Elena Narinskaya | University of Oxford (original) (raw)

Books by Elena Narinskaya

- The Life of One Chosen by God: A Study of the OT stories of Moses in Jewish, Christian and Muslim Sources, 2022

Moses is an inspirational prophetic figure in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious traditions. ... more Moses is an inspirational prophetic figure in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious traditions. This book journeys through the Abrahamic faiths and illustrates their respective depictions of the Moses’ stories. In exploring the differences and similarities between the Hebrew Bible, Jewish rabbinical commentaries, Syriac Christian exegesis and the Qur’an, this book seeks for a deeper understanding of the Prophet Moses in the religious history of humanity.

Tis Pasin o Kairos:Judaism and Orthodox Christianity Facing the Future , 2023

This book addresses Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, and particularly their points of similarit... more This book addresses Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, and particularly their points of similarity and difference, congruence and conflict. The city of Jerusalem stands at the heart of both these age-old faiths, but today it is a divided city in which Jews and Orthodox Christians seem to find themselves on opposite sides of history. Must this story be one of continuing conflict, or is there scope for reconciliation and common effort? How do religions that cherish tradition face up to the challenges of a rapidly changing world? What place can they offer to women? Can they welcome lesbian and gay adherents? How do their traditional resources help them to face climate change and other environmental issues? How have they responded to the COVID pandemic? What contribution can they make to current debates about subjects like euthanasia and assisted dying? In seventeen chapters by expert theologians and historians this book examines central issues of common concern. The focus is on dialogue and deepened knowledge. The authors dispel some widely held misconceptions and identify a good deal of common ground. In this way the book aims to lay foundations for future engagement between the two religions.
CONTRIBUTIONS BY MICHAEL G. AZAR; KRASTU BANEV; JOANNA BURTON; MARY B. CUNNINGHAM; MISZA CZERNIAK; MIRI FREUD-KANDEL; IAN GRAHAM; MICHAEL HARRIS; PETRA HELDT; ELENA NARINSKAYA; RENÉ PFERTZEL; DAVID ROSEN; SYLVIA ROTHSCHILD; MARC SAPERSTEIN; SYBIL SHERIDAN; ELIZABETH THEOKRITOFF AND TANHUM YOREH

Elonei Mamre: The Encounter of Judaism and Orthodox Christianity , 2022

How can finite minds approach an infinite and ultimately unknowable God? Is it true that Christia... more How can finite minds approach an infinite and ultimately unknowable God? Is it true that Christianity is a religion of love and Judaism a religion of law? Can a Jew accept the Orthodox Christian veneration of holy images? How much do Jews and Orthodox Christians have in common when they worship God? What can be done about Christian prayers that Jews find offensive? How much responsibility do Christians carry for antisemitism? These and other questions are addressed in this book which is intended as a major contribution to encounters between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. In seventeen chapters, expert theologians and historians examine central issues of common concern relating to theology and worship as well as to the vexed historical question of anti-Semitism. The focus is on dialogue and deepened knowledge, as the contributors dispel widely-held misconceptions and identify a good deal of common ground.
CONTRIBUTIONS BY MICHAEL G. AZAR; HOWARD COOPER; DANIEL DAVIES; YVES DUBOIS; MICHAEL HILTON; JOHN D. KLIER; NICHOLAS DE LANGE; ANDREW LOUTH; ELENA NARINSKAYA; MARCUS PLESTED; JEREMY SCHONFIELD; SYBIL SHERIDAN; NORMAN SOLOMON; KALLISTOS (TIMOTHY) WARE; DANIEL H. WEISS AND GEORGE R. WILKES

Women and Ordination in the Orthodox Theology, 2020

Contributing Authors:Fr. John BehrDr Spyridoula Athanasopoulou-KypriouDr. Dionysios SklirisFr. An... more Contributing Authors:Fr. John BehrDr Spyridoula Athanasopoulou-KypriouDr. Dionysios SklirisFr. Andrew LouthDr Mary CunninghamMet Kallistos WareRev Dr Sarah Hinlicky WilsonDr Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGeraldDr Carrie Frederick FrostDr Paul LadouceurLuis Josue SalesThis book--a collaborative, international initiative, involving academic theologians and practitioners--invites the reader into a conversation about the ordination of women in the Orthodox Church. It explores questions relating to the significance of being human, Eve's curse, sexed bodies, the place of Mary, the nature of priesthood, the role of the deacon, and the task of being a priest in the twenty-first century. The reflections move across three main areas of discussion: issues of theological anthropology, particular questions pertaining to the priesthood and the diaconate, and contemporary practices. In each area the implications for ordaining women in the Orthodox Church today are explored.

A current book on Moses in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Ephrem’s thought is revealed to us through the language of symbols and allusions, and his legacy ... more Ephrem’s thought is revealed to us through the language of symbols and allusions, and his legacy as a theologian lies in his commitment to the Scriptural narrative. Ephrem’s theological approach is also a representative demonstration of the tradition of Syriac Christian theology and symbolic poetry at the time. This thesis explores Ephrem’s Eucharistic theology as it is expressed in his poetic Hymns. The aim of the study is to look into various definitions of Eucharist that Ephrem offers in his writings.
This study looks at the way Ephrem describes the physicality of the sacraments. It presents an analysis of specific Hymns of Ephrem, which are selected for their affiliation to the Eucharist. This exercise allows us to gather enough textual evidence to identify the main aspects of Ephrem’s Eucharistic theology, while giving credit to his unique way of expressing his theology. As an outcome of the research there is an attempt to present the reasons behind Ephrem’s theological understanding and appropriation of the myster of the Eucharist by means of highly poetic and symbolic language.

This book seeks to reconsider the commonly held view that some of Ephrem’s writings are anti-Semi... more This book seeks to reconsider the commonly held view that some of Ephrem’s writings are anti-Semitic, and that his relationship with Judaism is polemical and controversial. The outcome of the research highlights several key issues. First, it indicates that the whole emphasis of Ephrem’s critical remarks about Jews and Judaism is directed towards Christian conduct, and not towards Jews; and second, it considers Ephrem’s negative remarks towards Jews strictly within the context of his awareness of the need for a more clearly defined identity for the Syriac Church.

Furthermore, this book examines discernible parallels between Ephrem’s commentaries on Scripture and Jewish sources. Such an exercise contributes to a general portrait of Ephrem within the context of his Semitic background. And in addition, the book offers an alternative reading of Ephrem’s exegetical writings, suggesting that Ephrem was aiming to include Jews together with Christians among his target audience. Further analysis of Ephrem’s biblical commentaries suggests that his exegetical style resembles in many respects approaches to Scripture familiar to us from the writings of Jewish scholars.

A comparison of Ephrem’s writings with Jewish sources represents a legitimate exercise, considering ideas that Ephrem emphasises, exegetical techniques that he uses, and his great appreciation of ‘the People’ – the Jews as a chosen nation and the people of God – an appreciation which becomes apparent from Ephrem’s presentation of them. The process of reading Ephrem’s exegetical writings in parallel with Jewish sources strongly identifies him as an heir of Jewish exegetical tradition who is comfortably and thoroughly grounded in it. This reading identifies Ephrem on a theological, exegetical and methodological level as a Christian writer demonstrating the qualities and features of a Jewish sage.

The author has been awarded a PhD at Durham University (Department of Theology and Religion) and is currently involved in Post-doctoral Studies offered by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter. In her research she works with a variety of methodologies including historical and literary criticism, and philosophical techniques.

Organised Conference by Elena Narinskaya

The conference aims to bring Theology personal in exploring the subject of sickness and suffering... more The conference aims to bring Theology personal in exploring the subject of sickness and suffering from an Orthodox Christian Theological point of view.

Women's Ministries Initiative celebrating its five ear anniversary with a Study Day / Conference ... more Women's Ministries Initiative celebrating its five ear anniversary with a Study Day / Conference / Discussion on the topic of Ordination of Women: Pros and Cons. This educational initiative is looking at Practical, Theological, Experiential and Cultural aspects of approaching the question of ordination of women in the Orthodox Church today.

Study day/pilgrimage honoring ST Frideswide of Oxford as part of the series of events exploring i... more Study day/pilgrimage honoring ST Frideswide of Oxford as part of the series of events exploring into women saints of British Isles

Study day/pilgrimage honoring ST Etheldreda of Ely as part of the series exploring into women sai... more Study day/pilgrimage honoring ST Etheldreda of Ely as part of the series exploring into women saints of British Isles

Conferenced organised for Centre for Interreligious Dialogue MDI/DCU /Study Day on Abrahamic Reli... more Conferenced organised for Centre for Interreligious Dialogue MDI/DCU /Study Day on Abrahamic Religions -April 9, 2016

Study Day of Women's Ministries Initiative on March, 7, 2015 in Oxford, Balliol College Archives.... more Study Day of Women's Ministries Initiative on March, 7, 2015 in Oxford, Balliol College Archives. Speakers: Dr Mary Cunningham, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware

A Study Day of Women's Ministries Initiative on October, 17, 2015 in Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. ... more A Study Day of Women's Ministries Initiative on October, 17, 2015 in Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Speakers; Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (Oxford), Professor Andrew Louth (Durham), Sister Vassa Larin (Vienna). Organizer: Dr Elena Narinskaya

- The Life of One Chosen by God: A Study of the OT stories of Moses in Jewish, Christian and Muslim Sources, 2022

Tis Pasin o Kairos:Judaism and Orthodox Christianity Facing the Future , 2023

Elonei Mamre: The Encounter of Judaism and Orthodox Christianity , 2022

Women and Ordination in the Orthodox Theology, 2020

A current book on Moses in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Conference was held in High Leigh, UK on the 8th-10th of September 2014. The conference was a joi... more Conference was held in High Leigh, UK on the 8th-10th of September 2014. The conference was a joint initiative of Orthodox Theological Research Forum and Women' Ministries Initiative group.
The presentations of the conference are work in progress now for publication

The series of pilgrimages/study days on holy women of British Isles

by Gorgias Press, Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, Isabel Toral-Niehoff, Joas Wagemakers, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, David Hernández de la Fuente, Anna Rogozhina, Elena Narinskaya, Johanne Louise Christiansen, Amina Inloes, Marcus Milwright, Najib George Awad (Dr. Phil; Dr. Theol. Habil.), Ryan Schaffner, Laura Hassan, Vladimir Bošković, Mark D Calder, Pietro Longo, Paolo Maggiolini, Keenan Baca-Winters, Saer El-Jaichi, Avraham Elmakias, Orhan Elmaz, Luca Patrizi, Rana Issa, Adam Sabra, Clinton Bennett, Adrian C . Pirtea, Michael R J Bonner, and Paul C. Dilley

Gorgias Press' 2018 Islamic Studies' catalogue sets out a selection of Gorgias' published and for... more Gorgias Press' 2018 Islamic Studies' catalogue sets out a selection of Gorgias' published and forthcoming publications that are related to Islamic and Near Eastern studies, as well as studies carried out for other fields of research that intersect with Islamic studies.

Theology and Practice, 2024

This paper applies Martin Buber's philosophy of dialogue, specifically focusing on the process o... more This paper applies Martin Buber's philosophy of dialogue, specifically focusing on the process of reading the sacred Scriptures of others alongside one's own. The dialogue process in this study is promoted as a means of mutual understanding and spiritual enrichment. An exercise in dialogue is framed as an exercise in listening, encompassing active listening to 'the other' and self-reflection to understand one's prejudices and strengths. Themes covered in this article include the stories of religious communities and their prophets, as well as different perspectives from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptures describing the dynamics of the God-human relationship. The didactics of various sacred scriptures are brought to light, whether to their own religious communities or to humanity due to their universal appeal. The study examines the Qur'an, Torah, Halachah: Talmud and Mishna, Midrash, Gospels, and Christian exegesis. Overall, this study offers an opportunity and a fruitful way of studying the scriptures of others for personal benefit in cultural, religious, social, and theological spheres.

Theology: Theory and Practice, 2022

The piece shows a deep concern with the Orthodox church’s current exclusion of women from ordinat... more The piece shows a deep concern with the Orthodox church’s current exclusion of women from
ordination and church hierarchy, which affects conciliarity and fullness of the participation of the laity
within the church. The article dwells on various issues: the meaning of conciliarity, the shifting status
of women in Western societies, ecumenicity, the roles women play in the church, the role of tradition,
and its misperceptions. It touches upon key events such as the pan-Orthodox Council of Crete (2016), it
shows the awareness of the debates and consultations within the Orthodox church concerning gender
and ordination and ordination of deaconesses. Patriarchy is looked into as a background development
of male dominance, while also democracy and position of women in it is analysed. The 100% male
clergy situation in the Orthodox Church today is taken under consideration and analysed. Ordination
of women discussed from theological, traditional and practical perspectives. Discussions on tradition,
priesthood and scripture are offered through the principle of consiliarity.

Ephrem, a 'Jewish' Sage, 2010

"This book seeks to reconsider the commonly held view that some of Ephrem’s writings are ant... more "This book seeks to reconsider the commonly held view that some of Ephrem’s writings are anti-Semitic, and that his relationship with Judaism is polemical and controversial. The outcome of the research highlights several key issues. First, it indicates that the whole emphasis of Ephrem’s critical remarks about Jews and Judaism is directed towards Christian conduct, and not towards Jews; and second, it considers Ephrem’s negative remarks towards Jews strictly within the context of his awareness of the need for a more clearly defined identity for the Syriac Church. Furthermore, this book examines discernible parallels between Ephrem’s commentaries on Scripture and Jewish sources. Such an exercise contributes to a general portrait of Ephrem within the context of his Semitic background. And in addition, the book offers an alternative reading of Ephrem’s exegetical writings, suggesting that Ephrem was aiming to include Jews together with Christians among his target audience. Further analysis of Ephrem’s biblical commentaries suggests that his exegetical style resembles in many respects approaches to Scripture familiar to us from the writings of Jewish scholars. A comparison of Ephrem’s writings with Jewish sources represents a legitimate exercise, considering ideas that Ephrem emphasises, exegetical techniques that he uses, and his great appreciation of ‘the People’ – the Jews as a chosen nation and the people of God – an appreciation which becomes apparent from Ephrem’s presentation of them. The process of reading Ephrem’s exegetical writings in parallel with Jewish sources strongly identifies him as an heir of Jewish exegetical tradition who is comfortably and thoroughly grounded in it. This reading identifies Ephrem on a theological, exegetical and methodological level as a Christian writer demonstrating the qualities and features of a Jewish sage. The author has been awarded a PhD at Durham University (Department of Theology and Religion) and is currently involved in Post-doctoral Studies offered by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter. In her research she works with a variety of methodologies including historical and literary criticism, and philosophical techniques."

Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies, 2012

Studia Traditionis Theologiae, 2010