Gary Lachman. The Return of Holy Russia.
(Rchester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2020, 425 pp.)
Gary Lachman’s book could more accurately have been titled “The Return of the Silver Age”; but the Return of Holy Russia is more dramatic; and more easily understood by those unfamiliar with Russian literary currents. Lachman has written on spiritual; and intellectual thinkers in Russia; such as his In Search of P.D. Ouspensky: The Genius in the Shadow; of Gurdjieff and his more recent Dark Star Rising.
The Silver Age in Russian intellectual history; goes from about 1900 to 1922. It ends when the Soviet power is consolidated; and a Marxist ideology becomes the State-imposed framework. Some of the Silver Age writers go into exile; in particular to France and the USA; where they continue writing. Others stay on in the USSR; hoping that a more liberal period might follow.
Some who stayed in the USSR formed an unofficial network; and kept in touch with each other. As Lachman points out; there have always been “underground” networks of thinkers in Russian life. At times; they were more structured within international Masonic lodges. More often the networks were informal; but people recognized each other as being “on the same wave length”. These networks became more visible in the 1970s; with the circulation of samizdat (self-published) manuscripts.
What is it to be Russian and What is The Role of Russia in the World?.
A recurrent theme in Russian thought has been “what is it to be Russian and what is the role of Russia in the world?” Pr-Silver Age writers such as A. I. Hertzon (1812-1870) and M.A. Bakunin (1814-1870); proposed a federation of Slavoic peoples; both as protection against an expansionist Western Europe; and as a way of expressing their cultural nature. For Bakunin; the Slavs should form a federal state – a “Slavoic Rada”. Such a federation would be a bridge between Western Europe and Asia.

With the Silver Age; more religious and spiritual elements entered into the image of the nature and role of Russia. The Russian national character has a unique spiritual strength; created by patience during suffering. For some; the religious element is directly associated with Russian Orthodox Christianity. For others such as Ouspenski and Gurdjieff; there is a more esoteric-spiritual tradition at work. There is a secret community of saints at work in the world behind the scenes; the seekers of wisdom. The theme of Holy Russia is common to all.
With the end of the USSR; interest in esoteric and non-orthodox spirituality can be expressed openly; and is found at all levels of intellectual and spiritual life. Writings of Silver Age writers published in Paris; or the USA are now being published in Russia. There is a strong interest in human potential techniques of meditation, yoga, and exploration of inner worlds. Garry Lachman has written a useful guide to these important intellectual currents; which also impact Russian stratigraphic policy – currents which merit being better known.
Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens.
President, Association of World Citizens (AWC).
Estudied International relations in The University of Chicago.
Estudied Special Program in European Civilization en Princeton University