the Soviet government initially, until Brehznev knocked them on the head in fear) which served to tell the truth about the abuses of the Stalinist government, one does not canonise someone who did nothing whatsoever for the Christian faith. That smacks of something the Orthodox appear to do too readily- make political heroes into religious ones, claiming a faith based on their membership (by birth) of their particular national juristiction. His later life and beliefs certainly are far from praiseworthy unless of course their is another agenda underneath that is politically expedient at the time.
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"We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity." Thomas Merton
I stand corrected. I didn't know any of that.
One could still make an apologia for Solzhenitsyn that he had a prophetic view of how far Spain would lurch into socialism. Not that I would make that case, but an RC clerical surely could. (Not to mention that the drubbing RC and the Right has taken in Spain in the last three decades could be just the expected swinging of the pendulum from how much too far it was to the Right under four decades of Franco.)
Korah
I don't think Solzhenitsyn should be celebrated as a saint, because I doubt very much he was a genuine Christian (or a genuine anything for that matter). He was an anti-semite, supported fascism, lied in his books (which has come to light since 1991 and the release of the KGB files) and like most Russian dissiidents living abroad (then and now) had a penchant for having a critical view of everything but only offering bizzare solutions in return.
While one can loudly and heartily applaud his early literature about the harshness of the Gulags (and it was approved by the Soviet government initially, until Brehznev knocked them on the head in fear) which served to tell the truth about the abuses of the Stalinist government, one does not canonise someone who did nothing whatsoever for the Christian faith. That smacks of something the Orthodox appear to do too readily- make political heroes into religious ones, claiming a faith based on their membership (by birth) of their particular national juristiction. His later life and beliefs certainly are far from praiseworthy unless of course their is another agenda underneath that is politically expedient at the time.
No one is celebrating him as a saint, and no one has canonized him, nor will it ever likely happen.
He was however an important and influential political writer, and was indeed correct about a great many things. And while he certainly was controversial, sometimes standing up for the truth is more important than being 'nice'... Was he anti-Semetic and a fascist - I've seen nothing that would support those claims, but then again, many people think critisizing the Israeli government amounts to anti-Semetism...
As for your criticisms of the Orthodox faith (should I bring up the Anglican church, which certainly has it's own problems?), I have yet to see anyone suggesting that Solzhenitsyn is a model Orthodox Christian. He was however, a believer, and a very important 20th century writer. And certainly we should celebrate his legacy (which overall contributed positively to this world), instead of trashing the man because some of his political views are uncomfortable for those who believe that Western culture should be the worldwide model. And we certainly should not judge him because he didn't live up to a certain 'standard' (whatever that might be)...
No one is celebrating him as a saint, and no one has canonized him, nor will it ever likely happen.
There's been talk of it! I doubt it will amount to much, but then again, nationalism is strong.
As for your criticisms of the Orthodox faith (should I bring up the Anglican church, which certainly has it's own problems?), I have yet to see anyone suggesting that Solzhenitsyn is a model Orthodox Christian.
I made no criticism of the Orthodox Faith. Only about their rampant nationalism and how the vox populi within influence the churches/juristictions. You know it happens. You and I both know that nationalism is the greatest hurdle for people when they wish to become Orthodox and juristictionalism is what often blows the witness for them. However, I don't equate nationalism with doctrine when it comes to Orthodoxy.
Also- if you weant to discuss the problems within Anglicanism, I'd probably agree with you and even make harsher critiques!
He was however, a believer,
Was he?
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"We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity." Thomas Merton
Solzhenitsyn 
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