Papirusul Nash şi Ketef Hinnom - cele mai vechi documente biblice, implicaţii exegetice

Author(s): Constantin Jinga / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

In this article, the author presents and analyzes two biblical documents of utmost importance for the textual criticism of the Old Testament. The Nash Papyrus and the Ketef Hinnom scrolls are described, the author is discussing the problem of their dating, and the texts of the two documents are offered into Romanian, in parallel with the corresponding biblical texts. The opinions of specialists who have dealt with the study of these documents are summarised. Finally, the author highlights the implications of these documents for the history of the Old Testament. In the same time, the article is drawing attention to the fact that the documents are coming from an age when biblical contents and messages were transmitted and disseminated by various means, in a time when there was no Bible, understood as a book, as we do understand it today. The Nash Papyrus and the silver scrolls from Ketef Hinnom are important not only as the oldest manuscripts of the Old Testament, but also for the hermeneutical outlook they are part of. And this can be such a good lesson for us, today.

Matriarha Rahela în literatura rabinică

Author(s): Iosif Stancovici / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

The aim of this article is to examine the way in which some works of the unanimous rabbinic writers or editors perceived the figure of Rachel the Matriarch depicted in the Book of Genesis. The tragic ending of the second Jacob’s wife was understood either as a punitive consequence of her personal actions or as a result of divine providence. Thus the rabbinic thought configured two interpretative directions: one unfavourable toward Rachel, which reflects the memory of the rivalry between two ancient endlessly warring communities of Palestine (the Judeans and the Samaritans), and one favourable which recognizes in Rachel a symbol of national sufferance that embraces the whole House of Israel. The author of the present study has proposed to himself to evidence which are the particularities that makes the rabbinic exegetical works on Rachel to differ from the recepted source, namely the Book of Genesis from the Hebrew Bible and the christian Old Testament.

Omilia a IX la Epistola Sf. Apostol Pavel către Filipeni, introducere

Author(s): / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Nici înălțimea, nici adâncul: Despre Vămile Văzduhului

Author(s): David Bentley Hart / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Șenuti din Atripe și patronajul spiritual în monahismul egiptean târziu

Author(s): Daniel Lemeni / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Shenoute of Atripe was an extraordinary monk in Southern Egypt, during the first half of the fifth century. More exactly, he was abbot of three monasteries (two for men and one for women) located near Atripe (modern-day Sohag). But Shenoute not only served as abbot, he also worked as a strong and eloquent spiritual patron for monks and Christians. One of the fascinating features of Shenoute’s monasticism is holy patronage. Therefore, in this paper we will point out this spiritual practice understood as care of the poor. Through his actions Shenoute was deeply involved in the economic and worldly issues. From this perspective, Shenoute’s discourses are an invaluable evidence to know the rural economy of late antique Egypt. And indeed, Shenoute of Atripe emerged as great monk and spiritual patron in the late ascetic tradition.

Experiența mistică a Cuviosului Părinte Sofronie Saharov

Author(s): Gavril Trifa / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Nowadays one of the world’s challenges is without a doubt the unprecedented meeting of cultural and religious models. The key term is interculturalism, heavily promoted at international level with the declared intention to reduce conflict and to more easily integrate migrants in different socio-cultural spaces. To assume interculturalism is, for theologians, a priority, all the more so since modern means of information and communication make available to young people various models which are not only very dissimilar but also at different axiological levels in relation to the teaching revealed. This paper aims to compare and contrast the fundamental doctrines and the moral and educational implications of Orthodox spirituality with those of Far Eastern asceticism. The particularities and possibilities which the two spiritual approaches offer will be exemplified by means of the personal experiences of Father Sophrony Sakharov, who has recently been proposed for canonization by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Strana Bisericii Ortodoxe din satul românesc - Izvor de cultură muzicală și sursă de inspirație pentru marii compozitori români

Author(s): Radu-Cosmin Bogdan / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Biserica necalcedoniană siro-iacobită în secolele VI-VII

Author(s): Remus Mihai Feraru / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Our study aims to outline the main stages of the establishment and organization of the Syro-Jacobite Church throughout the 6th and 7th centuries. Likewise, we intend to present the organization of the Syro-Jacobite Church, as well as its relations with the monophysite sister churches (the monophysite Church of Alexandria). The Syro-Jacobite church has two founders: Patriarch Severus of Antioch and Bishop Jacob Baradaeus. The latter laid the foundations of a monophysite church hierarchy parallel to that of the Melkite Church. In 557, Jacob Baradaeus ordained Sergius of Tella as the patriarch of the Jacobite Church. The Jacobean bishops and patriarchs did not establish their residence in the bishops' centres in the cities, where the Chalcedonian bishops resided, but in monasteries. At the time of the conquest of Syria by the Arabs (636), the territorial area of the Syro-Jacobite Church extended between Armenia, to the north and Palestine, to the south and respectively, from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, to the west and to Mesopotamia, to the east. The Jacobite patriarchs of Antioch maintained good relations with the Monophysite Church of Alexandria. Emperor Heraclius initiated negotiations for religious union with the hierarchs of Jacobite Church (Metropolitan Isaiah of Edessa and Patriarch Athanasius Camelarius), which ended in failure. The Jacobite church was not a "national" church; it was to define its identity in concrete terms, rejecting the Greek language or at least restricting its use in favour of the Syrian language.

Misiunea social-filantropică și educațională a Bisericii Ortodoxe Române din Ungaria secolelor XIX-XX în opera Mariei Berényi

Author(s): Alin Cristian Scridon / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

The cultural & spiritual activity of Romanians, from outside the borders of western and southwestern of Romania, was coordinated by two elite figures from the theological group, about which, it should be written more: Maria Berényi (in Hungarian space) and Costa Rosu (in Serbian space). The continuity of scientific work, of the two distinguished faces, remains a topic open to debate. In all cases, more intense involvement or concern is also required from the church.

Personalitatea lui Constantin Brâncoveanu în istoriografia română și străină

Author(s): Andrei Gorbănescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2019

Constantin Brancoveanu is one of the great emblems of national history and dignity. He was the ruler of the Wallachia for 26 years. His personality was a reference in his time. He was a ruler with a strong faith, a family member, a good diplomat and not least a great patriot, loving his country and nation. He was a diplomatic leader and maintained good relations with the neighboring countries. Constantin Brancoveanu was a true supporter of Romanian culture. As a father, he offered his children the example of love and dedication for their fellow citizens. His sacrifice for the country and for the Orthodox faith placed him among the martyrs who kept the faith and love alive.

PASTORALA LA NAȘTEREA DOMNULUI 2019

Author(s): Ioan Selejan / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

PASTORALA LA NAȘTEREA DOMNULUI 2019

Author(s): Timotei Seviciu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

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

Author(s): Ioan Bude / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

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.

EXPERIENȚA HARULUI NECREAT: ASPECTE TEOLOGICE ȘI SPIRITUALE ALE PĂRINȚILOR RĂSĂRITENI AI BISERICII

Author(s): Teofan Mada / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

Orthodox theology and spirituality affirm and express themselves regarding the possibility of signals and of the real community of the human community whose energy pressure is unknown and of being. Life within the Tradition of the Church can live within the truth, and the community is functioning as a living and direct connection with the truth of the Father in the Holy Spirit. Orthodox spirituality is a spirituality of grace, only because it can be found during grace, it is cared for during the Church, but also because it can be achieved by taking grace, the care is transferred to spiritual beliefs about the experience of grace, that is at the passing of the ontology of the Holy Spirit.

PREDICĂ LA SĂRBĂTOAREA SFÂNTULUI IERARH NICOLAE, ARHIEPISCOPUL MIRELOR LICHIEI, FĂCĂTORUL DE MINUNI

Author(s): Ionel Popescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

The Holy Hierarch Nicholas, the archbishop of Myra, the miracle worker, was and remains in the consciousness of humanity as a hierarch fully involved in solving the serious problems of the society from the time of his pastoral care and fearless defender of the right faith. Saint Nicholas calls us all and everyone to be involved in the life of the city, to save the abandoned children, the homeless, dismembered and demoralized young people and girls trafficked in the country and abroad. With his prayers he helps us to live a Christian life and teaches us that, from the material and spiritual gifts received from the heavenly Father, we also offer to others who are sighing because of the shortcomings, the impossibilities and the difficulties of life.

SLUJIREA PREOȚEASCĂ ÎN TRECUT ȘI ASTĂZI (I)

Author(s): Alin-Ionel Ibănescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

The priest, God’s holy man, is called upon to bless the word, opening a path to true faith and to never-ending happiness, and in order for them to teach the people how it may discover the secrets of spiritual life, they must, by their walk and their threading, act similarly to the Messiah, similar to His wonderful threading, on such troubled waters of this sea. By the power of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, they are the Church’s servant, they are the greatest dignitary on this Earth, with the greatest power, the power to teach, to guide and to bind and unbind people, and thus, to guide them on the path to salvation. The priest does not carry out their own doing, but the doing of Christ, with the power given by Christ. They do not preach on their own behalf, they do not serve their own purposes, nor do they comprehend man with their own thoughts, but all such is carried out in the name of the One who had chosen and sent him, the Lord Jesus.

VECHI MĂNĂSTIRI DIN EX-IUGOSLAVIA CTITORITE SAU SUSȚINUTE DE ROMÂNI

Author(s): Vasile Muntean / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

Our rulers in the Middle Ages – and not only them – displayed a particular cherishment towards earthly monasteries and did their best to support them as best as they could. However, the famous generosity of Romanians also showed itself on the outside. Let alone the Athos establishments; the Romanian benefactions there “were the most constant and numerous”, according to the specifications of the late Priest Professor Teodor Bodogae. The initial pages shall consider exclusively the foundation or the donation deed, in the case of monastic buildings in the former Yugoslavia. We will use the alphabetical order so as to make it easier to reveal the name of the monastery sought for within the mentioned area.

PERSONALITĂȚI ALE VIEȚII BISERICEȘTI ȘI TEOLOGIEI ROMÂNEȘTI

Author(s): Florin Carebia / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

We are in 2019, as declared by the Romanian Patriarchy: “The commemorative year of the Patriarchs Nicodim Munteanu and Iustin Moisescu and of religious book translators”. Today, we recall “the landmark-celebrities of the Romanian theological culture who, by their scholarly efforts, have contributed in the enlightenment of believers by culture and in the awakening of the Romanian awareness. We commemorate the second Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the remembrance-worthy Nicodim Munteanu, who was the scholar Patriarch who had steered our cherished Church in troubled and difficult times, and a heavy pastoral weight stood on his shoulders. We also commemorate the fourth Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the remembrance-worthy Iustin Moisescu, the successor of the Patriarch Justinian Marina, a providential leader of our people’s church.

SATUL BORLOVA ÎNTRE TRADIȚIE ȘI MODERNITATE

Author(s): Virgil Voinea / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

In this setting, we may assert that the Church, in its redeeming mission, dynamically and creatively grows the steady traditions during its bi-millennial history, by relating to the economic, political, cultural and social life under constant change. As year 2019 is dedicated, within the Romanian Orthodox Church, to celebrating the Romanian village, we shall further on speak about the changes in mentality and behavior in social and ecclesiastic life of the Banat village, with a particular perspective on the Borlova Parish, within the Caransebeș Eparchy; please also note that these changes are present, with small variations and particularities, in almost all villages (parishes) of the Mountainous Banat, on the Sebeș Valley.

ADNOTĂRI TEOLOGICE (III)

Author(s): Daniil Stoienescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2019

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.