Principles of Orthodox Missiology
Principles of Orthodox Missiology
Author(s): Gheorghe Petraru, Ana-Magdalena PetraruSubject(s): Theology and Religion
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: Orthodox Church; communion; ecumenism; liturgy; mission; proselytism; sacraments; spirituality; witness
Summary/Abstract: The article explored on the Principles of Othodox Missiology as reflected in our Theology, the Sacraments, liturgy spirituality and the orthodox culture. The first part of the study focuses on the ontology of Christian mission, Missio Dei or Missio Trinitatis taking into account the missional work of the three persons of God, Father Son and Holy Spirit in their dynamic and kenotic openness to the humankind for salvation in and as Church, centered to Christ as His mystic body. The relation between Church and Mission is treated in the Orthodox in the sense of the interaction because the mission is a central action of the missionary Church. The second part of the study treats about the relation between Christian mission and Liturgy and spirituality and the cultural aspect of the problem. We point on to the fact that the relation between doctrine and worship has been insufficiently marked out by researchers not only in the Romanian Orthodox tradition but also in other Christian traditions. The article is concentrated on the relation between dogma and worship as it was stated by St. Irenaeus Bishop of Lugdumum. In his theological view our dogma is in full concordance with the Eucharist and the Eucharist confirms back our dogma, which means that the proclamation of our faith is a liturgical act while the dogma gives content to prayer. This relation between dogma and prayer has been influenced the development of the Orthodox worship from the very beginning till now. Next part is demonstrating how the structure of the Sacraments reflects by hymns, prayers and rituals this relation. We conclude saying that the Church dogma and its prayer are so deeply intertwined that each and every one of them could be without confusion identified and assimilated to the other.
Journal: Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi. Teologie Ortodoxă
- Issue Year: 22/2017
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 9-32
- Page Count: 24
- Language: English