Deux lettres de Vjačeslav Ivanov

Two Letters of Vjačeslav Ivanov After years of reflexion Vjačeslav Ivanov decided, in 1926, to join the Catholic Church. Не informed the Vatican Congregation for the Eastern Church about his wish and asked to be authorized to use for this occasion a statement written by Vladimir Solov'ev instead of the usual formula, according to which the postulant «abjured» the Orthodox Church. Ivanov did not abjure. Не believed on the contrary that by professing the unity of the Universal Church one acts as a real member of Orthodoxy as it was before the quarrels and schisms. The Congregation, after consulting the Holy Office, agreed to the unusual proceeding. A year later, the 15 years old son of Ivanov, Dimitri, wrote to his father — then in Pavia — informing him about his intention to become a catholic. To his great surprise his father strongly objected and insisted that Dimitri go to the Russian Orthodox church, discuss the mater with the Rector, confess and, if the Rector allowed, receive Communion. Не should first become a good orhodox, before deciding. Dimitri obeyed. But a few months later he became dangerously ill. Не then returned to his previous decision and this time his father agreed. Не only regretted that in the hospital chapel it was not possible to celebrate the liturgy in the bizantine rite. As he later wrote to his friend, S. L. Frank, «the Catholic Church consists of two halves: the Latin Church and the Greek Church. The latter is not as numerous but essential on a spiritual level because preceding the course of history it accomplishes the wholeness of the Universal Church».