Byzantism in the history of Russia: Konstantin Leontiev and others

The article deals with opposing views on the influence of Byzantium on russian culture and russian society presented by such outstanding thinkers as Pyotr Chaadaev, Alexander Herzen, Vladimir Solovyov and Konstantin leontiev. Solovyov’s deeply negative attitude towards all manifestations of Byzantium can be explained by his tendentious pro-Catholic position. As for Herzen and leontiev, both of them agreed in their understanding of the profoundly positive influence of Byzantine culture not only on russian culture, but also on the culture of Western europe. leontiev correctly emphasized the importance of Byzantine influence in explaining the flowering of Western culture during the renaissance. He was mistaken only in his high assessment of the church idea, borrowed by russia from Byzantium. it was because of the absolute dominance of the church that Byzantium did not experience a cultural upsurge similar to the renaissance. The excessive dominance of the church in the public life of russia also hindered the development of high culture.