Apologetic approach on the dialogue between faith and rationality by the Oriental Fathers

Author(s): Ioniţă Apostolache / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 1/2018

Only our Lord, Jesus Christ, the incarnated Word of the Father, made us, due to his quality as Pantocrator, to “overcome the autonomy of the natural world” and liberated us from the power of irrational forces. Therefore, the dialogue between theology and science is very important for our natural existence. Without science, modern man cannot exist within his earthly environment and without theology he is not given the possibility to enjoy eternal communion with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. This being the case, the Holy Scripture and the Holy Father also, unite the two elements; this unity being sheltered by faith, which is beyond reason and any type of autonomy.

Św. Demetriusz jako pogromca zła w tradycji bizantyńskiej i słowiańskiej (do XV w.)

Author(s): Justyna Sprutta / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 1/2018

Evil wins by good, darkness by light and profanum by sacrum in every tradition. The saints, and between them St Demetrius of Thessaloniki too, achieves an analogous victory. St Demetrius was a deacon, but he is most often presented as a soldier for example in art. The legend says that St Demetrius defeated the scorpion (the personification of evil) by the sign of the cross in prison. This saint can also win with the gladiator Lieus, emperor Maximian, tsar Kaloyan or the Turk instead of the scorpion, and he does it on horseback or on foot, with a weapon or by the calcatio gesture. Not only are there historical sources, liturgical texts or belles-lettres presenting St Demetrius, but also art as well as folklore.

From Exclusivism to Inclusivism in Jewish Prayers. The Case of the Morning Prayer: Blessed are You, Lord, for Not Having Made Me a Woman

Author(s): Shoshana Ronen / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2017

Jewish prayers and holy texts of religious rituals contain messages which are, from a contemporary point of view, highly exclusive and discriminating. However, Judaism treats its texts as sacred, bestowed directly from God, and therefore, unchangeable. Jewish Orthodoxy refuses to alter even one letter in the traditional texts. Nevertheless, since the reformation of Judaism in the mid-nineteenth century in Germany, and particularly since the mid-twentieth century in the USA, liberal and progressive Jewish communities have come to the conclusion that human dignity is more important than faithfulness to old texts, and therefore some changes have to be made. These have usually been slight alterations which eliminated exclusive and belittling meanings from the original text. Today, even Orthodox Jews feel unease with this situation, and are considering different solutions. The article deals with the case of the morning prayer “Blessed are You, Lord, for Not Having Made Me a Woman” and its interpretations and modifications from the Middle Ages to modern times.

Das Neue Testament in der Orthodoxen Kirche und Theologie Hermeneutische Ansätze und Perspektiven. Ulrich Luz zum 80. Geburtstag

Author(s): Christos Karakolis / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2018

One of the most important challenges of contemporary Orthodox theology is the possibility of creative dialogue with the methods and the results of modern New Testament scholarship. This paper claims that a combination of the Orthodox theological tradition and New Testament scholarship is not only possible but indeed necessary. Since the first centuries, the Church Fathers have been studying the New Testament by a variety of approaches using the methodological tools of their respective era. The Church Fathers have considered the New Testament as being a book written by inspired human beings and witnessing the divine revelation. During the middle and later Byzantine period, the patristic biblical exegesis has gradually gained so much authority and importance that it became normative for all later interpretations. One could characterize the patristic interpretation of the Holy Scripture during the first Christian centuries as a “canon after the canon.” Modern-day New Testament scholarship is also not free of problems with regard to both method and content. From an Orthodox perspective, this is due to the fact that it often exceeds its own limits by trying to access the uncreated divine reality by using created scholarly methods and categories. The Church Fathers have avoided this inconsistency by developing and following a “double theological methodology,” namely distinct approaches to the created reality and the uncreated one. Just like the Church Fathers made use of the philosophical and theological language and methods of their own time, nowadays Orthodox Theology can significantly profit from the use of the methods and results of New Testament scholarship. This is the only way for it to provide convincing answers to contemporary questions. Such a practice would be an adoption of the true spirit of the Church Fathers, as opposed to merely citing their texts that refer to a different time and focus on different problems from our own.

Recenzii

Author(s): Constantin Jinga,Marius Florescu,Daniel Lemeni,Cosmin Panţuru / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 24/2018

POSTMODERNITY AND GLOBALIZATION IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD - BRIEF THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON HUMANS AND RELIGION -

Author(s): Stelian Manolache / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2017

Nowadays-world is under the sign of the triadic concept of globality, globalization and postmodernity. While the first concept refers to an entire system of socio-political and ethical-theoretical relations, which, in their dynamism, lead to the appearance of new knowledge, globalization is the practical phenomenon of manifestation of the relations inside the globaliy, aiming for the economic and utilitarian domain. The domain of the practical globalization is moved by the mechanism of the new informatics technological revolutions, stimulating the production and the consumption, by cohabitating in its civilizational demarche, questioning al the former historical stages, through the encouragement of the perfidious triad of Profit, Consumption and Entertainment a show. In this context, the world tends to shape as a global universal village (Marshall McLuhan), continuously celebrating, in a climate of moral and metaphysical incertitude, with a flatten and flattening consciousness, not interested, even abandoning, in the spiritual values, proposing and launching in the first rows only the utilitarian-values (Dumitru Popescu, 2005). We discuss in the present study this real utopia of horrors (Joseph Ratzinger, 2005), with continuously moving ideas, where the most radical and profound mutation is on the ontological level, the man and the religion being reduced in a nihilist manner to the stage of object merchandise value.

Religious policies of Anna Ivanovna

Author(s): Adam Drozdek / Language(s): English Issue: 20/2018

Anna Ivanovna was an empress of Russia in 1730-1740. The process of dismantling the authority of the church that started under Peter in 1700 was continued during Anna’s reign. The clergy were treated as civil servants serving the interest of the state through their spiritual service, as governmental clerks whose highest obligation was to the empress. The ecclesiastical life was disrupted, its spiritual role diminished, and the clergy was whipped to submission by harsh means. Orthodoxy was a mandatory religion. Conversion to other faiths was punishable. Peter’s discriminatory policies against Old Believers were continued. Anna herself was devoted to entertainment and everything else took the second place including her involvement in the affairs of the state as well as her personal spiritual life.

Ksiądz protoprezbiter płk Bazyli Martysz (1874-1945) – naczelny kapelan wyznania prawosławnego w Wojsku Polskim

Author(s): Jerzy Grzybowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

The article deals with the fate of Fr. Protopriest Colonel Bazyli Martysz, who was a chaplain in the armed forces of the Second Republic. Based on the archival sources, the Author discusses the successive stages of his pastoral ministry in the army. His life’s path as a soldier and priest is presented against the background of the political events that took place in the country at that time.

Церковно-приходское обучение на территории православного прихода Вознесения Господня в Клейниках

Author(s): Adrian Kuprianowicz / Language(s): Russian Issue: 20/2018

The Orthodox-parochial education system in the Klejniki parish had a rich history. At those times, the educational system was above all for the benefit of the poor community. The Orthodox-parochial education in Klejniki was not on a particularly high level. In October 1884, 8 grammar schools were established within the parish of Klejniki. Towards the end of the 19th century, the parish had already 11 schools teaching 240 children. In the year 1893/1894, 6 boys from the Klejniki parish finished their education in the Orthodox teacher training college in Trześcianka-Stawek. A significant role in the organisation of the intellectual life and the development of Orthodox education in the countryside was played by the priest Jan Chlebcewicz. He was the founder of the Florenti Pawlenkow library and reading room. The financial burden, problems of accommodation for the teachers, an insufficient number of well qualified teachers, the poverty of the parents of the children attending the schools had a negative impact on the general state of the education in the Klejniki parish. The Orthodox education and school system contributed substantially to the eradication of illiteracy among the rural population. The First World War and the mass exodus into Russia were the immediate causes for the collapse of the library and reading room as well as all the schools in the parish of Klejniki.

Działalność szkoły brackiej w Mińsku od II połowy XVI wieku do XVIII wieku

Author(s): Marcin Mironowicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

Article describes history of brotherhood’s school in Minsk in 16th-18th century, from beginnings of school located in castle’s church of the Most Holy Virgin Marry to situated in monastery of saints Peter and Paul. Together with activities of brotherhood’s school, was described activity of church’s brotherhood in wider range – struggle for preservation of identity against increasingly in force Union.

Starcy Pustelni Optyńskiej i rosyjska inteligencja XIX wieku

Author(s): Tomasz Kuprjanowicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

This article provides an explanation of the meaning of the word “elder” (starets) used in reference to the monks of the Optina Monastery on the basis of the Tradition of the Orthodox Church as a word understood not in the sense of physical age, but in the sense of perfect spiritual and moral growth. The article also shows the worldview of the Russian Intelligence of the 19th century and the benevolent influence the Elders of the Optina Monastery had on it.

Polska terminologia prawosławna – analiza stanu obecnego

Author(s): Marek Ławreszuk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

The article is a contribution to the efforts to establish the structure of the dictionary of polish terminology of the Orthodox Church. The preparation of the micro and macro structure of the dictionary must take into account the current state of the vocabulary based on the analysis of the current “partial” dictionaries in Polish, with particular emphasis on terminological problems. The analysis will determine the sphere for further work on the Orthodox terminology, pointing to the past silences and language difficulties, thereby setting the direction for further research.

Krytyka piotrowych rozwiązań synodalnych w łonie Rosyjskiej Cerkwi Prawosławnej w początkach XX wieku

Author(s): Kamila Pawełczyk-Dura / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

The synodal system, established on Russia by the tsar of Peter the Great, in beginnings of the 20th century was in the deep ideological crisis and the organizational impasse. Social and political tensions, characteristic of the being on the decline autocracy state, were felt also by the Orthodox intelligence, which - carried with the slogans of freedom and self-determination – began to openly criticize the solutions of Peter and demanded the restitution of conciliarity of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Государи Руси-России и Троице-Сергиева Лавра

Author(s): Rostislav Ârema / Language(s): Russian Issue: 20/2018

The article analyzes the attitude of the sovereigns of Ancient Rus-Russia to The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius through the prism of the tradition of visiting the monastery by reigning individuals, grand dukes and members of their families. It shows a historical retrospective of the existing tradition, and the level of its significance for understanding the role of the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius in the state’s spiritual and political life. The Trinity road (the Tsar’s road) is seen not only as a path to purification, a way of approaching God, but also as the highest need of reigning individuals in blessing before the most significant events in their personal life and in the state’s life, which was largely determined by representatives of the royal house.

Studium Teologii Prawosławnej Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego i jego „teologiczni spadkobiercy”

Author(s): Andrzej Baczyński,Doroteusz Sawicki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2018

In 1918, after the 120 years of occupation by three neighbouring powers, Austria, Prussia and Russia, Poland obtained its desired independence and returned on the map of Europe. Warsaw became the capital of the Republic once again. One of the authorities’ first moves was to resume the activities of the University of Warsaw that were disrupted by the war. We needed qualified staff who would rebuild the country. This concerned politics, administration, culture…, and the religious life of our homeland. For this purpose, the Faculty of Catholic Theology was established (1918), Faculty of Lutheran Theology (1922), and in 1925, the Faculty of Orthodox Studies was also opened. Throughout the 14 years of its existence up to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Faculty of Orthodox Studies faithfully fulfilled its mission of serving the Church, education and the homeland. It educated priests and theologians dedicated to the church and citizens committed to their homeland. Unfortunately, the process of building today’s well organized and extensive structure of higher (and secondary) Orthodox theological schooling in Poland was neither simple nor short lived. After the war, when the University of Warsaw refused the Faculty of Orthodox Studies the right to further operate, it turned into the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the Christian Theological Academy to continue serving God, the Church and education. The Orthodox Theological Seminary in Warsaw experienced many changes and processes after the war in order to obtain its current shape and level. The Department of Orthodox Theology at the University of Białystok was established in 1999. It is a continuation and expansion of the theological education at the University of Warsaw. The Faculty of Orthodox Studies at the University of Warsaw, the Christian Theological Academy, the Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Department of Orthodox Theology at the University of Białystok, along with post-secondary studies in iconography and hymnography, as related academic and didactic units, have performed and still performs their tasks in serving education and the Orthodox Church. By mutually taking advantage of this experience (it should rather be said that taking advantage of the Faculty of Orthodox Studies at the University of Warsaw after the war), they fulfilled their expectations despite difficult times and unfavourable politics. They form a constantly developing spiritual and cultural common heritage of the Republic.

PREZENTĂRI BIBLIOGRAFICE

Author(s): Vasile Muntean,Sorin Cosma,Marius Florescu,Aquilina Birăescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2018

Храната и храненето в средновековните славянски пенитенциални текстове

Author(s): Desislava Naydenova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2018

The article examines the evidence on food and nutrition found in the Slavic penitentials. Unlike the law texts in the Western historical tradition, the Slavic mediaeval law texts are poorly researched and (rarely) used as a source of information about the Bulgarian history and culture. The manuscript tradition of the Slavic penitentials (the volume of manuscripts, their frequency, editorial interventions) shows that for a long period of time (almost until the 18th century) they have remained among the main texts used by the priests during the sacraments of confession and repentance. Therefore, they can be a source of important information about the everyday life of the Bulgarians. An emphasis is put on the diet, the ban on certain foods, the role of food and nutrition in relation to the people following other traditions such as heretics, Jews, Armenians. It is argued that penitentials reflect a kind of duality. On the one hand, they may be regarded as attesting the everyday lifestyle – the Christian calendar, the observance of certain hygienic norms, while, on the other hand, they reflect, to the highest degree, the concepts of purity and impurity which are characteristic for the “primitive” cultures and the blurring of which might have led to supernatural punishment.

Униформа војних свештеника у српској и југословенској војсци 1839–1941

Author(s): Miljan Milkić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2009

The uniform worn by Army chaplains in the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia was not different from the outfits worn by parish priests. The only difference was the priest cap worn by orthodox chaplains. That cap differed from the traditional priest cap in shape and it had a cross in the middle. The cross marked the priest’s rank: the golden cross was worn by senior priests, and the silver cross by junior priests. Towards the end of the World War I in 1918, a special uniform was prescribed for orthodox chaplains. It was actually a modified officer uniform – a black officer’s trench coat and a black military cap with a cross in the middle. Chaplains of all faiths serving in the armed forces of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took a unique approach that military chaplains should wear a special uniform. They thought that they had to have a military uniform, which in addition to the spiritual character of their profession, would enable them to be adequately ranked and respected in the military hierarchy. The uniform of military chaplains had a social role in the armed forces of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Beside officers, military servant had right to wear the uniform. The status of the military servant, unlike the status of the civil servant, guaranteed a higher salary and various officers’ allowances. The aspiration of military chaplains to persuade the military authorities to introduce a special uniform for them was mainly motivated by their ambition to become military servants and thus increase their income and raise their social status. In spite of many proposals, the uniform of military chaplains was never accepted, and military chaplains remained civil servants until the end of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941.

ŠTO RUSKI FILOZOFI MISLE O SVOJOJ FILOZOFIJI?

Author(s): Slavko PLATZ / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2006

We will here by state some chapters from the original works by Russian philosophers who discuss their own philosophy within the European context. They are the best to make the grade of the quality of their own philosophy. It is important to point out the period of exile of Russian philosophers all over Europe and the rest of the world. It seems that the element of exile contributed to their liberty.Even before the October Revolution and their exile they had had some problems with philosophy in Russia, due to the fact that it has never been well accepted in that country, only within Church academies and intellectual circles.

O DOPRINOSU I VAŽNOSTI RUSKE RELIGIOZNE FILOZOFIJE ZA FILOZOFSKU MISAO OPĆENITO

Author(s): Slavko PLATZ / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2010

Russian religious philosophy appeared and was developed in the 19th century. Considering the sources it originated from and relied upon, this philosophy wasn’t entirely original, which was admitted even by its authors. There were certain attempts by Russian philosophers to start from their own tradition, but due to historical circumstances they mostly relied on Western sources. They can still be attributed the general religiousness and mystical conception of the world which mark the beginnings of this philosophy. For this kind of worldview Russian philosophers find the origins in the Eastern Church Fathers and Platonic philosophy. Symbolism as a literary mainstream also contributed to the creation of an atmosphere suitable to be the source of the intuitive philosophy. From the philosophical viewpoint, the Russian philosophers of that time were influenced by German classical idealism, above all by Schelling’s and Hegel’s philosophy. Finally, it should hereby be emphasized that the prominent literary figures of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky initiated the philosophical ideas of utmost significance for the future cultural heritage of the region.