Circle of those seeking christian enlightenment: structure and relationships of the participants

Although “Circle of those seeking Christian enlightenment”, a Moscow organization of Church intellectuals of the last pre-revolutionary decade, or "Novoselov’s circle" named after its Chairman M.A. Novoselov, has received all conscious attention it deserves, and its major figures such as Novoselov, P.A. Florensky, S.N. Bulgakov, and others don’t require special representation, the history of the Circle still needs further investigation and special focus. The Circle is most often mentioned in the context of comments or introductions to the publications of the heritage of its members where their personal features are revealed with little reference to the activities of the organization. Therefore, the question of personal dynamics acquired by each member participating in the Circle is to be assessed. When we reflect on such issue as the Church and political involvement of Novoselov and the Samarins we should conclude that political issues were not subject to discussion in this society, while another group, “Samarin circle” approached the field of politics. А number of inaccuracies in the list of participants of the circle is due to the specific nature of their inquiry. It has turned evident that in search of the ways to reform their Circle while having different views on the general concept, the members often found opponents in the face of new associates.

"Circle of those seeking Christian enlightenment", neo-Slavophilism, onomatodoxy, "Novoselov's circle", "Samarin circle", F.D. Samarin, S.N. Bulgakov