The themes of spiritual ascension and mystical ecstasy in V. Ivanov, which occupy a pivotal place in his literary production, have been recently examined by M. Tsimborska-Leboda in the context of Augustine's theology and by V. Mahlin in the context of Bakhtin's analysis of Dostoevsky's works. The theme of ecstasy has also been considered by Pamela Davidson in her 1989 monograph. The present...