ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore Orthodox theological perspectives on human labor, focusing on the ideas of Sergey Bulgakov (1871–1944) and Nikolai Berdyayev (1874–1948) from the Russian “religious-philosophical revival”, at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Following a brief exploration of the intellectual antecedents of this movement, we will focus on these two thinkers. Bulgakov saw work as a means to align the world with God’s Wisdom, while Berdyayev emphasized its creative potential to introduce novelty into existence. Despite their different viewpoints, both stressed the spiritual dimension of work, and warned against reducing it to mere economic utility. Their insights remain relevant today, offering valuable perspectives for addressing contemporary challenges in human labor within a framework that transcends purely material concerns.
