Alexander Blok between Vl. Solovyev and E.V. Anichkov: A. Blok’s drama “The Rose and the Cross” and the legacy of Western esotericism

In the third article of the series publications on the topic “A. Blok and Vl. Solovyov”, the author considers the representation of the heritage of Western esoterism in Blok’s drama “The Rose and the Cross” on the example of the poet's appeal to the themes of Joachimism and Catharism, including the neo-mythological connection of the Cathars with the legend of the Holy Grail. The author analyzes the influence of V.V. Solovyov's historiosophy and E.V. Anichkov's aesthetics on the symbolism of the drama from the perspective of rethinking these themes. It is shown that the drama of Blok is deeply intertwined with the neo-mythological concepts of the "French school" of Western esotericism, which were widely discussed in the circle of Russian symbolists, for example, in connection with the work of Sar Peladan. The conclusion is made about the influence on the symbolism of the drama of the works of V. Solovyov and the beliefs of E. V. Anichkov associated with medieval mysticism. An extensive bibliography is provided.