Pareizticīgo misionāru darbība vecticībnieku vidū Vitebskas guberņas Režicas, Dvinskas un Ļucinas apriņķos (1894-1901)

Author(s): Maija Grizāne / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2017

At the end of the 19th century Russian Orthodoxy was not the only religion on the territory of the Russian Empire, but it served as a serious instrument of providing unification of the population using the ideals of Christianity. The Old Believers occupied a special place in this process, because they were not treated as ordinary citizens, but as rivals of the Orthodoxy and a source of troubles for the Monarchy because of their independent and closed way of living. To protect the interests of the Orthodoxy and to persuade the Old Believers to abandon their faith, all over the Empire special organisations - brotherhoods of missionaries - were established that bacame responsible for working among the non-Orthodox inhabitants. The Vitebsk province was inhabited by a relatively large number of Old Believers; this fact in 1894 motivated the local Vitebsk Saint Vladimir's Brotherhood to establish an Anti-Split Committee that would fight against the "splitters" (raskolniki) - the o:fficial name of Old Believers. The reports of the missionaries, priests and Orthodox church parish schools, who worked under the Committee on the territory of Dvinsk, Rezhica and Lucin counties from 1894 till 1901, are in the focus of the present paper. Although the reports are markedly dependent on the Orthodox Church ideology, they are valuable resources to study the local history of the Orthodox mission and the Old Belief on the territory of modern Eastern Latvia.

Sufferings and Illness – Passport to the Sweetest Heaven

Author(s): Ioan Cristinel Teşu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain, who venerated among saints starting January 2015, is one of the most beloved contemporary Orthodox saints. What made him so loved and cherished were his improved life, his practical and experimental teachings, as well as the many wonderful works he did during his life, among which the most frequent and the highest one was the resurrection of souls from the death of sin. His spiritual words drew attention by their richness and depth, the Athonite Saint giving extremely current advice to the problems and troubles of this world and of the contemporary man, in the Church spirit and conscience. But the same exhortations impressed by their sensitivity, being able to offer answers to the soul, that bring inner peace and give spiritual high meaning. He often used to say he tried to put “sunshine” on the souls troubled by worries and darkened by sins and passions, bringing light and hope and trust in the love, kindness and mercy of the Heavenly Father Who does not enjoy man’s suffering but wishes his salvation, since He created man out of infinite love, and not for sin, chastisement or suffering, but for eternal life and happiness [“I make sunshine” he said and he meant that as the sun is absolutely necessary to open flowers, so a slight pastoral touch helps to open and heal the soul] (cf. Cuviosul Paisie Aghioritul, trans. Nuţescu 2003a: 13). He had to take the cross of suffering in his body because of the colon cancer he asked for, received and bore it spiritually like a real blessing. This was his way to take upon him a part of world sufferings and he made the disease an exceptional way of approaching and uniting with God, by going along with Christ the Saviour through the Golgotha of suffering to His Resurrection. Because his words have the advantage of being uttered by a contemporary saint who suffered himself from this cruel disease and they spring from God’s gift and his own experience, they also have the ability to offer consolation and comfort to the souls “visited” by sickness and suffering. Completely opposite to the general expectations that consider the incidence of cancer or oncologic diseases will decrease, the medical sources tell us they will grow in an alarming and frightening way in the coming years. Therefore, on the following pages, I will try to present some of the rich spiritual meanings that St. Paisios gave to illness in general as well as the ways or means of confronting suffering, as described by the Athonite Father.

Book Review

Author(s): Zuzanna Bogumił / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2018

Review of: Zuzanna Bogumil - Karin Hyldal Christensen. The Making of the New Martyrs of Russia: Soviet Repression in Orthodox Memory. London: Routledge, 2017. xi + 234 pp. ISBN 978-0-415-78696-6.

The Second Coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ Expressed in the Hymnographic Christian Thinking

Author(s): Cosmin Santi / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2019

The eschatological condition of Christianity calls for living - within the historical framework - a longing after God, which goes beyond the limits of the ephemeral existence. The eschatological longing after the eternal things is planted in each of us, because man is a being with a thirst for eternity, for the infinite. Pondering over the divine things and accomplishing the will of God call for a sharpening of the eschatological conscience and its authentic use. The eschatological dimension of the Church, included in all its liturgical books, does not designate a virtuality, but expresses a reality, that of the experience of “already, but not yet”; it is the reality and the actuality of the liturgical eschatology, in which, what was once, or what is going to be and will come to pass is already happening in the realm of the ecclesial and missionary sanctity. The issue of Parousia comes first in Orthodox theology. Parousia crowns all God’s deeds within His plan, His Holly will into the world. It is like a new creation of a state of eternal happiness for those who believed in God’s word and protected God’s word. It is the time, the very moment that all the righteous of all times were waiting and longing for, soothed in their suffering for heavens. It is the very moment when this stage will come to an end, while heaven and earth will be renewed for ever. It is the very moment when all who died into Christ will come back to life, when everyone will be judged, when sinners will be punished and righteous will be blessed.

RUS KÜLTÜR GELENEĞİNİN TAŞIYICISI OLARAK “ANA” ARKETİPİ (ÇEVİRİ)

Author(s): Andrey Gregoryeviç Nekita,Sergey Anatolyeviç Malenko / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 12/2016

Eski Rus dünya tasavvuru, insan, toplum ve tabiatın bütünlüğünün his ve idrakine imkân veren evrensel ve kutsal pagan sembolleri etrafında şekillenmiştir. Bu manevi değerler, devletçi dönüşümünün en son modelleri de dâhil olmak üzere aynı zamanda Rus zihniyetinin temellerini de oluşturmuştur. Hıristiyanlığın yayılışı, Rus manevi tarihinin önemli mitolojik unsurlarını belirli ölçüde dönüştürmek ve Hıristiyanlığın unsurlarını yerel şartlara uyarlamak suretiyle kültürel yükseliş için yeni şartlar sağlamıştır.

ASPECTE DIN EVOLUȚIA CULTURII BĂNĂȚENE

Author(s): Ioan Selejan / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Banat is a province whose culture and civilization are lost in the mist of time. It was, at all times, under the influence of higher cultures within their area of interference. The multiculturalism in Banat shall, in time, create a climate of stability and peaceful cohabitation in the region. In Banat, it was not only exterior culture that was sowed on barren land, but it was also the cradle of an ancient, multi-millennial culture. Banat did give, as well, but it also assimilated and synthesized anything coming from the extra-cultural area of Banat. Banatul was at the receiving end, but it also shared some of the thesaurus of its culture. As an imperial province, it had access to West-European culture, but there were also moments of stagnation, when it came under Ottoman occupation. Banat, however, remained Christian and anchored into Christian and European values.

TEMEIURI BIBLICE NOUTESTAMENTARE CU PRIVIRE LA OFICIEREA SFINTELOR TAINE ȘI IERURGII BISERICEȘTI (IX)

Author(s): Ioan Bude / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Addressing mostly priests and Religion teachers, but also any believer, the entire publicistic series that we commence at this point desires, in a straightforward, plain and clear manner (without proposing thematic biblical theology approaches, but by means of a rigurous selection of minimally commented texts), to bring forth again The Truth of the Holy Sacraments before the readers, whoever they might be or – why not? – lead the readers before The Truth, That „is the same for yesterday, today and forever” (Jews 13, 8): The Lord and Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, present, alive and active in all undertakings of His Church.

MARTIRII BISERICII PRIMARE-MODEL DE MĂRTURISIRE

Author(s): Nicolae Danco / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Martyrdom within the Christian church has always been a known fact. Christ the Saviour warned both His disciples and their followers, that they would be persecuted for the mere fact that they were following Him and preaching His teachings. Although in most cases martyrs were unjustly condemned - for the simple reason that they didn’t offer sacrifices to the idols and were Christians - they have always had a dignified and upright attitude regarding the confession of their belief. They did not look upon their persecutors with hatred and contempt, but were - at the most - compassionate, because „they do not know what they are doing”. This pattern of early church confession was also going to be adopted by the martyrs and confessors of the following centuries, up to the present time. The history of the Romanian Christian people is full of countless examples of martyrs, confessors and hero-martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for defending their ancestor’s faith, as well as their homeland. A nation who has not struggled to gain any new territories, but only fought to keep its Christian faith, language, culture and country borders.

,,IATĂ NE ÎNTOARCEM CĂTRE NEAMURI...” (F. AP. 13, 46). ASPECTE PREMERGĂTOARE PRIMEI CĂLĂTORII MISIONARE A SFÂNTULUI APOSTOL PAVEL

Author(s): Vasile Doru Fer / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

The present study addresses a topic of interest not only for newtestamentary theology but also for other related theological disciplines. In the contemporary context, the reminder of the missionary framework is imperative, given that the Apostle Paul, appealing to his disciple and associate Timothy, urged him to preach the word, persevering with time and without time (cf. II Timothy 4:2) such a vivid exhortation nowadays too. The Book of Acts provides us with the most comprehensive information about the vast ministry of preaching the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles who are covered by the darkness of unbelief have thrilled to the message brought by the missionary preachers of the teaching of Christ. Not having much opportunity, the Apostle Paul, along with the other collaborators who formed the missionary group on the first missionary journey, Barnabas and John Mark, through the preaching, will succeed in transforming the pagan world into a people of the righteous. Actually, the missions of St. Paul the Apostle will be a particularly important element that will change the future of mankind, becoming the voice of the hopelessness hope. Though he considered himself the least importanat among the Apostles, he will consecrate himself as an Apostle of the Gentiles. He not only proclaimed the Gospel to them, but always tried by his presence, and when he failed, he kept trying, through his epistles, to return to the midst of those he converted, in order to keep alive and unaltered the doctrine of Christ. The versatility of the paulin genius left its mark forever on the teaching of the Church. Therefore, if an analysis of his missionary journeys is desired, it must be done in different ways. The devotion with which he had fulfilled the 36 Altarul Banatului mission entrusted to him has to be emphasized, regardless of the missionary journeys analysis. Although the present study only considers the preliminary aspects of the first missionary journey and not an exhaustive presentation in its entirety, we will find that the perspective and missionary work among the Gentiles as well as the formation of the first missionary group are landmarks that require a special attention.

FEMEIA VĂDUVĂ CA TOPOS BIBLIC-METAFORĂ A CONDIȚIEI UMANE ÎNTRE REALITATEA SOCIALĂ A VEACULUI ȘI REALITATEA TEOLOGICĂ A VEȘNICIEI

Author(s): Constantin Jinga / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Widowhood is therefore characteristic for all men, we are all guided into admitting our feeble-mindedness, into abstaining similarly to Anna, to spend time in prayers and fasting (Lc 2,36-37) and to consider heavenly Father as our protector. As such, in the biblical conscience, understanding widowhood as a spiritual status becomes defining for the condition of man spending time in this world, but also as a calling to a superior life, as a passage from ancient Israel, deprived of God’s presence, towards new Israel – the bride of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

REPERE CULTICE ALE TRADIȚIEI DESPRE SFÂNTUL ȘI MARELE MIR

Author(s): Rafael Povîrnaru / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

The treasury of all practices effected in the Orthodox Church includes among others the consecration of the Holy Chrism by the members of the Holy Synod of one of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. This liturgical act occurs exclusively during Saint Basil’s Holy Liturgy, in the Maundy Thursday, with the frequency required by the immediate necessities manifested in that respective church. Beyond the multiple usage of the Chrism within the cult, It involves also a series of Mystical significations capable of transcending “the boundaries of materiality”.

PREDICĂ LA DUMINICA A XXXII-A DUPĂ RUSALII (A LUI ZAHEU)

Author(s): Ionel Popescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

GESTANDNISSE AUS DEN TOTALITAREN GEFANGNISSEN: CORNEL GIVULESCU, PFARRER, LEHRER, KOMPONIST UND MUSIKOLOGE

Author(s): Mihai Brie / Language(s): German Issue: 01-03/2019

În istoriografia naţională de după 1948 a început o perioadă mai puţin fastă deoarece regimul instalat, totalitar, ateu a constituit şi pentru muzica bisericească o perioadă în care nume emblematice ale timpului, în majoritatea cazurilor, au suferit temniţa totalitaristă. Se înscrie aici şi preotul, profesorul, compozitorul şi muzicologul Cornel Givulescu. Studiul de faţă constituie o aducere aminte pentru contemporaneitate a unui nume ce s-a înscris pe răbojul vremilor muzicale ale sec. XX. Reflexiile documentare vor constitui cel mai important fundament al acestei cercetări.

ÎNTRU POMENIREA PREOȚILOR DE PE VALEA BISTREI, MILITANȚI PENTRU MAREA UNIRE DIN 1918

Author(s): Romulus Frîncu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Pursuing the apostolic exhortation, namely to give honor to those who deserve honor (Rom. 13, 7), we hereby create a duty of conscience by showing the part played by the Church of Banat, for realization of the decadelong apotheosis of Orthodox Romanians living on these land, which is to unite with the Country. Of course, the priests in the Caransebeș Eparchy, led by the remembrance-worthy Bishop Miron Cristea, Ph.D., joined the other eparchies, militating as a whole, with sacrificial dedication, for the performance of the act of the Great Union of 1918. The pages herein mention merely a flash of such join action, also evoking the names of the priests on the Bistra Valley, the Caransebeș Archpriestship, so that, by remembering their names, we may bring them the honor they deserve, on the occasion of celebrating 100 years from the Great Union. Such chapter, one of sacrificial dedication of ancestors, acts an incentive for driving Christian values, gracefully intertwined with the Romanian traditions established on these lands, worthy of keeping and pursuing in the conscience and actions of generations to follow.

DR. CORNEL CORNEANU ÎN AREALUL VIEȚII BISERICEȘTI, CULTURALE ȘI NAȚIONALE DIN EPARHIA CARANSEBEȘULUI

Author(s): Gheorghe Românu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Among the marking personalities of church life in the Caransebeş Bishopric, one may find Dr. Cornel Corneanu, a leading ardent patriot and reviver of the Romanian people’s dream of national unity and independence. Going however through his life and activity, we may notice he was appreciated by some people with maximum scores, but he was also disputed by others: justly or unjustly? That is a question which we shall eventually submit for debate.

RAȚIUNILE TIMPULUI (I)

Author(s): Daniil Stoienescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Every moment should be received, lived, filled with sense and meaning, and lit by prayer. The Hesychast Orthodox Prayer fills to the fullest extent, warms, ignites and flames the golden Cup gem of every moment in our earthly and Christian life. Each moment has its infinite value, that is why a man, a Christian, a clergyman or a monk is bound to connect, bind and hang every moment of his life by faith, hope and love, humility, repentance and weeping, of God's eternity, for eventually God's eternity will call to judgment and judge the moments of our life, separating them as the shepherd breaks up the lambs from the goats.

MĂNĂSTIREA TIMIȘENI ŞAG – CREDINŢĂ ŞI MĂRTURISIRE ÎN CÂMPIA BANATULUI

Author(s): Marius Florescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

Timiseni Monastery is destined for the nuns, having about 40 women, dedicated to „Beheaded of the Head of St. John the Baptist“ (29 August), and is located about 14 km from Timişoara, in Şag. It was founded by Metropolitan Vasile Lazarescu of Banat, when he was only a bishop of Timisoara in 1944. At the beginning it functioned as a metoch of the Partoş monastery, a monastery which was re-established by the same hierarch. The monastery had only a minimum of facilities at that time, being founded around the former forest detour, and the service was in an improvised chapel. The nuns tell with excitement how they lived in the first years of living at the Timişeni monastery.

STRATEGII PRACTICE DE IMPLEMENTARE A PROIECTULUI „HRISTOS ÎMPĂRTĂȘIT COPIILOR” ÎN PAROHII

Author(s): Sorin Lungoci,Daniel Lemeni,Constantin Cilibia / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2019

By its features, the religious project entitled “Sharing Christ with the children”, aims at bringing the word of God closer to children, in a more attractive form, easier to understand and assimilate, which may open their hearts to a set of authentic values in a century-old world crowded by pseudo-values. Children aged 6 to 17, whom this national program addresses, are at a time when their personalities are shaping and they are at their most vulnerable before a world without God.

Benedykt XVI i jego dialog z prawosławiem rosyjskim

Author(s): Jarosław Moskałyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 18/2018

Main of motives for opening XVI Benedict to the dialogue with the Russian Orthodox faith there was desire for the development of current effects of the common accord. Bearing in mind scale of requirements in the process of bilateral relations but all at the same time the Pope deep supported the essential need of the shared dialogue his continuation. Since the departure from the made once decision the only correct would mean stopping the process of bringing closer, as well as sure moving back oneself into the dark past. In addition XVI Benedict didn’t undergo the vision of uniting based on simplified means, peculiarly the practical nature with the Russian Orthodox faith which could undermine the authority of the Church. But with the personal posture and the businesslike commitment shaped the authentic space for building living and credible partner reports.

PREDICĂ LA SĂRBĂTOAREA SFINȚILOR APOSTOLI PETRU ȘI PAVEL

Author(s): Ionel Popescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 04-06/2019

Our forever holy Church has determined that, on 29 June of every year, we must grace with spiritual joy our most sacred and worshiped apostles Peter and Paul. It is, however, not easy to transpose into human speech their worthy deeds meant to preach and spread the evangelic word, because only God knows the toils, hardships and sacrifices placed by them on the altar of the apostolic mission, further to the Lord’s ascension and encirclement with the “upper power” through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Their wonderful deeds engulf the mind, while their teachings and their inspired interpretations of the words of the Holy Gospel spread their names throughout the entire Christian world, so that the words of the Psalmist are truly fitting for them: “the entire world has knowledge of their annunciation and their words have touched the edge of this world”.