Quotes by Alexander Schmemann

Alexander Schmemann (1921–1983) was a prominent Russian Orthodox theologian, liturgical scholar, and writer. Born in Tallinn, Estonia, he grew up in France, where his family had fled after the Russian Revolution. Schmemann pursued his theological education at St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, which shaped his deep understanding of Orthodox liturgy and theology. Ordained to the priesthood in 1946, he moved to the United States in 1951 and became a key figure in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

Schmemann served as a professor and later as dean at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. His theological works emphasized the transformative power of liturgy, viewing it as central to the life of the Church and a means of encountering the Kingdom of God. His most notable book, For the Life of the World, remains a cornerstone of Orthodox thought, addressing how faith intersects with culture, life, and the modern world.