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Gnosis: Study and Commentaries on the Esoteric Tradition of Eastern Orthodoxy
Boris Mouravieff was an enigmatic ‘third man’, known to Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, who found and learned to practice what he clearly believed to be the complete system of which only ‘fragments’ had been previously published in Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous. On this basis, he formed the ‘Center for Christian Esoteric Studies’ in Geneva – now closed. Many of his discoveries are described in his book Gnosis, which contains in its three volumes the fundamental components of that Christian esoteric teaching revealed by Ouspensky in fragmentary form. This Gnosis is not a modern statement of the second century texts known as ‘Gnosticism’, but a previously unpublished ancient Christian knowledge tradition.
Boris Mouravieff taught Eastern Esotericism at Geneva University for many years, and Gnosis is the result of his teaching.
First published in French in 1961, the three volumes of Mouravieff’s Gnosis have since been translated into Greek and Arabic. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Praxis Research Institute published the English translation of all three volumes. Volume I contains the first level of this teaching, designated as 'exoteric' for outer or surface.
Boris Mouravieff taught Eastern Esotericism at Geneva University for many years, and Gnosis is the result of his teaching.
First published in French in 1961, the three volumes of Mouravieff’s Gnosis have since been translated into Greek and Arabic. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Praxis Research Institute published the English translation of all three volumes. Volume I contains the first level of this teaching, designated as 'exoteric' for outer or surface.
298 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 1989
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About the author
Boris Mouravieff
15 books11 followersBoris Mouravieff, known for his historical works and more so for his esoteric Christian teachings, was born at the Cronstadt naval base in Russia on 8 March 1890. He was the second of three sons of the admiral of the fleet, count Piotr Petrovitch Mouravieff, who was the last Secretary of State of the imperial war Marine.
Graduated in 1910 as officer of the Superior School of the Russian imperial Marine, Boris Mouravieff climbed the rungs, particularly while serving from 1909 to 1912 aboard the battleship "Auroara". During the first World War he served in the naval forces of the Black Sea. In 1916 -1917, as vessel lieutenant, he commanded the rapid torpedo launching patrol flotilla, of which he was the author.
Upon the abdication of the Tsar in March 1917, he was promoted to frigate captain at the age of 27, before becoming assigned cabinet head to minister Alexander Kerensky in the first provisional government, directed by prince Lvov. Thereafter he was assigned, as joint head of State staff for the Black Sea fleet, by Kerensky who had become the head of the Russian government until his ousting by Lenin's Bolshevists during the October 1917 Revolution.
On the morrow of the peace of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 he quit the armed forces. He then remained in Crimea consecrating his time to archaeological works as well as to his own esoteric and historical researches.
Since his youth, Boris Mouravieff found interest in the esoteric tradition of Oriental Orthodoxy. This interest found its first guidance through some indications left by his grand uncle Andrei Mouravieff (died in 1874), who was the founder of a hermitage at Saint Paul, one of the great Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos. Andrei had undertaken researches in Egypt, Armenia, Kurdistan and even in Persia, retrieving traces of this tradition and manuscripts from the first centuries of our era.
By the end of 1920, Boris Mouravieff left Russia for Constantinople then for Bulgaria where he remained until1924.
In Constantinople, 1920-21, Boris Mouravieff attended the public conferences given by Piotr Demianovitch Ouspensky. It was there that the latter put Boris Mouravieff in contact with Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, with whom several contacts were to take place thereafter in Fontainebleau and Paris. For many years Boris Mouravieff and P. D. Ouspensky, bound by a friendship that was founded on the similarities of their topics of research, were to delve deeper in their respective works and consequently to discuss them, particularly from the aspect of the dangers associated with the fragmentariness of the latter's works. Such discussions took place at the occasion of their meetings in Paris and London; the last of which took place in 1937 near London.
In 1924 Boris Mouravieff travelled to France as a refugee and settled in Bordeaux, where in 1935 he met larissa Bassof, born in 1901 in Uzbekistan. Larissa, a ballerina, had a child from a first marriage, Boris Vsevolod Volkoff, born in France in 1928. In 1936 Boris Mouravieff married Larissa and all three settled in Paris that same year.
Since 1921 Boris Mouravieff pursued researches related to the political and diplomatic history of Russia, in particular regarding Peter the Great, which were to lead to the publication of several books (see bibliography). Until 1941, he worked as a consulting engineer for several petroleum companies, whilst consecrating free time to his historical researches, as well as to the esoteric tradition of oriental orthodoxy.
On June 11th 1940, Boris Mouravieff left Paris for the South of France, where his employer was located, and in 1943 he moved to a French town close to Switzerland. Having refused to collaborate with the Germans, he was arrested in 1944 by the Gestapo, held in custody, then released under surveillance. It was thereafter, on 9 March 1944, that members of the French resistance arranged for him and his family to esca
Graduated in 1910 as officer of the Superior School of the Russian imperial Marine, Boris Mouravieff climbed the rungs, particularly while serving from 1909 to 1912 aboard the battleship "Auroara". During the first World War he served in the naval forces of the Black Sea. In 1916 -1917, as vessel lieutenant, he commanded the rapid torpedo launching patrol flotilla, of which he was the author.
Upon the abdication of the Tsar in March 1917, he was promoted to frigate captain at the age of 27, before becoming assigned cabinet head to minister Alexander Kerensky in the first provisional government, directed by prince Lvov. Thereafter he was assigned, as joint head of State staff for the Black Sea fleet, by Kerensky who had become the head of the Russian government until his ousting by Lenin's Bolshevists during the October 1917 Revolution.
On the morrow of the peace of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 he quit the armed forces. He then remained in Crimea consecrating his time to archaeological works as well as to his own esoteric and historical researches.
Since his youth, Boris Mouravieff found interest in the esoteric tradition of Oriental Orthodoxy. This interest found its first guidance through some indications left by his grand uncle Andrei Mouravieff (died in 1874), who was the founder of a hermitage at Saint Paul, one of the great Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos. Andrei had undertaken researches in Egypt, Armenia, Kurdistan and even in Persia, retrieving traces of this tradition and manuscripts from the first centuries of our era.
By the end of 1920, Boris Mouravieff left Russia for Constantinople then for Bulgaria where he remained until1924.
In Constantinople, 1920-21, Boris Mouravieff attended the public conferences given by Piotr Demianovitch Ouspensky. It was there that the latter put Boris Mouravieff in contact with Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, with whom several contacts were to take place thereafter in Fontainebleau and Paris. For many years Boris Mouravieff and P. D. Ouspensky, bound by a friendship that was founded on the similarities of their topics of research, were to delve deeper in their respective works and consequently to discuss them, particularly from the aspect of the dangers associated with the fragmentariness of the latter's works. Such discussions took place at the occasion of their meetings in Paris and London; the last of which took place in 1937 near London.
In 1924 Boris Mouravieff travelled to France as a refugee and settled in Bordeaux, where in 1935 he met larissa Bassof, born in 1901 in Uzbekistan. Larissa, a ballerina, had a child from a first marriage, Boris Vsevolod Volkoff, born in France in 1928. In 1936 Boris Mouravieff married Larissa and all three settled in Paris that same year.
Since 1921 Boris Mouravieff pursued researches related to the political and diplomatic history of Russia, in particular regarding Peter the Great, which were to lead to the publication of several books (see bibliography). Until 1941, he worked as a consulting engineer for several petroleum companies, whilst consecrating free time to his historical researches, as well as to the esoteric tradition of oriental orthodoxy.
On June 11th 1940, Boris Mouravieff left Paris for the South of France, where his employer was located, and in 1943 he moved to a French town close to Switzerland. Having refused to collaborate with the Germans, he was arrested in 1944 by the Gestapo, held in custody, then released under surveillance. It was thereafter, on 9 March 1944, that members of the French resistance arranged for him and his family to esca
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 7, 2021
Very detailed and dense introduction to Esoteric Christianity and it's practices. Mr. Mouravieff is not as well known as Gurdjieff and Ouspenski, but I find his explanations of the same principles clearer and more straight-forward and I especially liked him connecting various methods of the Work to Biblical verses.
Warm recommendation to all serious seekers.
Warm recommendation to all serious seekers.
June 6, 2020
An unparalleled exposition of the interior teachings of Orthodox Christianity. The Gnosis series contains unique information on cosmogenesis that I've yet to find anywhere else. In my humble opinion, these books contain insights you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
March 13, 2023
A good explanation of Ouspenskian Fourth Way principles, from an Eastern Orthodox point of view. Mouravieff asserts Eastern Orthodoxy is actually the real source what Gurdjieff taught. Mouravieff, who actually was taught by Ouspensky, also includes Ouspensky’s views on eternal recurrence (reincarnating in a loop to the life you’ve already lived) and view of the cosmos and all of time being a single unitary thing. Mouravieff also discusses about finding your ‘polar being’, essentially your soulmate, as being a necessary part of work on The Way.
All of these ideas can get very abstract very quickly, but Mouravieff does a good job breaking them down and, what makes this book stand out, give actual practical guidance on how to apply it.
All of these ideas can get very abstract very quickly, but Mouravieff does a good job breaking them down and, what makes this book stand out, give actual practical guidance on how to apply it.
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April 24, 2019Excellent introduction to the Fourth Way, albeit in a rather strong Eastern Orthodox Christian gloss. (That bit was intriguing, especially how it explained much of the elements of Christianity that bothered me before.)
As it is more an overview of the basics of the system, it doesn't go into much detail regarding the practice of the philosophy; that's covered in Gnosis: The Mesoteric Cycle.
If you're looking for a relatively simple method of self-initiation without becoming a monk or a hermit, I highly recommend this series.
As it is more an overview of the basics of the system, it doesn't go into much detail regarding the practice of the philosophy; that's covered in Gnosis: The Mesoteric Cycle.
If you're looking for a relatively simple method of self-initiation without becoming a monk or a hermit, I highly recommend this series.
March 28, 2023
The first of a three-volume set constructed from three cycles of lectures, purports to bring focus to the Philokalia, the five-volume treasury of Eastern Orthodox mystical thought and practice, while also critiquing the works philosophy of P. D. Ouspensky, adding to it whatever the author feels the latter left out. A nice recipe, but quickly got bogged down in medieval-style schematics. So, like Dante, I got lost. This first cycle, though, is nominally the exoteric cycle. I'm tempted to skip to the esoteric one, volume three. If Aeneus, or better yet Beatrice will join me there, I'll try to get some grounding. Hopefully he has something on deification. To be continued.
February 3, 2024
Book one is truly stunning, directed at the individual. There's plenty of books on gnosis and gnostics but this book is the real deal.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews