The Reception of Gnostic Ideas in Russian Literature of the Early 20 th Century

Abstract

This article we deals the reception of Gnostic ideas in the works of Russian symbolists of the Silver Age, and provides a critical review of the main works on the topic. It seeks a uniform methodology, as well as clarification of the key terms Gnosis or Gnosticism. The article mostly focuses on the works by Vladimir Soloviev's followers, which were partly based upon Gnostic teachings and myths. This second generation of Russian symbolists used Soloviev's teaching of Divine Sophia, not only for creating a literary movement, but also for launching a religious and philosophical project of the formation of a new «spiritual person». This project strongly resembled the mystical experience of the «inner man», described by Gnostics, Eastern Christian Hesychasts, and Western Rosicrucians.