The American on the Way to Orthodoxy: Letters from Melvin White Mansur to Monk Basil (Krivoshein)

The article publishes letters written in the 1930s by the American philologist and teacher Melvin White Mansur (1907–1994) to monk Basil (Krivoshein). That time he was a resident of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos and later became Archbishop of Brussels and Belgium, an active participant in the interconfessional dialogue of the Russian Orthodox Church, and a world- renowned patrologist. The letters characterize Melvin Mansour’s path to Orthodoxy. The author notes what attracted and interested him in Orthodoxy. Together with this correspondent indicates the difficulties that stand on his way to the conversion to the Orthodox Church. Melvin also pointed the way of overcoming them. Melvin Mansour’s letters characterize the atmosphere of the Russian Church emigration of the 1930s, and are a testimony from the outside about its negative and positive features. The addressee particularly emphasizes the beauty of the Russian liturgical tradition and the missionary significance of the divine service. The publication of Melvin Mansour’s original text is preceded by an introductory article, which consists biographical information about the author, highlights the main themes of his letters, and indicates the context of their writing. The archival sources of the letters are separately characterized. The original text is accompanied by a translation with commentaries, mainly of historical content.