PATRISTIC AND NEOPATRISTIC THEOLOGY? PERIODS OF PATROLOGY IN THE CHURCH LIFE
PATRISTIC AND NEOPATRISTIC THEOLOGY? PERIODS OF PATROLOGY IN THE CHURCH LIFE

Summary/Abstract: Many debates take place around the concepts of patristic theology andneopatristic theology, and also concerning the syntagms neopatristic or newpatristic synthesis, all of them having as a substratum the issue of accepting or notlimits for the patristic period. To avoid the netting of a lay science, Patrology hasa permanent theological character and has no limits in history, just as the HolyTradition of the Church is without limits. This fact is due to the situation that theHoly Fathers are not just authentic bearers of the Holy Tradition, but also itscreators, in the sense of dynamic continuers of the spiritual and dogmatic heritageof the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Accepting a terminus point for thepatristic period would trigger many consequences, such as doubting the work andthe presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, ranking, in a manner, however, notmet in the Church life, the illumination by the Holy Spirit of the Holy Fathers fromdifferent epochs etc. The Church has not understood, however, the work of God asa limited reality, but as a dynamic one, present in its living and spiritually healthylimbs. The meeting with the Holy Church Fathers, present in all its epochs, istransforming and empowering, so that patristic theology represents in the Churcha unitary and indivisible fact.

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