Heavenly Ways

Ivan Sergeyevich Shmelev (1873-1950) — Russian writer and publicist, twice a nominee for the Nobel Prize; nicknamed the "Orthodox writer" for a large number of texts on the spirituality of the Russian people. While in emigration, "not for a moment in his soul's burning does he cease to think of Russia and suffer its misfortunes." In the novel "Heavenly Ways," the concept of the third volume, which was never realized due to the writer's death, reflects a real love story between engineer V. A. Weidengammer and the novice of the Passion Monastery, Darinka Koroleva, who left her abode for him. Thanks to this encounter, religious skeptic-positivist Viktor unexpectedly discovered a world unknown to him before. Supported by the strong-willed and sincere in her faith beloved, he managed to embark on the path of insight. The author vividly depicted the development of spiritual feeling, which began with the understanding of sin's redemption and repentance and led to the Source of life. The revelation of the fates and characters of the heroes was based on an ascetic worldview, the traditions of which were not inherent to the secular culture of the 19th-20th centuries.