The “Old” and the “New” in Christian culture of the 20th century: “Orthodox Affair” association of mother Maria (Skobtsova)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the concept of the “old” and “the new” in the context of Christian culture of the twentieth century. Living connections within the tradition, their creative implementation is an issue discussed in “Parisian theology” in the 1930s. Church Tradition is not something frozen, but a constant process of spiritual creativity. Nun Maria (Skobtsova) is often perceived as an innovator, rejecting tradition. The article refutes this perception as erroneous. Mother Maria is not only an innovator, but also a conservator, she sees Christian history as alternation of epochs of creative enthusiasm or keeping the flame alive, ingenious discoveries or preservation of cultural treasures. It is the context of the epoch that justifes or condemns its doers: conservators or innovators. During crucial periods it is impossible only to maintain the tradition, it needs creative rethinking. The signifcance of organic succession of the “old” and the “new” as links of the same chain and parts to the organic whole is undeniable, but it is important to identify thе true spirit of Orthodoxy in them and to develop a new method. Mother Mary considers it necessary to distinguish worthy from unworthy both in the “old” and in the “new”, she calls individualism, spiritual self-preservation and stylization unworthy. The “Orthodox Affair” Association offers uncompromising methodological innovation – a conciliar (soborny) – personal method in creating a communial life and social service. Hopes for the monkhood in Russian diaspora to become the vanguard of church renewal did not come true.