Eastern Orthodox mystics in society: Liberation from Self and Soviet authority

Mysticism is often associated with inner liberation from the prison of the confined self into union with the Divine. But how does that liberation work in times of political persecution and repressive authority? This paper explores this question by focusing on two Eastern Orthodox mystics, St. Matrona (d. 1952) and starets (elder) Nikolai Guryanov (d. 2002), who operated in the aggressively modernizing, scientized and anti-religious, context of 20th century Soviet Russia. Drawing on content analysis of their biographies and the concept of “mystical consciousness,” this paper unpacks the patterns by which St Matrona and Father Nikolai dealt with Soviet authorities to continue their trajectories of liberation. These include being “lost” in a city or a small island, acting as (holy) fools, using mystical visions and prayers, and relying on as well as liberating others. These can be seen as elements of a mystical consciousness they cultivated in themselves and others.