The Prophecies of Ivan Ilyin
To the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian philosopher and visionary prophet
Vladimir Malyshev
10.04.2023
The Prophecies of Ivan Ilyin
Almost a century ago, Ilyin gave a strikingly accurate explanation of the causes of the revolution and the temporary triumph of Bolshevism, confidently predicted the inevitable collapse of the USSR, and even much of what then happened in our country, including even what is happening in Ukraine today. Exiled from Russia, he has lived most of his life abroad, and his works have only recently become available in our country.
Ivan Alexandrovich was born in Moscow, his ancestors were simple Russian people. It was from them, as historians note, that he inherited the rules of life and a deep conviction that only spirituality is the key to True happiness.
After graduating from high school with a gold medal, Ilyin entered the Moscow University Faculty of Law. Having successfully passed the master's exams, he was approved as a private associate professor at the Faculty of Law, and then sent on a traditional business trip to the famous university centers of Europe. After returning, he continued to engage in scientific and pedagogical activities. For his dissertation "The philosophy of Hegel as the doctrine of the concreteness of God and man", he was awarded two degrees at once: master's and Doctor of Science.
But then the revolution broke out, and the scientist's life changed dramatically. Ilyin immediately became a staunch opponent of Bolshevism and did not hide it in any way. He was arrested six times and sentenced to death.
He narrowly escaped execution and "for non-recognition of Soviet power", was sent out of the USSR on the famous "Philosophical Steamer" along with other best minds of Russian culture.
Ilyin had a difficult time abroad. He didn't have the resources, he didn't know how to adapt. In Germany, Ilyin was a professor at the Russian Scientific Institute for more than 11 years, teaching and lecturing in various European cities. Ivan Alexandrovich was a brilliant speaker, able to fascinate the audience with the depth of his thoughts, incredible erudition, firm conviction of the great destiny of Russia, and the very power of his extraordinary nature. The Archbishop of Riga even tried to persuade him to take holy orders in order to become a preacher.
When the Nazis came to power in Germany, Ilyin was expelled from the institute, and then from the country. He settled in the suburbs of Zurich, and there passed the second part of his emigrant odyssey. The last years of his life Ilyin was seriously ill. He died in 1954. In 2005, the philosopher's ashes returned to their homeland and were reburied in Moscow, in the Donskoy Monastery, together with General Denikin. Ilyin is often quoted today, including by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Archimandrite Konstantin wrote that Ilyin's contribution to the treasury of Russian culture is determined not only by its vastness, but also by the fact that "behind all this wealth is an unshakeable will. A thinker by education, talents, tastes, upbringing, profession, Ivan Alexandrovich was also a citizen. And not in the sense that he is able to distract himself from the work of thought in order to take up a sword or at least go to the square, but in the fact that he consciously, with conviction, consistently and steadily put his very thought at the service of civic duty."
Ivan Ilyin has written more than 30 books on philosophy, the history of political doctrines, religion, culture, and politics. An important place in his creative legacy is occupied by the book "Our Tasks", a kind of manifesto of the Russian idea and Russian patriotism.
It arose from separate "propaganda" articles that were printed on the rotator in a small print run without a signature only for like-minded people. Recipients reproduced them and sent them to their friends. Their co