Măiestrie și tact pastoral paulin în Areopagul din Atena
Mastery and Pauline pastoral tact in the Areopag in Athens

Summary/Abstract: A major personality of the early Church, shepherd of high spiritual finesse, a subtle pedagogue and a genuine apologist, Saint Paul the Apostle reached the Areopagus of Athens, the city of the great thinkers and ancient philosophers. Indignant and irritated by the desolate picture painted by paganism and idolatry during his second missionary journey there, he does not despair, but adapts rapidly, succeeding in capturing the goodwill of the Athenian elites, therefore allowing him to take the floor and expose the two basic principles of Christian doctrine: monotheism and monogenism or the unity of human origin and fraternity. In this regard he also resorts to some texts from epic and stoic philosophies, thus opening the first dialogue or transcultural communication between the Judeo-Christian culture and the Hellenic culture. The first contact of the Christian Gospel with the pagan Hellenic philosophy is due to Paul the Apostle, who showed great courage, a formidable power of adaptation, skill and patience, thus succeeding in capturing the goodwill of his audience. This Pauline pastoral tact must also be appropriated to us in the pastoral care and the Christian mission.

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