The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Bolshakoff, Serge (Sergius) Nikolaevich, 1901-1990

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1961-1968, 1994

Volume: 46 item(s); 125 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This large collection of letters contains an important discussion between Merton and a Russian Orthodox scholar. Though the discussion of Orthodox religion and its mystical traditions is an important part of the conversation, many other subjects are explored. Bolshakoff traveled to many monasteries, both Catholic and Orthodox, and enters into ecumenical dialogue with Merton. Merton also speaks of the Vietnam War and his opposition to it; however, he must explain to Bolshakoff how he justifies a life of contemplation instead of active resistance.

Biography

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Serge Bolshakoff received a doctorate in philosophy from Christ Church, Oxford. In his travels to churches and monasteries in promotion of Christian unity, he became acquainted with such notables as Pope John XXIII, Patriarch Athenagoras, Archbishop Temple of Canterbury, as well as the Abbot General of the Cistercians, Dom Gabriel Sortais (see "Sortais, Gabriel" and "Fox, James" files).

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Bolshakoff in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 101-107; and see also the "Pâris, Etienne" file.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1961/03/02 HLSto MertonI intended to write to you for some time but only now do it. I read the most of your books and many   
 1961/03/20 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your kind letter of March 14th. I have received it today on my depart. for Rome.   
 1961/06/21 HLSto MertonI enclose the letter of the Abbot General which allows you to write a preface to the English  [1961/06/02 letter from Abbot General Gabriel Sortais to Bolshakoff attached - gives permission for Merton to do a preface for English version of <i>Russian Mystics</i>]
 1962/03/27 HPCSto MertonI am again in Rome since March 12th and expect to remain in Italy till June 12th. My Italian book   
 1962/05/04 HLSto MertonMy Italian book "I Mystici Russi" is now out I presented it to the Pope in person at a very long   
 1962/07/22 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter of July 9th, which I have received here to-day from Rome. I left the   
 1962/09/02 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your kind letter. I am glad that you liked the manuscript. Of course, please   
 1962/09/03 HNSto MertonP.S. I read your letter to the Mayor of Hiroshima with attention. I think it shall please, both   
 1962/12/28 TAL[c]from MertonThanks for your two kind letters. I was interested to hear of your visit to the monks at TolleshuntYes  
 1963/01/05 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter and cheque for $50 which I didn't expect and which cheered me up much.   
 1963/01/08 HLSto MertonI am sending you by the registered post my little Mss in French -- "Staretz Alexander of Gethsemani   
 1963/01/29 TAL[c]from MertonYou will be glad to hear that I have finished all the work on the revision of your manuscript and itYes  
 1963/02/15 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter of Jan 29th, which I received here in Groningen, where I am since Jan   
 1963/04/11 HLSto MertonI am already in Rome since April 6th and hope to remain here till July. Since I wrote to you on Feb   
 1963/05/26 HPCSto MertonI received yesterday a letter from Archbishop Nikodim, dated by May 15th, where he says "I request   
 1963/09/06 HLSto MertonSince I wrote to you on May 26th so much changed. John XXIII, whom I knew since 1927, died and Paul   
 1963/11/10 HLSto MertonI salute you from Caldey Abbey, this fascinating island monastery, which I did not visit since 1951.   
 1963/11/11 TL[c]from MertonFor a long time I have been owing you a reply to your several very interesting letters, and FrYes  
 1963/11/25 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter of Nov. 11th, which I received in Dublin on my way here. I sent you my   
 1963/12/23 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your kind letter and cheque which is for me quite princely. It shall help me with   
 1964/01/26 HLSto MertonBefore Lent begins and I leave Oxford on Feb 13th for London and abroad I send you this letter. I   
 1964/03/19 HLSto MertonI send you my Easter greetings. I left Oxford on February 13th for Tolleshunt Knights, the little   
 1964/05/25 HPCS[x]to Barry, ColmanSince I received your letter nearly a year ago I had no more news from you and do not know whether  mentions Thomas Merton
 1964/10/21 HLSto MertonI have no letters from you since last December, although I wrote myself to you three times. My last   
 1964/10/28 TAL[c]from MertonThank you for your recent letter, as usuall [sic] full of interesting news of your amazingYes  
 1964/12/13 TL[c]from MertonAs Christmas approaches once again, I want to send you my best wishes and a token of our friendshipYes  
 1964/12/20 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter and the cheque, for which I thank very much you and the community. I   
 1965/05/08 HLSto MertonSince I left England in January I didn't write you. My present journey was most interesting on many   
 1965/06/09 TL[c]from MertonIt is always so good to receive your extremely informative and lively letters, but I especiallyYes  
 1965/08/19 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your two letters of June 9th and August 10th, which were forwarded me here from   
 1965/10/02 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your moving letter of Sept 15th, which I received here on my arrival to Oxford after   
 1965/10/16 HLSto MertonSince I wrote to you on October 2nd I received your two articles, which I am reading. Three more   
 1965/12/08 TL[c]from MertonFirst of all I am taking this occasion to send you a Christmas present from our community. I hopeYes  
 1965/12/13 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your letter and for your cheque, which I much appreciate. It helps me a good deal   
 1966/08/no TL[x]to Sobesedniks (circular letter)Since I wrote the last letter I travelled [sic] again about and presided the first international  ["Letter to Sobesedniks", a circular letter to "people bonded together by prayer and consultation with one another on spiritual life" (<a onClick="return popup(this, 'link')" href="http://bellarmine.on.worldcat.org/search?databaseList=638&queryString=ti%3AHidden+Ground+of+Love+the+letters+of+Thomas+Merton"><i>The Hidden Ground of Love</i></a>, p. 106)]
 1966/10/24 TL[c]from MertonI am very much afraid that if I am called to be like Theophane the Recluse a letter writer, I am   
 1966/12/no TL[x]to Sobesedniks (circular letter)Since I wrote my last letter in the end of July there were many developments for the Sobesedniks.  ["Letter to Sobesedniks" - see 1966/08/00 and 1967/04/00 letters]
 1967/03/12 HLSto MertonI enclose my Eastertide "Letter", which is, possibly, more interesting than the previous ones.   
 1967/04/21 HLSto MertonSince I sent you on March 12th my letter from Florence with the latest "Letter to Sobesedniks"   
 1967/04/no TL[x]to Sobesedniks (circular letter)I write this letter from Florence in the end of my three-months-long stay in Italy, first at Monte  ["Letter to Sobesedniks" - see 1966/08/00 and 1966/12/00 letters]
 1967/06/09 HLSto MertonI enclose the "Letter to Sobesedniks" for June, when we observe our feast of June 24th. The next   
 1968/04/26 TL[c]from MertonI am afraid I owe you a deep apology: I have not been able to get your Easter letter to theYes  
 1968/07/11 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your cheque, which you sent to Mont-des-Cats Abbey, as I am informed. I expect to   
 1994/no/no other BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DR SERGE NIKOLAEVITCH BOLSHAKOFF [-] PRIVATE PUBLICATION [-] 1994 [-] HOLLAND   
 undated/no/no (#01)otherto MertonThe list of people to send the LETTER TO SOBESEDNIKS  [annotated mailing list for "Letter to Sobesedniks" circular letters - see 1966/08/00, 1966/12/00 and 1967/04/00 letters]
 undated/no/no (#02)other A Russian Forerunner of Psychosomatic Medicine [-] STARETZ SEMEN KLIMICH (1777-1837)  article/paper by Bolshakoff dedicated to Dr. Christopher Roy Woodard - the "Bibliography of Dr Serge Nikolaevitch Bolshakoff" mentions that it can probably be dated after 1965 (and if Merton had it, 1968 or before)
        

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