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Jan Kowalik spent his emigration years in northern California, where he improved his professional skills. His life is inextricably linked with the history of the very diverse Polish diaspora over the San Francisco Bay and ethnic pastoral care. The article describes the Polish diaspora in California, which began to arrive in San Francisco Bay in the 1840s. Then, as a “labor emigration,” being the core of the Polish diaspora in California, it reached its peak in the 1920s, and was powered after the Second World War. In addition, the article shows the importance of the Catholic Church and pastors, especially the Society of Christ, to migrants.Jan Kowalik became a chronicler of parish life and launched many initiatives promoting Polish culture. The most visible form of his activity was publishing activity. As the editor of “St. Adalbert Catholic Parish Bulletin” (published since April 23, 1976), in 1977 he began publishing his own column, “Polish Traces over the Bay,” dedicated to the past of Poles in California. In January 1979, he started to publish “God's Sowing.” The author of the article broadly discusses both publications, pointing out their authors and editorial collaborators.
More...Готическият псалтир от Мюнхен – свидетел по случая за изобразяването на αἶνοι в православната стенна живопис
The psalter consists of 150 psalms, but only the psalms 148-150 have been chosen for wall paintings in Orthodox churches. The fact has been ascribed to the liturgical use of these psalms, either in the morning service or in obsequies. The hypothesis is probed by a cross-check: Restriction to the last psalms is observed in the Gothic psalter in Munich which is not Orthodox and was never in liturgical use and whose miniatures are not wall paintings. The miniatures illustrate all verses of the three psalms quite literally. The wall paintings do not exhibit additional features which point to an influence of liturgy. It is concluded that the proposed explanations, though not ruled out, are not supported by internal evidence.
More...Късносредновековна южнославянска ръкописна украса във византийски контекст
The paper considers a particular variety of artistic manifestations in Slavonic manuscripts of the Byzantine heritage – that of the Byzantine epoch proper and that of the time, coinciding with the Ottoman rule on the Balkans. Illuminated manuscripts and iconographical patterns from some local centres of manuscript production are selected in order to discuss and estimate the present state of research and its perspectives. In view of a recent monograph on the 16th and 17th century Serbian miniatures, the examples from Balkan centres concern either less studied manuscripts or controversial topics. This is mostly an outline, which inevatibly bears on the depth and scope of the conclusions.
More...Двуезичието в поствизантийските стенописни надписи в балканското изкуство: исторически контекст и функции
The article aims to present new ideas about the interaction of the languages, mainly Greek and Slavic, in the churches with mixed type of inscriptions from the period of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine Balkan Christian art. This phenomenon is usually called ‘bilingualism’ and is dependent on specific historical, geographic or other sociolinguistic conditions: regions with bilingual population (also called ‘bilingual audience’), itinerant teams of painters, to mention just a few. The analysis is divided into two separate fields – historical and functional, which is necessary for acquiring a complex and accurate viewpoint on this matter
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Purpose of the research is to study the phenomenon of religious pilgrimage to Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in the XIX-early XX century as well as the roots of excursion activity in the monastery at that time. Methodology of the research involves using such method as analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization and historical and cultural approaches. Based on the memoir literature it gave the possibility to reveal the peculiarities of the development of religious tourism phenomenon through the example of activity of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in the mentioned period and the main tendencies of excursion-tourist activity in this direction. Scientific novelty consists in broadening and consolidation of the knowledge about the development of religious tourism in Ukraine in the late XIX century by studying memoirs and periodicals, which cover the main directions of religious pilgrimage. In future, it can be used for the development of modern religious pilgrimage guides. Conclusion. As follows from the research, it has been established that religious pilgrimage has old cultural tradition. Numerous examples of religious pilgrimage to the holy places are provided in the sources and literary periodicals of the XIX – early XX century. It serves to show the need for necessary at that time enlightenment by means of pilgrimage to Kiev Pechersk Lavra and other monasteries and churches. Studied historical monuments are the basis for the development of modern religious-excursion tourism guidebooks.
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This article develops a general conceptual model of the relationship between the structure of human historical consciousness, the multidimensional experience of time, and human agency and possibility. It includes a discussion of the ways that events that change the structure of historical consciousness affect temporal experience, ontological security, and narratives of self-identity. The experience of trauma disrupts the ontological security that is required for the continuity of identity. Trauma reorganizes our sense of time and possibility. Events that impact us negatively are more likely to remain in individual and collective memories. Traumatic events change our understanding of the past and transform our hopes for the future. They often become the pivotal points for reconfiguring narratives of personal and collective identity. The conceptual model that is developed is applied to an analysis of different strategies that selected characters in Don Delillo’s 2007 novel, Falling Man, adopt in order to rebuild their narratives of self-identity after the shattering of history and the disruption of temporal experience in the wake of the events of September 11th, 2001.
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This paper deals with the issue of the function and meaning of eating for the members of the Hare Krishna movement and follows the question what cultural specifics of eating are significant for this movement. In this paper there are also presented topics such as symbolism of food, the principles of sacrifices which are related to the principles of purity, eating habits, sacredness of cows or food sovereignty.
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The article presents the debates and the dissensions from the autumn of the year 1857, caused by the Ad hoc Assembly of Moldavia, where the clergy deputies presented certain bills regarding the reorganization of the Orthodox Romanian Church: a bill related to religious freedom and to the status of the Orthodox religion within the Romanian State; a bill related to the necessity of establishing a central synodic authority for the spiritual problems of the Romanian Church; finally, a bill related to the proclamation of the Orthodox Romanian Church autocephaly as against the Constantinople Patriarchy. The climax of the debates regarding the need to rejuvenate the most conservative institution of the Romanian State, was reached on December, 20, 1857, when a twelve articles document, analyzed and well-reasoned by Melchisedec Ştefănescu and Mihail Kogălniceanu - the craftsmen of the rejuvenation of the United Principalities Church under Al. I. Cuza’s reign- was introduced for debate. The resolutions adopted by the Ad hoc Assembly represented the quintessence of the Orthodox Romanian Church reform, implemented between 1859-1865 and perceived by most of the Romanian clergy as an attempt at laicization, since it sanctioned the state control over this prieviously autonomous institution. The controversies this reform generated at the time, understandable for the clergy, vanish as the archives and the historiography define the period between 1856-1859 as a new beginning for the Modern Romania. Under the circumstances, the changes produced in the Church can be seen, sine ira et studio, as an integral part of the long reforming process that characterized the Romanian State during the second half of the 19th century and not as an attempt to destroy a century-old institution.
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God acts “ordinary” through the sacraments of the Church and saves us from sin, however always remains open for us a question about the way of salvation. In the space of theological researches and their pastoral applications, however, controversial concepts have emerged, raising a number of questions and doubts that demand a critical assessment. These include concepts of “generational sin”, “intergenerational forgiveness” and “wicket’s confession”. Theological reflection and the involvement of the pastors of the Church in Poland brought with them concrete results in the form of competent theological opinions and disciplinary regulations, and this whole process has become an opportunity to deepen the awareness of God’s action in the sacraments of baptism and penance, as well as the theological-pastoral challenge.
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The article concentrates on especially interesting or controversial problems regarding religious rituals reflected in Linear B texts, such as the identity of the goddess whose name is transmitted as ma-ka or meaning of the epithet o-po-re-i.
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Artykuł prezentuje myśl jednego z najwybitniejszych współczesnych teologów prawosławia w obszarze antropologii teologicznej P. N. Evdokimova. Ukazuje on fenomen kobiety widzianej przez Teologa jako podobnej do Ducha Świętego, bo uświęcającej, ożywiającej i rodzącej. Swój archetyp kobieta odnajduje w Theotokos – Matce Boga i Pneumatoforze – Nosicielce Ducha Świętego ucząc się ontycznej czystości, która przygotowuje człowieka do przyjęcia Boga i stania się Jego mieszkaniem.
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Looking at some reputedly religious phenomena in today’s world we could openly ask whether these phenomena don’t fall, in certain cases, into a category of a new kind of idolatry which means replacing God with a creature. It is the world of human sensations and experiences that should be especially taken into consideration, sensations and experiences which are often regarded as religious or which, in some cases, undergo the process of absolutisation, whereas this is only a kind of concentration on oneself or on a particular thing. It has been noticed quite accurately, that modern times can be characterised by a shift “from wooden idols to spiritual idols”. Therefore, there is an urgent need for philosophical and theological perspective on this broad sphere of experiences, and for a question whether those experiences create new idols and, by the same token, whether they are idolatrous in character. To answer these questions responsibly and coherently we have to define the origins of idolatry and concurrently find the appropriate criteria which will enable us to evaluate theologically respective phenomena which may appear questionable. This very issue constitutes the subject of this study.
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Present article aims at showing the supernaturalism conception of religious systems of the East against the background of Christian supernaturalism conception based on the Word of God and the conception of New Age Movement which is built on worldview of religious systems of the East. The base of this conception diff ers from the Christian one. It is a pantheist delineation of God, so it assumes there is no real border between Him and creature. This fact changes perception of character of the creation and idea of spirituality diametrically. Because this delineation premises an emanation of divinity, not the act of Creation without violation of the essence of God, it does not mention about the real identity of human being, Divine Mercy, or eternal life at all. For humane-self is illusive and Wight is coming up for process of consecutive reincarnations, which are dependent on karma. Ergo, spirituality of the East does not base on right of reprieve and techniques that are associated with the spirituality are peculiarly gnostic, connected with enlightenment of mind and nirvana, explained by entrants of New Age as stifling or transformation of perceptorium. These ideas have been present in western notion starting from ancient Greek thought through Jewish kabbalah, Christian Gnosticism, esotericism, illuminism, theosophy, anthroposophy and so-called potential of human’s mind development characteristic of New Age’s praxis. On the other hand, transcendental meditation, yoga, reiki or martial arts base on idea of socalled divine qi energy which with suitable techniques, poises, or meditation you can tap inside you or be fulfilled with to get specified benefits, therapic powers, inner harmony, etc. It is a cosmic delineation of God regarded as macrocosm and human regarded as a microcosm defined as a hologram of surrounding reality. What is more, according to religious systems of the East and New Age Movement, human is regarded as a small piece of divine mind and direct emanation of god. They need no God’s Epiphany, tenets, or religious system which would make knowable reality objective or would mediate between them and God. From the viewpoint of this world’s vision, there can’t be any objective truth, because everyone is in possession of it proportionately to their enlightenment. Hence cognitive relativism ant toleration towards different opinions or religious systems, for ultimate instance in this perception of God and the world is only Wight, not Epiphany or any religious authority.
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This paper engages the Catholic Heidegger School’s interaction with Heidegger’s understanding of Being. Gustav Siewerth, Max Müller, Karl Rahner, Johannes Baptist Lotz, and Bernhard Welte understood that the question of God would be decided with the question of Being with ontological difference. Depending on one’s own religious standpoint as well as sympathy for metaphysics, one can dismiss the interaction of the Catholic Heidegger School with Heidegger’s philosophy as a Scholastic misunderstanding, a legitimate attempt to further develop the tradition of Scholastic thought or a source of religious-philosophical potential in Heidegger’s ontology.
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The article shows a presbyter as a shepherd and religious community guide in the context of the current Church teachings and the community’s expectations. The basic role of a priest as a religious shepherd and guide is leading the faithful to Jesus Christ. A priest as a man of faith acts on the strength of received shepherd’s power, but also thanks to personal relation with Jesus, who is The Good Shepherd, as well as a source of shepherd mission and priest’s power. Building up relationships with the religious community, a presbyter fulfils a role of the first one following Jesus, and at the same time the first one preaching his word. In this way a priest becomes a genuine witness of faith and an evangelizer not only for the faithful, but also for non-believers.
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The Church has to offer Europe the most precious of all gifts, a gift which no one else can give: faith in Jesus Christ, the source of the hope that does not disappoint; a gift which is at the origin of the spiritual and cultural unity of the European peoples and which both today and tomorrow can make an essential contribution to their development and integration.Ecclesial communities in Europe are struggling with weaknesses, weariness and divisions. They need to hear anew the voice of Jesus Christ, who invites them to conversion, spurs them on to bold new undertakings and calls forth their commitment to the great task of the new evangelization. Serving the Gospel of hope by means of a charity which evangelizes is the commitment and the responsibility of everyone. Whatever the charism and ministry of each individual, charity is the royal road prescribed for all and which all can travel: it is the road upon which the whole ecclesial community is called to journey in the footsteps of its Master. The whole Church is sent on mission.
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On 18th-26th of Juni, 2016, the Orthodox Church held her Holy and Great Council at the Orthodox Academy in Kolymbari on Crete. The Council woke various reactions in the Orthodox world. The author of this essay wishes to acquaint the reader with the process of reception of the Crete Council in the Orthodox world. The topic has been presented in three parts: 1/ The Council on Crete (2016): general presentation; 2/ Reactions in the Orthodox Church to the Holy and Great Council; 3/ Reasons of divergence in evaluation of the Crete Council.
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