An Orthodox Ecumenical Hermeneutics: Dumitru Stăniloae on Interpreting the Fathers in an Ecumenical Context 1 (original) (raw)

My intention in this paper is to provide an alternative approach to ecumenism, one that accepts diversity, while it remains firmly anchored in tradition. This vision belongs to the Romanian theologian Dumitru Stăniloae (1903-1993) and sees the multitude of Christian denominations as a useful resource for Orthodox critical self-reflection and learning. The backbone of his positive appraisal of ecumenical diversity, I will argue further, is a different account of the role of theology. Although a staunch traditionalist, Stăniloae sees the task of theology not simply as preserving the tradition of the Church, but of guiding the Church to deification throughout history. This process of discernment is based on two hermeneutical principles (advancement in the knowledge of God and greater union of human beings in Christ). These principles culminate in Stăniloae’s ecumenical model (open sobornicity), while also serving as hermeneutical foundations for sensitive ecumenical loci. Thus, the goal of this article is twofold: to reconsider the role assigned to theology and to propose Stăniloae’s interpretative principles as the bases of the Orthodox ecumenical hermeneutics.

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