Alexander Men
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Father Alexander Men | |
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Александр Владимирович Мень | |
Title | Pastor |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | 9 September 1990 Semkhoz , Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Semkhoz, Russia) | (aged 55)
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | Soviet Union |
Spouse | Natasha Grigorienko |
Parent(s) | Vladimir Men, Yelena Tsuperfeyn |
Denomination | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Education | Leningrad Theological Seminary Moscow Theological Academy |
Church | Russian Orthodox Church |
Senior posting | |
Based in | Novaya Derevnya |
Period in office | 1970 - 9 September 1990 |
Reason for exit | Assassinated |
Students | |
Ordination | 1 September 1960 |
Alexander Vladimirovich Men (
Men wrote dozens of books (including his magnum opus, History of Religion: In Search of the Way, the Truth and the Life, the seventh volume of which, entitled Son of Man, served as the introduction to Christianity for thousands of citizens in the Soviet Union); baptized hundreds if not thousands; founded an Orthodox open university; opened one of the first Sunday schools in Russia as well as a charity group at the Russian Children's Hospital.[2] His influence is still widely felt and his legacy continues to grow among Christians both in Russia and abroad. He was murdered early on a Sunday morning, on 9 September 1990, by an ax-wielding assailant outside his home in Semkhoz , Russia.[3]
Early life and career
Men was born in
When Men was six years old, the
Priesthood
Alexander Men became a leader with considerable influence and a good reputation among Christians both locally and abroad, among
Starting in the early 1970s, Men became a popular figure in Russia's religious community, especially among the
Murder
On Sunday morning, 9 September 1990, he was murdered while walking along the wooded path from his home in the Russian village of Semkhoz (near Moscow) to the local train platform. He was on his way to catch the train to Novaya Derevnya to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Men had served at the parish in Novaya Derevnya for 20 years. His assailant's or assailants' use of an axe indicated a possible revenge motive. The murder occurred around the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and despite orders from within the Soviet (and later the Russian) government that the case be further investigated, the murder remains unsolved. His funeral was held on the day in the Orthodox calendar which commemorates the beheading of John the Baptist.
Legacy
Since his death, Men's works and ideas have been seen as controversial among the conservative faction of the Russian Orthodox Church, citing his strong tendencies towards
In conjunction with the 25th year Commemoration of Memory, the
Men's son,
Works
Alexander Men's greatest work is his History of Religion, published in seven volumes under the title In Search of the Way, the Truth, and the Life (volumes 1–6, Brussels, 1970–1983; 2nd edition Moscow, 1991–1992) in which the author examines the history of non-Christian religions as a way for Christians in the struggle of Magiism and Monotheism. Also including as the seventh volume his most famous work, Son of Man (Brussels, 1969; 2nd edition Moscow, 1991). Because of the persecution in the Soviet Union at the time, the Brussels editions were published under a pseudonym. Father Alexander Men was one of the first pioneers of Christian “samizdat” (self-publishing) of the 1960s.[9]
An English translation of Son of Man by
- "An Inner Step Toward God: Writings and teachings on Prayer", (2014) ISBN 978-1612612386;
- "Russian Religious Philosophy: 1989–1990 Lectures" (2015) ISBN 978-0996399227(in 25th Year Memory Commemoration).
- "The Wellsprings of Religion. The History of Religion: In Search of the Way, the Truth, and the Life Vol 1", Trans. Alastair Macnaughton. (2018) ISBN 978-0881416039
- "History of Religion in Two Volumes" (2021). Volume 1 surveys humanity's spiritual search from ancient times to the coming of Christ, and Volume 2 is an overview of the history of the Church in the first millennium.
Many other works by Alexander Men have been published in Russian, most notably:
- Heaven on Earth (1969), published abroad under pseudonym, later reissued in Russia;
- "Where Did This All Come From?" (1972), published abroad under pseudonym, later reissued in Russia;
- "How to Read the Bible?" (1981), published abroad under pseudonym, later reissued in Russia;
- "World Spiritual Culture" (1995);
- "The History of Religions" (Volumes 1–2, 1997);
- "The First Apostles" (1998);
- "Isagogics: Old and New Testaments" (2000);
- "Bibliological Dictionary" (Volumes 1–3, 2002).[4]
- “Mystery, Word, Image” (Brussels, 1980, 2nd edition. M.1991), published abroad under pseudonym.
See also
- Georgy Chistyakov
- List of unsolved murders
References
- ISSN 0021-969X.
- ^ Alexander Men Charity Group at Russian Children Clinical Hospital
- ^ "BBC - Religion & Ethics - In pictures: Fr Alexander Men". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ a b c Alexander Men Foundation
- ^ "Владимирович или Вольфович?". www.alexandrmen.ru. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Orthodox America on A.Men". Archived from the original on 27 October 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2005.
- ^ Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist) on A.Men, Saint Michael's Chapel, A Russian Catholic Community of Byzantine Rite
- ^ Reflections on Fr. Alexander Men, Dean John H. Erickson of St Vladimir's Seminary, at the Alexander Men Conference hosted by Nyack College Manhattan campus, August 2004
- ^ "The Wellsprings of Religion". SVS Press & Bookstore. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
External links
- Slidefilm by Sergei Bessmertny - English version
- Alexander Men' Foundation, Moscow, in Russian
- Fr Alexander Men' Open Orthodox University, Moscow (English version)
- Saint Pachomius Library Links on Alexander Men
- In pictures » Fr. Alexander Men: Russian Orthodox priest of fearless faith BBC - Religion & Ethics photo gallery with captions
- Content on this page has been translated from the corresponding article in OrthoWiki. [1] *https://web.archive.org/web/20180719174253/https://radubrava.ru/event/alexander-men-static-exhibition/