The Journals of Father Alexander Schmemann, 1973-1983

Reading another's letters or journals, while sometimes ethically questionable, is almost always entertaining and more often than not, it provides illustrations of how literature and theology ought to be done. Fr Schmemann is no exception. These journals span ten years and reflect his thoughts on church, politics, and culture. What makes them refreshing is that he can offer America an outsider's perspective on a range of topics. One can summarize the Journals in a few words: two No's and a Yes--no to secularism, no to "spirituality" and yes to the Kingdom of God. Fr Schmemann saw the problem in the 70s and 80s as the Church (mainly Orthodox but any denomination would be accurate) capitulating to the world's values. But the two No's cannot be understood apart from Schmemann's goal: helping the (local) Church understand it's role in the Kingdom of God and in participating in the Eucharist. The Eucharist reflects the light of the future Kingdom and reorients the Church's values. Take away the Kingdom (and the Eucharist) and one is left with left-over secularism and vague spiritualities. Secularism is misplacing the Kingdom of God. Spirituality is simply trying to do "religion" apart from the historical reality of the Kingdom and the concrete reality of the Eucharist. If one is tied to history and receives the Sacrament, then one cannot fall prey to "spirituality." Conclusion: The book is a gem. Some pages are beyond beautiful. Not only does Schmemann offer analyses of church and culture, but he gives penetrating insight into the human condition. But I need to offer some criticism of the book. There is no index. I cannot tell you how annoying this is. There are moments, however, when Schmemann is not quite consistent, especially in his critique of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. While A.S. definitely went overboard, one cannot help prefer A.S.'s vision of Soborpravnist over against the liberal democracy of Carter-Reagan America. Thirdly, I don't think Schmemann fully understood many of the philosophical challenges that many Orthodox were responding to. He skipped the analysis part and jumped right into how these guys "failed to see the importance of the Kingdom." While that may be true, it's not fair to them and their work. I have Sergei Bulgakov in mind. To the reviewer or commenter who rebuked Schmemann for doubting Orthodoxy (and I am a sacramental Protestant, fwiw), I must beg to differ. Never once did Schmemann doubt the truth of Orthodoxy. Rather, he denied that the cultral accretions (while sometimes necessary) were of the same level as Orthodoxy.

I snatched this book from a sale table at a Catholic bookstore, and even though I was very happy with my find, it wasn't until two weeks ago that I actually read it. Meaning that this treasure sat, unappreciated, on my bookshelf for close to a year. Silly me! Once I opened it, I could hardly bear to put it down. I found Fr. Schmemann's reflections remarkably insightful. You know those little Post-It bookmarks? The skinny ones that come in packs of four colors? I used an entire "batch" of those markers in this one book: 200 especially noteworthy passages... I intend to take notes on all 200, and to incorporate Schmemann's thought into presentations that I am preparing for a retreat program. One thing that struck me overall was Schmemann's attentiveness to the natural world: the weather, the sky, the autumn leaves, the new spring leaves. And his abiding spirit of joy. At first this reminded me of another journaling soul: Etty Hillesum. But on reflecting, it seemed that both of these beautiful spirits were kindred to St Francis of Assisi. Schmemann seems to have been a natural mystic, and the wonderful experiences in his upbringing and education combined with that mystic bent to produce a spiritual writer and liturgical theologian who can speak to the mystic heart of each person. A great, great book.

Never have I come across a man like Fr. Alexander Schmemann. His perception of America from an outsiders perspective is clear and his comments always go strait to the root of the matter. His views of the future of the Church and its current internal state can only be described as Prophetic. His honesty about the World, the Church and Himself is often troubling, yet he always leaves you much more hopeful than when you started. This book is Light, Freedom and Joy for whoever finds it. God has truly blessed Fr. Alexander Schmemann

Richard John Neuhaus has a beautifully touching review of the "Journals" and tribute to Father Schmemann (the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary who died in 1983) in the January 2001 issue of "First Things" magazine. The seven-page article has extensive quotes from the book, including Schmemann's friendship with Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Father Neuhaus (Roman Catholic), who became friends with Fr. Schmemann (Eastern Orthodox) in his last years, terms him a true "man in full." I'm looking forward to reading the book, to learn more about his impressions of America (he moved here in the 1950s from Paris, after growing up in Estonia), his efforts at ecumenism, as well as his great love for the Divine Liturgy. Schmemann writes: "All of life flows out of -- and is connected with -- the Liturgy!"

Father Alexander Schmemann is one of the greatest theologians and teachers America has ever known, and he was very open in these journals. They are a valuable look into the heart of a great man. His honest desciption of his vision of the ecclesiastical world, his own failings, and the realities of seminary life may be eye-opening to some, perhaps even discouraging. But his tenderness and sensitivity to the world saturate almost every page, and his rich wisdom and deep faith will challenge every reader. Here is the spiritual life of an authentically human Orthodox Christian.