Alexander (Antony) Bulatovich. Ethiopia Through Russian Eyes

"Ethiopia Through Russian Eyes" is an umbrella title of two diaries by the military officer, cavalryman, explorer and later a priestmonk, army chaplain and theologian Alexander Bulatovich (often known under his monastic name, Antony): "From Entotto to the River Barro" and "With the Armies of Menelik II", translated and extensively commented by Richard Seltzer. (The third book in the series -- "My Third Journey to Ethiopia" -- is a compilation of letters and reports by Bulatovich that stayed unpublished in his lifetime.)

Don't expect much reflection and Hamletian hesitation from these books. In stark contrast to Kuprin's prose, they are concise reports of things that happened, conclusions made and proposals that seemed plausible written by a man who always put himself last. Later, in 1912-1914, this same practical mind would with equal clarity approach the problems of the supernatural, presenting thinking and speech in "My Thought in Christ" as first-class ontological phenomena and leaving in it a viable worldview alternative not only to the values of the present age, but to the very materialistic way of thinking so prevalent in the post-Enlightenment world.

Bulatovich's diaries were well-known in both pre-revolutionary and post-Revolutionary Russia, rendering him a household name. They are known, particularly, to have inspired the poet Nikolay Gumilev (himself a traveler and explorer)'s fascination with Africa.

Bulatovich died in 1919 in Ukraine while defending an unknown woman from an armed robbery. His body with no signs of decay was discovered in 2003. He is widely regarded as a saint, both for his virtuous life and his theological stand, in most denominations of the Orthodox Church.

Links:
https://www.academia.edu/46607836/Ethiopia_Through_Russian_Eyes -- a full text, with links, available after registration on Academia (no payment required).
https://seltzerbooks.com/ethiopathroughrussianeyes.html -- plain text on the translator's website.
If you want to credit the translator, you can order a paper copy at:
https://www.amazon.com/Ethiopia-Through-Russian-Eyes-Transition/dp/1569021171/ -- Amazon paperback.
Used copies are available on AbeBooks:
https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/ethiopia-through-russian-eyes/

Military career and related history:
https://www.seltzerbooks.com/thirdjourney.html -- the third book (compilation) mentioned above.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Bulatovich
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menelik_II -- a biography of Ethiopian Negus (king) Menelik II, a conqueror, political and social reformer and a leader of the fight for Ethiopian independence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adwa

Church history and theology:
https://www.academia.edu/1015550/The_status_of_divine_revelation_in_the_works_of_Hieromonk_Anthony_Bulatovich -- a reference on onomatodoxy ("name-glorification") in the Eastern Orthodox tradition

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