Sergey Durylin on Russian National Consciousness

This paper aims to explore the socio-political thoughts of Sergei Nikolaevich Durylin, a Russian philologist, cultural critic, and religious writer (1886—1954). It focuses on Durylin’s views on the Russian national identity, its foundations, and key characteristics. Through a political and textual analysis of his literary, journalistic, and religious-philosophical writings, which reflect his worldview, the paper reveals the deep Orthodox roots of Russian national identity in Durylin’s perspective and the conservatism underlying his socio-political views. Durylin believed that Russians hold the ideal of “silence”, which represents both calmness in the external life of the country and humility in the hearts of each Russian person.