«I hope for a successful implementation of your path in science»: an unpublished letter by Vladimir N. Toporov to Dmitry I. Makarov

Vladimir N. Toporov (1928-2005) in his Sanctity and the Saints in the Russian Spiritual Culture (1995-1998) has left us a lot of worthwhile observations, remarks, and considerations concerning the nature of sanctity (or holiness) which, among other things, do not contradict to the Palamite tradition. In Toporov’s mind, St. Sergius of Radonezh had known the theology of St. Gregory Palamas. In this context we publish Toporov’s 2001 letter to a beginning Palamite scholar Dmitry I. Makarov, which is of interest for a general appraisal of the conditions under which the Russian humanitarian milieu was working at the turn of the 21st century.