Woman and the Salvation of the World: A Christian Anthropology on the Charisms of Women

by Paul Evdokimov

In this daring and speculative work, Evdokimov challenges contemporary Christianity to face up to its androcentrism. The dominance of the male in both society and the Church, he asserts, is at the root of many of the evils that plague the modern world. Evdokimov sees the solution in a rediscovery of an authentic Christian anthropology, one that sees males and females as complementary, yet with distinct charisms and vocations.

Genres: Theology, Religion

285 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Paul Nikolaevich Evdokimov (rus. Павел Николаевич Евдокимов) was a Russian and French theologian, writer, and professor of theology at St. Sergius Institute in Paris. He was an invited observer to the Second Vatican Council.

He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on August 2, 1901, the son of an army officer who was assassinated by one of his soldiers in 1905. He was educated in a military school and served in the cavalry. He began theological studies just prior to the Bolshevik Revolution. Following the revolution, he and his family escaped from Crimea through Constantinople and settled in Paris circa 1923. Evdokimov continued his theological studies at St. Sergius Institute, studying with Fr. Sergius Bulgakov and Nikolai Berdyaev. He was among the founding members of the Russian Christian Student Movement.

He married Natasha Brunel in 1927, who died of cancer during the latter part of World War II. In 1942, he completed his doctorate in philosophy at Aix-en-Provence.

During the War, Evdokimov worked with the French Resistance. In 1954, he married Tomoko Sakai, a daughter of a Japanese Diplomat.

He reposed in Meudon, France, on September 16, 1970.

Reviews

[Laurin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating Eastern Orthodox perspective on women. I appreciated the great value he places upon women, as having much to contribute to the body of Christ, by the nature of their unique feminine insights/gifts. I further enjoyed gaining more insight into biblical feminine/masculine imagery and archetypes (especially Mary and Eve). It does seem, particularly in many Protestant traditions, that the role of women, especially that of Mary, and the feminine imagery found throughout Scripture, has been minimized or glossed over, and churches suffer for that loss. He additionally had some good discussion on suffering, particularly finding freedom and joy through bearing one’s cross. Learning to say, “Let it be done” like Mary and then like Christ, is the essence of faith and the Christian life. This involves suffering, as one sacrifices himself or herself and his or her desires, but it is also the way we find ourselves and grow into Love, into Christ.
I gave this only three stars as I wish he had done more work with the biblical texts. Various parts in the book seemed rather speculative or rooted more in specifically Orthodox teaching/liturgy (for instance, identifying John the Baptist as the male Archetype). He also uses Freudian and Jungian psychology at various places. This is not necessarily bad, but because I do not have enough background in psychology, it makes his conclusions or thoughts based on their ideas more difficult for me to evaluate, particularly how it aligns with Scripture. I think the book would have been further helped by clearer distinctions and less effusive language.

[Evan Herberth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Made reading anthropology enjoyable for this neophyte. Heavy focus on the ideas of Holy Fathers and also a heaping helping of Jungian concepts. This world is starving for a proper understanding of the proper place of the feminine and masculine powers; the world is headed towards its end for a lack of it. A shame this book is out of print.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. So rich and life-giving. But it's also very dense - not one to read when you can't pay attention!

[Decaf Catholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very uneven book, but perhaps it is the translation, or I am just out of my depth. The half of the book, on Imagio Dei and Orthodox Antropology in general is great; actually coming to a conclusion in regards to the title is gone about in a very strange way in part two. I read part one quite quickly, and with pleasure, part two necessitated a month's break in the middle of reading.

I would recommend part one of this series (Sacrament of Love) instead.