The Revolution of 1917 and the Civil War of 1917–1922 in the historiosophical optics of M.A. Voloshin

INTRODUCTION. M.A. Voloshin’s work contains a unique depth and breadth of historiosophical reflection on the catastrophe of the first quarter of the 20th century – the Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Civil War of 1917–1922. The purpose of the study is to analyze M.A. Voloshin’s historiosophical discourse on Russia, its distinctive features in the historical and metahistorical contexts of the tragic events of the first quarter of the 20th century.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The main research material is the poetic work of M.A. Voloshin (1917–1924), rough diary sketches, as well as journalistic articles, primarily “The Russian Abyss” (1919) and “Russia Crucified” (1920). In the course of the research, we used comparative historical and cultural historical analysis methods.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. M.A. Voloshin, using the dual optics of perception of reality (the biblical and ancient paradigms), offers the reader a complex and multilevel model of interpretation of what is happening. The poet’s understanding of revolution and internecine war is carried out through the use of biblical (Messianism, redemption, apocalypse) and ancient (symbolism, antinomianism) concepts, as well as through references to historical realities of the past.

CONCLUSION. The historiosophical system of M.A. Voloshin’s views, reflected in the poet’s work, is a unique phenomenon in the history of Russian thought. Turning to various contexts (history/meta-history), using complex concepts, the poet offers the reader his own vision of the causes of the Revolution of 1917, the Civil War of 1917–1922 and their consequences, invariably comprehending the processes of subspecie aeternitatis.