We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
The story of the Bosnian “krstjane” (“christians”) has been over simplified by those who see the period from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century as a glorious time in which the duelist church and state worked together and prospered.In fact, the krstjane efforts to replicate early Christianity and follow an apostolic path were often obstructed by churchmen and politicians in Rome and Hungary who mounted crusades against them, such as the crusades of 1235-39, when Bosnia was devastated and thousands were either burned at the stake or led away into captivity.
More...
Reformation anniversary in Eastern Europe? What is going on? Where did the idea come from? What do our eastern neighbors have to do with this? So much!
More...
Logos magazine and the Lithuanian Branch of the International Association of St. Thomas Aquinas mourn the death of the long-time patron of Lithuanian Thomists, Dominican Brother, Prof. Dr. Abelardo Lobato. He used to visit Lithuania, take part in international thomistic conferences and teach at the annual Thomas Aquinas summer school. His book Human dignity and destiny as well as a number of articles were translated and published in Lithuania. Father Abelardo will remain in our memory as a teacher and sincere friend, ardent researcher and propagator of the ideas of Thomas Aquinas.
More...
The materials of the Saxonian Civil Code of 1863/65 reveal an intensive debate about the importance of religion for private law. The Institutes for Legal History at Freiburg and Heidelberg University will fully publish these materials. The drafting of the provisions for matrimonial law shows the substantive influence of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. Large parts of the final version of the matrimonial law in the Saxonian Civil Code were based on the ecclesiastical law of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Civil Code also included special deviations from the Evangelical Lutheran law for Catholics and Jews. The Saxonian lawmaker chose a hybrid solution for matrimonial law: ecclesiastical law in the shell of civilian law. Such a solution was anachronistic since many particular laws in the German Confederacy had already introduced civil marriage to a certain degree. The most outdated Saxonian provision was the prohibition of matrimony between Christians and Jews. The Saxonian Act on Dissidents (1870) and the German Personal Status Act (1875) soon introduced civil marriage also in Saxony and eliminated almost all religious provisions in the Saxonian Civil Code.
More...
The paper discusses an anonymous poem “Apologeticus” (published in Vilnius 1582) being the first direct evangelical statement in a polemics about the Confederation of Warsaw. Not only was it a defensive response to previous Catholic speeches, but also an offensive monition directed to them and provoked by the 1581 Vilnius turmoil. The objects of Calvinian attack are the Pope (alongside of the Jesuits and Stanisław Hozjusz), the Polish clergy, Polish renegades, worship of the saints and of Holy Mary, Catholic idolatry, and celibacy. The arguments, essentially conditioned by historical “there” and “then” (Vilnius between 1581–1582), with time in the writings of evangelic polemists ceased or even did not appear at all. Thus, such writings were not characterised by such intensity of emotions unfriendly to the Catholics as visible in the poem in question. Provided Piotr Skarga is “a warrior of Counter Reformation,” the unknown author of “Apologeticus” may be per analogiam referred to as “a swashbuckler of Reformation” due to his anti-Catholic invectives.
More...
Culturologically, a feast is a compendium of a kind, encompassing and evincing all elements of cultural identification when it comes both to a community or an individual. Such elements encompass also all the symbolic archetypes associated with the national mentality. Studying the ways in which they are being realised can help to establish the mechanisms of how cultural phenomena are produced. Or taking the liberty of paraphrasing the biblical saying: ’Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them ‘, there would be similar moral strength and a more clear tendency to the words ‘Wherefore by celebrating their feasts ye shall know them’. This problematics manifestly has its effect on arts to further miraculously translate into the society too, transforming into a creative urge, needed for artistic output.
More...
The spiritual writers of Christian Syria emphasised the necessity of a radical purification of the heart. Purity of the heart is necessary for the so-termed “pure prayer” which Eastern Christianity considers an important aspiration for a Christian life. Syriac authors used the shafyut lebba concept to describe the complete clarification of the heart. The mysterious Qurbana – an internal transformation – must occur in the heart of every person. Qurbana – this is a concept used by Syriac writers with multiple meanings to express the mystery of the Eucharist. The transubstantiation of bread and wine at the time of the Eucharistic celebration is the symbol of the analogical process in a person’s heart. Syriac teachers compare the Christian prayer with the sacrifices of the Old Testament: when the sacrifices pleased God, God would send fire from heaven to burn them up as a sign of acceptance. God would accept sacrifices due to the purity of a person’s heart not because of the sacrifice itself. It is the same with prayer: when it comes from a pure heart, God accepts it and sends the fire of the Holy Spirit, which transforms the believer and fills him/her with the spirit of holiness. The clarified heart and the pure prayer rising from it have an epiphanic effect – the presence of God is manifested. Nevertheless, a full-fledged, personal manifestation of God is only possible if the believer has achieved an absolutely “pure prayer”.
More...
The article attempts an analysis of the first texts by Martin Heidegger written in 1909–1919. This analysis identifies a central shift in philosophical thought—from theologically-conceived adoration of eternity to philosophical absolutization of time. These texts mark the essence of the first period of the German philosopher’s thought. They reveal the young Heidegger’s inveteracy in Catholicism, and his apologetic disposition, which saw a crisis in 1911. The author also explores Heidegger’s transition to the Neo-Kantians of Freiburg University, the battle against psychologism fought there, and the Habilitation thesis on Duns Scotus influenced by Rickert and Husserl. That thesis gave birth to the concept of the correlativity between eternity and time, which, itself is based on Hegel’s philosophy and would support the development of Heidegger’s remaining thought. Finally, Heidegger’s concentration on time is analysed in the context of his conversion to Protestantism.
More...
J. Ratzinger wants to portray the wealth of each of the Fathers and great theologians of the Church. He does not conceal his special interest and fascination for the person of St Augustine, to whom he devoted his doctoral dissertation. All the same, references to St Thomas’s thought in the works of Ratzinger are numerous and important. It seems that over the course of time the theologian gradually discovered the immensity Thomas’s thought. His deep acquaintance with texts as well as many studies is impressive. Ratzinger can see in the man of Thomas a theologian fruitfully seeking after truth, an outstanding, overall saint. His thought is helpful with the real reception and authentic interpretation of the Bible. Thomas’s love for the Church Fathers, especially for St Augustine, is worthy of note. Thomas is a witness of the Christian unity of the mind and the faith. He reminds us that the theologian should direct his desire for the recognition above all towards God. Thomas is especially concerned with the truth of the connection between creator and creature; we can thus assign him the title ‘Thomas a Creatore’. The secret of the presence of the Christ in the Eucharist brought about joy and tears in the spiritual life of St Thomas. Against superficial perspectives, Thomas` anthropology is dynamic. Thomas is a great admirer of the Mother of God. Coming to Thomas’s thought is a witness to the vitality of the Church.
More...
This article reviews distinguished Anglican views on the contents and scope of the Christian vocation and reveals characteristic aspects of the Anglican Christian vocation. Theological thought in the Anglican tradition differentiates into two trends, respective of the provisions by the High Church and Low Church. The first is closer to Catholicism and corresponds with much of the Catholic doctrine. The second represents the greater portion of the Anglican community – it reflects the view that is more characteristic of Protestants. Politics and religion as well as the secular and sacral were matters that, from the very start, Anglicanism began comprehending as one entity to which every believer must commit according to personal abilities. Thereby social activism became an integral component of the Christian vocation. Anglicanism understands of the Catholic Church institution of the Pope as an element of Christian stagnation interfering with an authentic realization of the Christian vocation along with its evolvement. Since it considers that the Pope represents a distorted Christianity then, by the same, he interferes in the realization of a vocation not only for the individual but also for the entire Church: a Church that is ruled by a pope cannot be what God called it to be.
More...
The article considers the concept of divine illumination by St. Bonaventura, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, a Cardinal Bishop of Albano, Doctor of the Church, medieval scholastic theologian, philosopher and mystic. His philosophically problematic doctrine on light determines the limits of created world and describes its harmony. According to Bonaventura, the light is the substantial form and nature of all material forms and the source of their activity. The doctrine divides the light into four parts and six kinds: the parts are associated with the art of mechanics as well as sensual, philosophical and scriptural knowledge; the kinds are associated with six levels of cognitive powers. The whole human cognition consists of logical, ontological, psychological and theological (scriptural) aspects. The latter is the highest, since in a mystical sense it marks the coming back of illumination to its own source – God.
More...
This article concentrates on the fifth way of proving God’s existence as it is represented by famous contemporary British atheist Richard Dawkins in his bestseller The God Delusion, and by David Hume in his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and by William Paley in his Natural Theology. My purpose is to compare the formulations of the fifth way found in those books with the ones found in Summa Theologiae and Summa contra gentiles of Thomas Aquinas. The comparison entails the conclusion that Dawkins misinterprets Aquinas’ proof by calling it the argument from design; for, strictly speaking, Aquinas’ proof concerns the existence of the Governor alone. The source of the misinterpretation is the faulty tradition of identifying Aquinas’ fifth proof with argument from design in modern philosophy. To call Aquinas’ fifth way the argument form design makes a medieval Christian theist to think as modern deist.
More...
The article tries to explore historical events, cultural facts and personalities in the museum study of religious art of Carpathian region in the second half of the XX century – early XXI century. Methodology consists in the use of biographical method and the method of analysis of art on the principles of comprehensiveness and consistency. It is also important to assess the development prospects of religious art in Carpathian region, historical research and artistic process in this area. Scientific novelty. This study is the first attempt to present full information about the saved sacred works of art of Ivano-Frankivsk region in the second part of the XX century. The article explains little known facts that accompany the museum study and classification of religious monuments of Carpathian region. The researches and conservations of memories are important in the study of Ukrainian church art in times of atheistic Soviet regime. In this case, in 80 years, such figures as the V. Melnyk, M. Aronec and others stand out particularly. They examined the old churches, independently sought icons, church utensils, kept those works for museums, took care of their restoration, studied, took into custody of state, etc. Conclusions. Ivano- Frankivsk Regional Museum and the Museum of Carpathian Art are famous religious centers of culture and art of Carpathian region and origin of these collections is very important. The exhibition of icons of Art Museum in Ivano-Frankivsk was created by the art expert V.Melnik and is the most valuable part of the collection. These are the icons of Eastern Carpathians and Pokuttya, baroque wooden sculptures, old books and liturgical church clothes. Many icons were recovered by V. Tverdokhlib in the early XXI century.
More...
This article describes the maritime mentality from the point of view of European sacred genesis. Methods of are Used in the research are the following methods: retrospective, literary, narrative, discursive and semiotic, structural, typo-comparative content analysis, meta-interpretation, classification, systematize, modeling and synthesis. The main features of the sacred genesis of the European maritime mentality developed in a Christian context. The transformation of the Sacred contours of heathen consciousness to European are researched. Parameters of the maritime line in the Holy Scripture are revealed. Researches of maritime culture are very few in Lithuania. So, the global perspective and possibilities of deriving the European consciousness in the spirit of the sea are developed.
More...
The article analyzes the preconditions of the encyclical “Rerum novarum” (1891) and its perception in Western European countries of that period. The peculiarities and attitudes of Polish and Lithuanian Catholic Church leaders towards encyclical are revealed. It is shown that the most active supporters of the encyclical were the young Polish and Lithuanian Catholic intellectuals. They tried not only to reflect upon the social problems of that time and to evaluate them from the Christian point of view, they also took concrete practical actions. The role of Jurgis Matulaitis in spreading in society the ideas of the encyclical and focusing the concentration of Catholic intellectuals for a better understanding and practical implementation of those ideas is disclosed.
More...
According to documents from Moscow archives, the religious and scientific context, historical course and theological significance of the studying of two important Serbian bishops and theologians, Ilarion Zeremski and Irinej Ćirić, at the Moscow Ecclesiastical Academy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been researched. The process of their theological education in Sergiev Posad, so far unknown to Serbian science, was of a decisive importance for their theological and scientific work latter. In this paper, through the educational and scientific activities of their professors, are presented the currents of Russian academic theological thought at the time of their schooling. Their schooling is followed from the admission to the Academy to the acquisition of candidate of theology degree, with an emphasis on the importance of the final results in the form of their candidate dissertations. It is pointed out that Zeremski and Ćirić represent the best testimony to the justifiability of theological and academic cooperation between Serbia and Russia in this period. Possitive outcomes, in their case, were the most visible in the field of Serbian biblical studies, church history and liturgical studies.
More...
The connections of the Savina Monastery in Boka Kotorska with Russia in the XVIII century were intensive and deep. They contained the concept of Russia as the patron of Orthodox people under foreign dominion. Inspired by Russia, the Savina Monastery fraternity had an important role in social and political events in the area of Boka Kotorska. These relations influenced the local community in Boka Kotorska through a growing awareness of the necessity of liberation from foreign dominion, migrations of people to Russia, as well as through religious and cultural novelties brought by Russian literature and artistic design motifs, which were used and applied in the local community. The central point of unification of all these influences was the Savina Monastery, where the Great Church was raised mainly due to Russian donations.
More...
The purpose of the article is to analyze the culturological orientation of Greek Catholic publications, their place in reflecting of the real picture of the spiritual and artistic life of Eastern Galicia in 1921–1946, the role UGCC press in preserving and developing the national idea. The primary focus of research is on the journals «Dzvony», «Meta», «Nova Zorya», «Misionar» and the other most popular media that the best reveals the definite problem. Methodology. The methodology of the work is to use methods of analysis and generalization, in particular to identify and exploring the culturological problems of the Greek Catholic press. Based on the comparative method the author traced thematic-genre reconstruction of the issues of some Greek Catholic periodicals. Scientific Novelty. The scientific novelty of the research is the author’s attempt to partially analyse the cultural topics of Greek Catholic editions of Eastern Galicia 1921–1946. Conclusions. Greek Catholic editions were marked by professionalism and high intellectual level, comprehensively covering the cultural life of the region. However, after the arrival of Soviet authorities in Western Ukraine they disappeared.
More...
The study is a historical overview of the perception of the sign Christian image of the grieving mother in Ukrainian musical culture from Baroque to Present. Methodology. The research methodology is a combination of historical, textual, music-liturgical methods that allow considering the most important text-music examples, linked with the image of the most important musical samples associated with the image of the mournful Virgin in the historical dynamics and in the light of denominational diversity of the Ukrainian music culture. Scientific Novelty. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the fact that the authors are the first who have reviewed the implementation of artistic image of grieving mother in the national musical culture, represented including the famous medieval text «Stabat mater». Conclusions. In the Ukrainian extraliturgical and paraliturgical sacred song traditions, the image of the Virgin mournful and traditional genre of its implementation (planctus) is not widespread. The image of grieving mother is not interpreted according to the classic Catholic medieval text «Stabat mater» whereas according to the paraliturgical song poetry of Central European countries and Orthodox church tradition, represented by Simeon Logothetis canon. The canonical text «Stabat mater» acquires relevance in the late 20th century. Its implementation is related to the Postmodern trends of contemporary culture and ranges from radical rethinking and deconstruction of the Christian tradition (G. Nemirovsky) to continuation and creative rethinking of the best achievements of world culture (A. Rodin).
More...