Antichrist – the dialectical labyrinths of the “two cities”

Authors:

Pages: 33-42
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/RFXK4588

Abstract:

Emilian Stanev’s novel Antichrist raises fundamental questions for Bulgarian society – concerning the legitimacy of suffering and the role of God in directing the destiny of the people. The text engages with complex philosophical and religious issues, subjects the mystical teachings of Hesychasm to critical scrutiny, attempts to explore the genesis of Bulgarian heresies, and traces the wavering or absence of faith among the people – contrasted with the dogmatic conviction of the higher clergy in the existence of the Two Cities. The article draws on the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son to explore the idea of the home as a topos against which sons are measured.

Keywords:

home, Prodigal Son, Hesychasm, heresy, return, political and spiritual disorientation

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