Heart as the Centre of Human Life by Theophan the Recluse: Link to the Greek Fathers Cover Image

Srdce jako střed lidského života u Teofana Zatvornika: Návaznost na řecké otce
Heart as the Centre of Human Life by Theophan the Recluse: Link to the Greek Fathers

Author(s): Petra Otýpková
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: Theophan the Recluse; Spirituality; Greek fathers; Orthodox Church; Heart

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to deal with heart as the centre of human life in the theology of Theophan the Recluse and to findhowhefollowedtheFathers.AshortbiographyofTheophantheReclusefollowsthe interpretation of the heart by the authors, who have been studying the life and work of Theophan. The authors look at the heart as the centre of human life, but more often as a place of spiritual fightandmeeting with God. The point of view of the Greek fathers, i. e. heart as the centre of human existence, and the classificationofsentimentsofheartbyTheophan,asaresultoftherelationshipbetweenheartand body-soul-spirit, present heart as the centre of a person. The comparison of some passages from the Fathers (Macarius and Hesychius) with the texts of Theophan shows that heart is the centre of a person, and is mainly a place of spiritual fight.Attheend,weaskaboutthereasonofTheophan’sinterestintheFathers. The answer is the struggle for the return of man and all of Russia, divided in those times by the influence of intellectuals from West Europe, to its original organicunity and integrity.

  • Issue Year: VII/2005
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 57-69
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Czech
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