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For the next blog posts I will be posting on Father Alexander Schmemann's book entitled "For the Life of the World". This is by far the most prolific and groundbreaking work written by Father Alexander Schmemann and dare I say by any modern Orthodox theologian in the 20th century. I will be doing a chapter by chapter output on the blog and hopefully by doing this we can see the love and care Father Alexander Schmemann had for his community as a priest. However, before we get into such a discussion it is only fair to talk just a bit about this individual. I dare not package Father Alexander because I personally did not know him or meet him for that matter and I am sure no one who does know him would package him either. By seeing through his writings and understanding his life we can come to see that he truly lived the selfless life we are called to lived out in Christ. Father Alexander, through his writings, was able to demonstrate to all that he was no more than just a human being. Through this, people were able to understand him as not only a theologian but a priest committing himself to a lifelong service to all of humanity. He did not come to be served but rather to serve those who others did not see Christ in them. Father Alexander was able to see and embrace Christ in all of humanity. What makes Father Alexander so special was that he was always ready to serve. So many people have come to us during the 20th century with the same mentality. Father Matthew the Poor, Father Pishoy Kamel, Patriarch Cyril 6th and the list goes on. I would place Father Alexander Schmemann amongst these names because not of writings but rather because he served others that were broken and needed healing. The following is a brief bio on Father Alexander Schmemann:
Born in 1921 to Russian family in Estonia Father Alexander was raised within the Orthodox Church. His family quickly moved to Paris France where he received his university education. He went on to further studies at St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Seminary (where he studied under the noted Russian theologian Sergei Bulgakov, amongst others) and was ordained a priest in 1946. From 1946 till 1951 he taught church history at the Seminary. However, in 1951 he was asked to come and teach at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (currently located in New York) where he taught till his passing away in 1983. In 1962 Fr. Alexander was made dean of the school, a position he held till his death. Fr. Alexander also taught at Union Theological Seminary and was a guest lecturer at Columbia University and New York University.
Much of his focus during his time at St. Vladimir's was focused on liturgical theology, which emphasizes the liturgical tradition of the Church as a major sign and expression of the christian faith. His works became very popular that his "Introduction to Liturgical Theology" is the book used in all liturgy courses taught at any university institution or seminary today.
In 1970, he was active in the establishment of the Orthodox Church in America, which at the time became officially independent from the Russian Orthodox Church. Father Alexander fought his entire life believing that Orthodox Church in America should be under one banner and one faith. The culturism that was brought with the faith had placed multiple bishops of different ethnic backgrounds in the same area (IE. New York) which created a divide. He wanted the church to come together through its unity. He died with the belief that the church one day would be one again. I personally believe and carry this message on today because the body of Christ was never meant to be divided. Orthodoxy is not a denomination but rather it is life. If Orthodoxy is life then Orthodoxy is not broken but united under Christ.
His sermons were broadcast in Russian for over 30 years during the time of the communist rule in the USSR. He gained a wide following and many of his books today are translated into Russian. He published many books and articles. For the Life of the World, a popular volume on Christian faith as reflected in liturgy, has been translated into 11 languages. The book was first published as an underground publication in Russia that was passed around from reader to reader and would later be published by St. Vladimir's Press. Father Alexander fell asleep in the Lord on December 13th 1983.
Father Alexander, along with Father John Meyendorff and other notable names impacted American Orthodoxy in the 20th century. Through there works the church is indebted to there contribution to the faith. Not only are we indebted to there work but there service to see Christ in others is how they made a real change in the lives of the different human beings they served. I hope with this small glimpse in the life of Fr. Alexander we will be able to understand and see how through his writing Fr. Alexander was not only speaking to the "highly educated" but was mainly speaking to everyone who had an ear to hear.
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