The Polemical Literature in the System of the Ecclesiastical Writings Cover Image

Полемічна література в системі церковного письменства
The Polemical Literature in the System of the Ecclesiastical Writings

Author(s): Ruslan Tkachuk
Subject(s): Studies of Literature, Communication studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Wyższej Szkoły Gospodarki Euroregionalnej im. Alcide De Gasperi w Józefowie
Keywords: Ukrainian polemical literature; early Christian writings; theologians of Uniate Church

Summary/Abstract: Purpose. The aim of the article is to review main periods of apologetic writings formation in the early Christians. To observe in Ukrainian literature XVI–XVII centuries functioning of Holy Bible interpretation methods and proof techniques, which were used by the Fathers of the Church. Methods. The following methods have been used in the article: historical and cultural (the works of the early Christians have been analyzed in the context of church and social relations before the Council of Nicea), descriptive (the contents of the writings of the Fathers of the Church, their contribution in development of theology and literature have been revealed), hermeneutics (the ways of interpretation of the texts of New Testament by early Christians have been described). Results. The traditions of argumentation and interpretation of evangelic texts of early Christians apologists which, assimilating the achievements of ancient rhetoric, influenced the development of literature in the Middle Ages, was reflected in Ukrainian polemical literature of XVI–XVII centuries. The Uniate theologians of Orthodox Churches referred in their works to the writings of the Fathers of the Church, used methods of Biblical exegetics and opponents persuasion techniques verified by themselves. Particularly, the polemicists of Uniate Church proved the truth of the religious doctrine of Catholic Church with the help of integrative approach of Justin in argumentation of the ecclesiastical doctrines, which consists of paralleling with the philosophical heritage of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. To argue the doctrine of Catholic Church of the “Filioque” and the existence of purgatory the polemicists used the deductive method of proving, what in Church writings was introduced by Anaxagoras. The subject of doctrinal authority of the Church was the main thing in polemical works of the Uniate Church theologian, who applied to theoretical workings of Irenaeus and Tertullian to found the Pope's Primacy.

  • Issue Year: 1/2019
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 53-70
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Ukrainian