The Russian Orthodox theologian Fr. Sergii Bulgakov’s final work, The Apocalypse of John, is more than an epilogue to his major systematic trilogy, On God-humanity. Published posthumously in 1948, this commentary on the final book of the New Testament can be considered the conclusion of his work as a whole. Written “in the face of the very apocalypse of life” during the Second World War, Bulgakov’s commentary is not focused on trepidation before final judgement, but reflects deeply on the possibility of hope in the midst of the tragedy of human history, and joy at the prospects of God‘s final triumph, the transfiguration of creation: it is “the divine story of the victory of the Lamb”.

Fr. Sergii Bulgakov (1871–1944), expelled from Russia in 1922, was professor of dogmatic theology and dean at the St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris. In addition to Bulgakov’s commentary, this edition contains photographs of the frescos by Sister Joanna (Reitlinger; 1898–1988) produced between 1946 and 1948 for the ecumenical chapel of the Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius in London. They were inspired by and dedicated to her spiritual father, Sergii Bulgakov.