Sunday night reposed the Russian writer, Nobel laureate, and historian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. His work is best summed up by the words of Metropolitan Hilarion: “during the horrific years of the godless regime, he bore courageous witness to the truth, speaking out about the sufferings of our fellow Russians.”
Like all men of genius, Mr. Solzhenitsyn never came to be fully understood by those around him. On yesterday’s “All Things Considered”, for example, NPR accused Mr. Solzhenitsyn of anti-Semitism, Russian nationalism, Christian moralism, and a disdain for liberal democracy. That, of course, is tantamount to crimes against humanity.
In fact, Mr. Solzhenitsyn was none of the four. He was a devout Orthodox Christian, a true patriot of Russia, a pragmatic political thinker, and, above all, one of those unique men who challenge us to think critically.
It’s too bad, that so few can rise to that challenge.
In his last interview, given to the German Spiegel, Mr. Solzhenitsyn said a sentence, which, I think, encapsulate the entire Orthodox Christian teaching on salvation: “I no longer fear death.” His faith, as the faith of each one of us, revolved around the Paschal salutation, “Truly He is risen!”
Indeed, the West could not forgive Solzhenitsyn many misdeeds: his criticism of the years of plunder and disorder during the Yeltsin administration; his support, all in all, for Mr. Putin; his criticism of NATO aggression against Serbia; and, above-all, the fact that he did not become one of those pseudo-dissident political refugees dwelling in London and willing to subscribe their name to any anti-Russian op-ed published in the British media.
No, Solzhenitsyn remained faithful to his homeland. He endured her troubles with her, he struggled for the truth in her, and he became a witness to her (albeit slow and painful) resurrection. Perhaps for this he will be remembered by Russia and Russians, though never fully understood by the West.
You may read the full text of his interview here.
