Faces of Saints from Jesus to Us. Paul. Augustine

The book by Russian writer, poet, historian, and philosopher Dmitry Sergeyevich Merezhkovsky (1865-1941) is dedicated to the life of Saint Apostle Paul and Saint Augustine (354-430). This book is the first in the trilogy "Faces of Saints from Jesus to Us" ("Paul. Augustine", "Francis of Assisi", "Joan of Arc") and relates to the later years of Merezhkovsky's creativity when he turned to the genre of fictionalized biographies, combining Christian historical novel with religious-philosophical essay. The central idea that permeates the entire trilogy is the salvation of humanity through a return to the foundations of Christian faith. It seemed that Europe was experiencing agony: the victory of totalitarianism, the triumph of atheism, and the thunderous rumblings of a new world war.

In this terrible time, Merezhkovsky turns to the main figures of Christian West: Apostle Paul, theologian Augustine, preacher Francis, and the warrior virgin Joan of Arc. Describing the advance of evil, Merezhkovsky believes in the ultimate victory of Light and Reason.