Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives from Orthodox Christian Scholars (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2008) (original) (raw)

Lessons Orthodox Christian faith -1

For beginning and the first duty largest Christian believer's care, care for the salvation of his soul, which remains immortal and must reach perfection as his Creator, because nothing in this world is more valuable for Christian the salvation of his soul, after the word Saviour ,, What man would use all and attaining world will lose his soul? Or what shall a man give, exchange for his soul? "(Mark VIII, 36-37).

Key Themes in Orthodox Theology and Spirituality

This paper consists of five essays on key themes in Orthodox theology and spirituality: the divine nature; the Trinity; sin; theosis (deification); and icons. At first glance, these themes may seem rather loosely related, and certainly at least distinct from one another, with the possible exception of the first two. As soon as one begins to scratch the surface, however, it becomes apparent that each of these themes is incredibly interwoven with the others; they are utterly interdependent in Orthodox theology and spirituality. Even the topic of icons, which looks like the answer to the question, "which of these is not like the other?" deeply depends on and significantly informs the other four.

Orthodoxy and Non-Orthodox Faith: A Pass to Unity

Revista Teologica

This article aims to investigate the conceptual underpinnings and contents of the Christian legal tradition. It also intends to provide a brief review of how Orthodox nomic thought functions in the age of fragmentation (i.e. denominationalism). How should an Orthodox Christian react to heterodox faith? How should s/he receive a non-Orthodox preaching and teaching? These questions have become focal in the context of the fractured Christendom. This is a key issue that by and large determines the future of the ecumenical movement. This article aims to shed light on the issue at hand and intends to offer a possible solution to it.

Orthodox Theology and the Challenges of a Post-Secular Age: Questioning the Public Relevance of the Current Orthodox Theological "Paradigm"

Ukraine: Institute of Ecumenical Studies, 2013

The discussion on the new role of religion in a post-secular age was raised at the annual meeting of the Development of Ecumenical Leadership in Mission network (DELM). Coming from different countries (usually Central-Eastern Europe) and belonging to different Christian denominations but heavily engaged in mission and ecumenical activity, DELM's participants organize an annual academic conference with the following discussion on many important themes. A similar conference organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University and St. Andrew's Biblical Theological Institute was held in Lviv in 2011. During the conference participants explored the significance of the new term Post-Secular age and it's main symbols in science and society. They discussed the state and the role of theology in different contexts, what the main directions in its development are and who to cooperate with on other academic disciplines. It was acknowledged that the arrival of the post-secular age doesn't mean the revival of the religious worldview over the secular one or the disappearance of secularism. In post-secular society religion starts to raise its voice in public debates. Many begin to understand the significance and importance of theology in building an open and fair society. Theologians should be active "players" in academic and political spheres, proposing constructive initiatives in developing our common human home in new circumstances. The proceedings of the conference you hold in your hands contain many positive but also some weak points. A reader of the book would be challenged with the variety of opinions and academic approaches in the articles written by speakers from different academic backgrounds and contexts. Some speakers such as Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis and Dr. Frank Bestebreurtje are well known theologians; some articles have been composed by a younger generation of theologians and philosophers. From the other side a reader can find their most appropriate answer to the number of questions raised during the conference and can discover a variety of approaches in understanding the theme.

The Promise and Pitfalls of Recent Currents in Contemporary Orthodox Theology of Religions

Louvain Studies, 2018

This article provides a short overview of the trends that have appeared within the theology of interreligious dialogue as practiced in Orthodox theology. A concluding reflection will summarize these developments in a systematic fashion. In the first part of this article, an overview is given of the involvement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in matters related to interreligious dialogue and the developments in Orthodox theology of non-Christian religions which might be described as an emergent ‘middle way’. The second section of the article seeks to present some of the major obstacles threatening the development of both, a ‘middle-way’ theology of non-Christian religions and the successful practice of interreligious dialogue. If not dealt with, these obstacles may well derail the entire project of an Orthodox Christian theology of interreligious dialogue.

Orthodox Theology and Modern Challenges: The Ethical Issues

In normal circumstances, the Church is alive in the world within a tensed climate due to the fact that It “exists in this world without belonging to it” according to the Christ own words. In the twentieth Century, the Church was deeply challenged by many historical, political and cultural factors. The Orthodox Church particularly witnessed extensive pressures that reached persecution, massive exodus that push it to review its hundred years old canonical structures; the Orthodox Church also faced a universal challenge at the philosophical and social levels where the believer started wondering about legitimate issues like: Is there any contradiction between the Orthodox Theology and Modernity? Is there any twinge between Tradition and Modern Thinking? Does the witness of the Orthodox Church go beyond restrictions due to time and space? By putting the problem in its context and on the basis of what may be considered as the Orthodox Tradition pillars, this article will try to answer these questions, concluding to the following: i) Orthodox Theology is potentially able to have a dialogue with Modernism. It has a specificity that allows it to have an innovating discourse while keeping its conformity with Tradition, ii) The Orthodox Church needs to create forums of discussion among pastors, scientists, men and women of goodwill, young generation, as well as sociologists and pedagogues, in order to elaborate a continuous process for future actions and dialogue with Modernity.

Review Essay: “Three Contemporary Orthodox Visions of the Church,” St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 58, 2 (2014), 217-234.

Review Essay: “Three Contemporary Orthodox Visions of the Church.” Reviews of: Hilarion Alfeyev, Orthodox Christianity. Vol. I: The History and Canonical Structure of the Orthodox Church (Yonkers NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011). 350 p. and Vol. II: Doctrine and Teaching of the Orthodox Church (Yonkers NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011). Part Five: “The Church” (387-488); Boris Bobrinskoy, The Mystery of the Church [Le Mystère de l’Église, Paris, 2003] (Yonkers NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2012). 292 p. Jean-Claude Larchet, L’Église, Corps du Christ Vol. I. Nature et structure. Vol. II. Les relations entre les Églises (Paris: Le Cerf, 2012). Vol. I, 255 p.; Vol. II, 231 p. St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 58, 2 (2014), 217-234.