„Binecuvântat este cel ce vine în numele Domnului…”. Cuvânt – Comunicare – Terapie Acta Simpozionului Internațional „Dumitru Stăniloae” ediția a XI-a, Iași, 15-17 mai 2024
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord…”. Word – Communication – Therapy Proceedings of the 11th Edition of the “Dumitru Stăniloae” International Symposium, Iași, 15–17 May 2024
Contributor(s): Paul-Cezar HÂRLĂOANU (Editor), Emilian-Iustinian ROMAN (Editor), Arhim. Hrisostom Rădășanu (Editor), Cristian-Alexandru BARNEA (Editor)
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Religion and science
ISSN: 2821-6806
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Studia Theologica Doctoralia; theological discourse; Orthodox theology; communication; therapy; pastoral care; care of the sick; Holy Synod; commemorative year; Romanian Patriarchate;
Summary/Abstract: Within the Academic Week, May 13–17, 2024, the “Dumitru Stăniloae” Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iași organized two recurring events: “Studia Theologica Doctoralia”, themed The Theological Discourse, the Word that Builds and Heals: Aspects of Current Doctoral Research, held on May 13–14, 2024, 16th edition, coordinated by Rev. Prof. Univ. Dr. Viorel Sava; and the “Dumitru Stăniloae” International Symposium, 11th edition, Iași, May 15–17, 2024, entitled “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord…” Word – Communication – Therapy, organized by Rev. Prof. Univ. Dr. Ion Vicovan, Dean of our Faculty of Theology. Both academic events were aligned with the theme established by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which, at its working session of February 9, 2023, designated 2024 as the Commemorative Year of Pastoral Care and the Care of the Sick, and the Commemorative Year of All the Holy Healers without Silver in the Romanian Patriarchate.
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-630-301-210-0
- Page Count: 422
- Publication Year: 2025
- Language: Romanian
Deschiderea oficială
Deschiderea oficială
(Official opening)
- Author(s):Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina Teofan, Liviu-George Maha, Constantin-Iulian DAMIAN, Ion Vicovan, Benedict Bistrițeanul, Andrei Ionescu, Nicolae Dima
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion, Psychology of Religion
- Page Range:13-71
- No. of Pages:59
- Keywords:Orthodox Theology; Word and Silence; Spiritual Therapy; Necuvinte (Non-words); Confession; Dumitru Stăniloae Symposium; Digital Communication;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper presents the transcript of the opening ceremony and the inaugural public debate of the 11th "Dumitru Stăniloae" International Symposium, organized by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iași in May 2024. The central theme of the event is "Word – Communication – Therapy" (Cuvânt – Comunicare – Terapie). The text begins with opening addresses by academic and ecclesiastical leaders, including Metropolitan Teofan and Rector Liviu-George Maha, who emphasize the healing nature of the Divine Word (Logos) and the role of theology in addressing human suffering through spiritual communication. The core of the document is a public debate titled "The Non-words: Expression & Approximation" (Necuvintele. Exprimare & Aproximare), moderated by Fr. Nicolae Dima, featuring Bishop Benedict Bistrițeanul and Fr. Răzvan Andrei Ionescu. The dialogue explores the theological tension between speech and silence (apophaticism), heavily referencing the poetic concept of "necuvinte" (non-words) by Nichita Stănescu. The speakers discuss the limitations of human language in describing God, the therapeutic power of silence versus the "noise" of social media, and the sacrament of Confession as a space where the "healing word" is manifested. The debate concludes that authentic communication requires a synergy of silence and speech, where the word is not merely information but a vehicle for divine presence and healing.
- Price: 6.50 €
Cconferința Inaugurală: Words of Eternal Life
Cconferința Inaugurală: Words of Eternal Life
(Inaugural Conference: Words of Eternal Life)
- Author(s):Josiah Trenham
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Religion and science , Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:73-85
- No. of Pages:13
- Keywords:Digital Age; Divine Authority; Sermon on the Mount; Eternal Life; Raising of Lazarus; Word of God; Cunning Distraction;
- Summary/Abstract:Fr. Josiah Trenham addresses the crisis of authority and the trivialization of language in the modern digital age. He critiques the impact of technology, arguing that the internet and smartphones foster "cunning distraction," shallow thinking, and the erosion of traditional, authoritative sources in favor of secular algorithms. Contrasting this digital noise with the Christian tradition, Fr. Trenham presents the words of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of Divine Authority, analyzing the Sermon on the Mount to demonstrate Christ’s inherent, scriptural, comprehensive, and eschatological power. The lecture further explores the concept of the "Word" in the Gospel of St. John and the liturgical hymns of Lazarus Saturday, illustrating how Christ’s voice acts as a life-giving force that destroys the dominion of death. The speaker concludes that the Words of Christ are the necessary antidote to the spiritual fragmentation caused by the information age.
- Price: 6.50 €
Răzbunarea lui Hamlet sau Babilonul creștinătății
Răzbunarea lui Hamlet sau Babilonul creștinătății
(Hamlet’s Revenge or the Babylon of Christendom)
- Author(s):Codrin Liviu CUȚITARU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:89-98
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Babylon; Tower of Babel; Shakespeare; hybris; tragedy; lex talionis; lex remissionis; Christianity;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper can be viewed as a comparative exercise, since it ultimately aims to transfer the meanings of the Biblical myth of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11, 1-9) to the subtly Christian connotations of one of the masterpieces of world literature, Hamlet, by the English playwright William Shakespeare. The immeasurable pride of the ancient Mesopotamians in building a paradisiacal city, symbolically named in their language Babylon (bab-ilani = ʺGate of the Godsʺ), characterised by an unparalleled structure, the Tower of Babel, a construction reaching up to the sky and beyond (bab-ilu = “gate of God”), constitutes a challenge to the limits of the human condition, termed as hybris in ancient Greek culture. By considering “revenge” as a fundamental rule for maintaining the balance of the medieval pyramid, Hamletʹs world (Christian in its displayed convictions) builds, we claim, its own Babylon. Therefore, the conclusion of the paper is that, like the story of the Tower of Babel, a myth of disintegration through hybris, Hamlet remains a parable of downfall through hybris.
- Price: 6.50 €
Puterea vindecătoare a Cuvântului
Puterea vindecătoare a Cuvântului
(The Healing Power of the Word)
- Author(s):Nicuşor BELDIMAN
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:99-108
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:word; communication; language; sermon;
- Summary/Abstract:There is nothing, except how we speak, which characterises and represents more our nature and personality, our degree of culture and education, our gestures and inclinations. Uttering a word, be it good or bad, triggers consequences that are commensurate with the charge it carries. The echo of a word in the moral universe is unlimited. Words, spoken or written, pass from one soul to another, from father to son, from one generation to another, from one people to another, from one age to another, building up or tearing down, strengthening or weakening, uniting or alienating, bearing witness to good or evil, according to the good or evil of the man who spoke it. The word is a precious gift with which his Creator has endowed man, for it is the most effective means of expressing thoughts and feelings. Through language, man can give clear expression to logical thought, to the highest feelings, to the will to action, to the noblest ideas and passions. Without words, without reason, man could neither express himself, nor arrive at his own convictions, nor convince others, since we think through language.
- Price: 6.50 €
Cuvântul între moarte și viață
Cuvântul între moarte și viață
(The Word between Death and Life)
- Author(s):Constantin COMAN
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:111-122
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:Living Word; dead Word; empty Word; Deceit; blessing; curse; autonomous reason; Godʹs communion;
- Summary/Abstract:We live in an age of the excess of words/speech/communication. There is an unparalleled surplus in history of spoken and written words. It is time to remind ourselves that the function of words to express or represent can propagate both good and evil, blessings or curses, life and death, in equal measure. Starting from the works of the Great Fathers of the Church, who dealt with this subject (especially St. Gregory Palamas and Pious Sophronius Sakharov), I will try to draw the criteria by which we can discern the living words from the dead words, the words that carry life from the words that carry delusion, misguidance, hardening of the heart, or death. Essentially, living words are words which have divine communion, and dead words are words which lack this communion and are sprung from manʹs autonomous reason. I believe that it is not only necessary, but vital, to make these criteria our own in order to stop, as far as possible, the spread of words that bring death, and to spread words that bring life. The article has a self-critical perspective, starting from the conviction that the temptation to judge others is unmistakably part of the spreading of words that bring death.
- Price: 6.50 €
„Cartea pentru urechi“ și sensurile comunicării
„Cartea pentru urechi“ și sensurile comunicării
(“The Book for the Ears” and the Meanings of Communication)
- Author(s):Teodora STANCIU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:123-127
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:ear; communication; Radio; Dimitrie Gusti;
- Summary/Abstract:Our intervention aims to (re)bring to attention some aspects of the relationship between individual utterance – in front of a larger or smaller community or to an unseen and generally unknown audience -- and the meaning of the articulated word. The “book for ears” (Gustiʹs definition for the Radio) supposed the oral transmission of formative content. The ”transmitter” was aware of the semantic latencies of words and the order of ideas, which together indicated the same direction, the same meaning for all receivers. Today, the disintegration of this relationship can ”establish” disorder in language, its impoverishment, the loss of meaning, and the wandering astray from the right Way.
- Price: 6.50 €
Bellum omnium contra omnes: comunicare și adevăr
Bellum omnium contra omnes: comunicare și adevăr
(Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes: Communication and Truth)
- Author(s):Constantin SĂLĂVĂSTRU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:128-144
- No. of Pages:17
- Keywords:truth; communication; dialectical confrontation; convenable truth;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper brings to attention the analysis of the relationship between truth and communication. More specifically, the idea it argues for is that every individual is dominated, sometimes almost obsessively, by their own truths; individuals defend them with all their available strength, and they rarely pay attention and, especially, are rarely open to other persons’ truths. This happens both at the level of common knowledge and at the level of scientific or artistic knowledge. This “tyranny” of the truth significantly disrupts the communication acts between individuals: nobody can communicate normally when their truth is, according to their belief, the only one that should be taken into consideration! Giving examples from philosophy (Descartes, Kant), from science (Einstein), from art (Dali, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Mozart, Salieri), from politics (Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr., Castro), we try to show the practical basis of the above-mentioned idea.
- Price: 6.50 €
Adame unde ești? O călătorie de la moarte la viață
Adame unde ești? O călătorie de la moarte la viață
(Adam, Where Are You? A Journey from Death to Life)
- Author(s):Maica Sofronia RĂDULESCU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:147-152
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:Adam; fall; journey; death; hiding;
- Summary/Abstract:This article focuses on a few verses from chapter 3 of Genesis, which depicts the fall of Man. I shall look at three pathologies of sin and then propose three methods of healing. The first pathology is man’s lack of trust in Godʹs love, his trust in his own mind. The second pathology is man’s hiding from God. And the last one that I have chosen: not taking responsibility for one’s own deeds, blaming others for one’s fall, and ultimately blaming God Himself. Our Lord performs healing in the heart of man, when the latter struggles to believe that He is good and loves him, when man, feeling loved, succeeds in revealing to the Lord all that lies in his heart. And above all, healing occurs when man no longer judges his neighbours, but comes to love them, receiving them as they can be.
- Price: 6.50 €
Cuvântul sub asediul necuvintelor sau despre epopeea emoticoanelor de la complementar la esențial
Cuvântul sub asediul necuvintelor sau despre epopeea emoticoanelor de la complementar la esențial
(The Word under the Siege of the Non-Words, or on the Epic of Emojis from the Complementary to the Essential)
- Author(s):Constantin-Iulian DAMIAN
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:153-177
- No. of Pages:25
- Keywords:emoticons; emoji; computer-mediated communication; history of writing; alphabet; language;
- Summary/Abstract:Although writing had a special status in Western civilization, modern technology has democratised it, allowing anyone to communicate through text. Emoticons have quickly become integrated into digital communication, enriching messages and helping to express emotions, but also to maintain social relationships. Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine a conversation on any electronic communication channel (email, messaging applications, etc.) and device from which emoticons would be missing. However, emoticons are not just simple auxiliaries of a text; they can turn into a potentially distinct language, compared to traditional writing, an independent language which devours the word, suppresses the verbal element, and kills abstraction. In the context in which today, communication mediated by devices represents the main means by which we relate to our fellow human beings, are we not, as a civilization, embarking on a loop that closes in the time of ancient Egyptians, with their hieroglyphs? In conclusion, the impact of emoticons on communication is significant, but their future remains uncertain, especially in the context of the continuous evolution of communication technologies.
- Price: 6.50 €
Adevăr și interpretare
Adevăr și interpretare
(Truth and Interpretation)
- Author(s):Lucia CIFOR
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:181-191
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:truth; post-truth; interpretation; hermeneutics; poetry; Mihai Eminescu;
- Summary/Abstract:The paper examines a few aspects of the dialogue prompted by the relations between truth and interpretation in the so-called post-truth era. Beyond the endless (historical) discussions regarding the difficulties of defining types of truth (objective truth, subjective truth, truth of faith, truth of art, etc.), this paper is particularly concerned with the subtle tyranny exercised by truth understood as interpretation and interpretation perceived as truth, which in turn is a phenomenon capable of influencing and shaping attitudes and behaviours in almost all areas of cultural and social life. From the humanities (particularly, philosophy and hermeneutics), as well as from the texts of poets (Mihai Eminescu), a few instances of the truth are selected and commented upon, instances adept to strengthen hope and faith in the truth and in its correlative system of values.
- Price: 6.50 €
Comuniune sau/și comunicare? Despre o etică a dezacordului în Biserică
Comuniune sau/și comunicare? Despre o etică a dezacordului în Biserică
(Communion or/and Communication? On an Ethics of Disagreement in the Church)
- Author(s):Andreea PREDA, Radu PREDA
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:192-206
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:technology; socialization; dogma; freedom; good practices;
- Summary/Abstract:It is not a novelty reducible to the emergence of technology, to the so-called and sometimes real social networks, that the Church of Christ did not define its unity through ideological monolithism, but cultivated dogmatic freedom from its very beginning, in the apostolic times. Yes, this is paradoxical, incomprehensible to modern humans, the majority of whom believe that dogma is the same as dogmatism. Or, just as the liturgical celebration is not ritualism, but ritual, just as the religious experience is not the same as fashionable psychologisms, just as preaching is not an example of wooden rhetoric, the Holy Spirit has been breathing wherever and however it wishes, being assimilated according to the spiritual and intellectual age of each one. One fact is certain: from now on, the Church cannot be reduced to the garrison of faith, nor can hierarchy be reduced to oligarchy, or disagreements to heresies. We still need a particular type of ethics, an ethos of constructive dialogue, uncomfortable for those who see in petrification of the Church actually illusory proof of their frequently and inevitably abusive ”righteousness”. This truth is now being verified not only in clerical structures, but also in the various forms of social assistance, philanthropy or public commitment of the laity. Therefore we have enough reasons to raise the issue of a broader ethics of disagreement, of mechanisms to defuse tensions and disagreements not by giving in, in the form of ”obedience” or ”humility”, but by returning to the definition of Christian faith as human nature.
- Price: 6.50 €
Adevăr și „adevăruri“: categorii ireconciliabile?
Adevăr și „adevăruri“: categorii ireconciliabile?
(Truth and “Truths”: Irreconcilable Categories?)
- Author(s):Roger CORESCIUC
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:207-220
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Palamas; hesychasm; truth; catechesis; multiculturalism;
- Summary/Abstract:Multiculturalism can propose the idea of the simultaneous existence of several ”truths” which, in their essence, can be antagonistic. This article focuses on the development of this subject only within the limits of the definition of ”religious truth”. It is very possible that many ”truths” do not convey the Truth at all, or convey it truncated, without thereby, unfortunately, being considered a danger to epistemological integrity. Can we relate to a single and unique ”object” of Truth by anchoring ourselves in perceptions that lack integrity and a global vision of that object? Is patristic theology, which insists on the idea of a single Truth, outdated, and does it no longer meet the need for multiculturalism? How can we identify a ”partial truth” using the theology of the Fathers?
- Price: 6.50 €
„Turnura lingvistică“ și „structura“ ca formă a trăirii în teologia Părintelui Dumitru Stăniloae
„Turnura lingvistică“ și „structura“ ca formă a trăirii în teologia Părintelui Dumitru Stăniloae
(“The Linguistic Turn” and “Structure” as a Form of Experience in the Theology of Father Dumitru Stăniloae)
- Author(s):Gheorghe Nichifor TĂNASE
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:223-247
- No. of Pages:25
- Keywords:truth and human language; linguistic turn; nature of theology; structure of experience; Mother of God as khôra;
- Summary/Abstract:This article focuses on the interrelationships between epistemology, anthropology, and the nature of human speech about God. Thus, the aim is to explore the connection between Christian discourse and the language of contemporary philosophical ideas. So, Christian discourse does not represent a theory of knowledge among others; instead, it was a penetration into the ”symbolic” structure of the Mystery of Incarnation. The articulation of the visible and the hidden is not done by the noetic reference of a signifier to another signified reality, but by affirming their unity in a single Person of the Lord, reveled in His double consubstantiality, i.e. divine and human. We can state that, because ”truth” by itself does not have a language, theology has always operated with the language of the spiritual and cultural environment of each age. Therefore, the language of theology was primarily the language of the Hellenistic philosophical context. There is an increased interest of contemporary philosophy in the linguistic phenomenon and in the meaning of language (that theology also uses). But due to the absolutisation of language, hermeneutics and structuralism dominate. By contrast, the theology of the Person and work of Christ is infinitely more than the proclamation of the word-message. At His Transfiguration, Christ’s disciples became something else, that is, He made them able to see the divine glory. The Lord changed man, which means He made him capable of taking part in a real state that man could not even think about before even if he had already heard the Lord’s words. Truth is not an idea; it is the divine reality in the divine-human Person of Christ. Thus, in the knowledge of the truth, the experience of the same truth precedes the linguistic formulation that follows. The linguistic formulation of the authentic experience of truth is always testified by what constitutes the Church’s Tradition. So, the way and the possibility for man to receive the truth is first the identity of the experience and not the identity of the form of expression. In our presentation, we will emphasise that the experience of truth precedes theology (”theologising”), as the expression or indication of truth, and that truth is not identified with linguistic form (Truth is uncreated, while language is created).
- Price: 6.50 €
Valențe ale timpului în contextul digitalizării
Valențe ale timpului în contextul digitalizării
(Aspects of Time in the Context of Digitalization)
- Author(s):Cristian-Alexandru BARNEA
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:248-269
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:internet addiction; discernment; digital education; prayer; Christian virtues; ‘being present’; ‘face to face’;
- Summary/Abstract: I do not wish to demolish the skyscrapers of digital technology, just as I do not join those who see an insurmountable gap towards their integration in the daily life of the city. What I would propose is an attempt at analysis, supported by a few arguments and observations, a series of texts that seem significant to me, whereby readers can be discreetly taken by the hand and discover for themselves what needs to be done – not in a crusade to save the world, but to rediscover one’s own time – a prerequisite for a return to the lost beauty of a life lived authentically and fully. Once someone has succeeded to free him/herself from the ‘spell’ of the world, the persons around them will wish to convert to the contemplation of the unbelievable beauties and marvellous works of God, of which, as we know, ‘no words are enough to fully proclaim’. This may seem an overstatement or a precious way of expressing oneself. However, the return from the entanglements of the fascinating and seductive virtual life to the offline, ‘bodily’ life is an important and necessary victory – though an insufficient one, from a Christian perspective. The eight thoughts of wickedness in our philokalic spirituality do not simply disappear in the digitally augmented reality, but manifest themselves in a versatile and insidious manner. For a full conversion, one needs to be well-established on the right path, in continual dialogue with Christ. By following the same path as that of Zacchaeus the publican, and of so many people known only to God – from the teluric of Jericho to the heavenly Jerusalem – the value of time is rediscovered and life is fulfilled in its primordial meaning. To ‘be present’ means to be always, at any moment, in prayer before God.
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„De pe dealurile bucuriilor, în văile necazurilor...“: Învățătura Părintelui Dumitru Teologul privind răbdarea încercărilor cu nădejde
„De pe dealurile bucuriilor, în văile necazurilor...“: Învățătura Părintelui Dumitru Teologul privind răbdarea încercărilor cu nădejde
(“From the Hills of Joy to the Valleys of Affliction…”: Father Dumitru the Theologian’s Teaching on Bearing Trials with Hope)
- Author(s):Ioan C. TEȘU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:273-286
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:temptation; trial; hardships; patience; salvation;
- Summary/Abstract:The present study analyses the insights given by Rev. Professor Dumitru Stăniloae to one of the fundamental teachings of Orthodox Spirituality: patience in tribulation with hope in Godʹs help and reward. Starting from delimitations and terminological nuances between “temptation” and “trial”, “The Saint of Books” emphasises the teachings of Philokalic Fathers on the causes and profound spiritual purposeof “involuntary sufferings”, as well as the attitude of assuming them and bearing them with humility, patience and hope, towards salvation.
- Price: 6.50 €
Filocalia ca mărturie de lumină și speranță în timpuri grele. Despre volumul VI al Filocaliei
Filocalia ca mărturie de lumină și speranță în timpuri grele. Despre volumul VI al Filocaliei
(Philokalia as a Testimony of Light and Hope in Difficult Times: On Volume VI of the Philokalia)
- Author(s):Dumitru Horia IONESCU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:287-299
- No. of Pages:13
- Keywords:Philokalia; 1977; Saint Niketas Stethatos; Saint Simeon the New Theologian; Saint Dumitru Stăniloae; prayer; freedom; atheism;
- Summary/Abstract:The Romanian Philokalia translated by Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae represents, without any doubt, the apologetic combination of academic theology and Orthodox spirituality. The publication of the translation of the philokalic texts, accompanied by Father Stăniloae’s commentaries, during the communist regime, was a true miracle. In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the publication of volume VI of Philokalia, an event that I personally witnessed. I wish to present this event to you in the conviction that God’s will is always stronger than any human form of political censorship or militant atheism. Father Stăniloae wanted this volume to be a tribute to the one to whom we owe the knowledge of the life of St. Simon the New Theologian, namely Pious Niketas Stethatos. The year 1977 was marked by the earthquake of the 4th of March to which were added other sad events that marked the life of Father Stăniloae and which I have related in this article. What is more, the atheist communist regime was leaving its mark on all levels of Romanian society. Fr. Stăniloae had to take the typed text to the Department of Religious Denominations fighting for every page and every word. But he was not alone. The whole family, my grandmother, my mother and myself, did our best to help him, arranging the pages of the manuscript one by one, after it had been typed, and always stanging by his side. We knew that his attempt was on a knife-edge, we knew that at any moment the publication of the text could be banned, we knew that he could even be arrested for his audacity in attempting to publish fundamental texts of Christian spirituality, but we were unconditionally by his side. Fr. Stăniloae wanted every believer to read the Philokalia, this text being a manual from which we learn the language of salvation. Moreover, he wanted readers to understand how the Holy Fathers thought, and from their thoughts one acquires the gift of prayer, of a pure heart and of spiritual vision. Thus, Philokalia has become an explicit invitation to assume both individual and collective responsibility for salvation. Philokalia asks readers to participate effectively in the effort to seek the path of a real dialogue with God, and this is why it was an indispensable guide in those difficult years marked by the militant and malicious atheism of the dictatorship that had taken hold. What Philokalia taught in that hostile environment: a vertical life, climbing the ladder of heaven with humility, patience and wisdom, and above all with hope, because we are under the protection of the One Who dwells on high at all times, until the end of the ages.
- Price: 6.50 €
Hristologia Sfântului Dionisie Areopagitul și formula lui „o nouă lucrare teandrică“ explicată și aprofundată de Sfântul Maxim Mărturisitorul
Hristologia Sfântului Dionisie Areopagitul și formula lui „o nouă lucrare teandrică“ explicată și aprofundată de Sfântul Maxim Mărturisitorul
(The Christology of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite and His Formula “A New Theandric Activity” as Explained and Developed by Saint Maximus the Confessor)
- Author(s):Vasile CRISTESCU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:300-316
- No. of Pages:17
- Keywords:Christ; hypostasis; natures; works; “a new theandric work”; union; compenetration; deification;
- Summary/Abstract:Unlike modern studies that see the Christology of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite as inspired by Neoplatonic philosophy, the present study emphasises the close connection of Saint Dionysius with the Eastern Fathers such as Saint Cyril of Alexandria and Saint Maximus the Confessor, his theology serving as a source of inspiration and decisions dogmatics of the IV Ecumenical Synod from Chalcedon. The central value of the Incarnation and the fullness of its mystery are affirmed in a perfectly Orthodox manner by Saint Dionysius. The economy of salvation is expressed by him using the formula of the Scythian monks: One third suffered. Regarding the action of Christ, Dionysius created a new formula, which is in Epistle IV, ”a new theandric work”, by which he includes the variety of the divine and human works of Christ in a ”combined theandric work”, as Saint Maximus says, or ”a work out of both together”, as St. Cyril said before. Theandric work means divine and human work; Saint Dionysius called it theandric because it corresponds to God incarnate, i.e. fully named. What is new in the expression of St. Dionysius is the unspoken way of the union of natures in the person of Christ, and of their natural works. This novelty aims at the renewal or deification of the human race.
- Price: 6.50 €
Hristos, Vindecătorul, în Tainele Bisericii. O abordare teologico-liturgică
Hristos, Vindecătorul, în Tainele Bisericii. O abordare teologico-liturgică
(Christ, the Healer, in the Sacraments of the Church. A Theological-Liturgical Approach)
- Author(s):Viorel SAVA
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:319-346
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:Sacraments; Anointing of the Sick; Rites of healing; liturgical gestures; prayers of healing;
- Summary/Abstract:The first part of this study is a general introduction in the Orthodox theology of sacramental thinking as it is revealed in the Bible, formulated by the Fathers and expressed by the doctrine of the Church. Then we attempt to identify expresions, gestures, rituals, prayers and liturgical services which are connected with the idea of healing. Their goal is to demonstrate that the vocation of the Church is to cure both human soul and body for their salvation through its liturgical life, and especially through its Sacraments. In addition, when Orthodoxy speaks about Sacraments, it uses a medical language. The work of healing is done by our Lord Jesus Christ, The Sole center of the Ortodox liturgical life and of the Sacraments.
- Price: 6.50 €
Este posibilă digitalizarea credinței?
Este posibilă digitalizarea credinței?
(Is the Digitalization of Faith Possible?)
- Author(s):Răzvan BUCUROIU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:347-350
- No. of Pages:4
- Keywords:faith; digitalisation; Dumitru Stăniloae; Dumitru;
- Summary/Abstract:With the advance of digital technology, one can notice an alternation of pastoral care and catechesis between the physical and online environments, with quantifiable effects and great success in terms of ratings, the latter being recorded as such. People are becoming interested, in impressive numbers, in these convenient (easy) ways of obtaining spiritual guidance that is useful at all times, of theological literacy, of awakening the impulse to pray, of exalting the desire to go on pilgrimages, to attend certain church services, etc. ”Sayings of spiritual use” made available in the virtual environment have a certain appeal to a certain type of public that is religious by nature, in search of points of reference for a life closer to God. In this context, some questions beg to be asked: is the online environment suitable for such spiritual activities/work? Is this type of communication (which excludes direct personal fellowship) convincing, is it credible, is it truly spiritual? Is it conveying that quantity and quality of the Christic and ecclesial message that can persuade, edify and ensure viewer loyalty? What about their souls? We can convey words, information and states of mind as much as the two-dimensional technique of a screen allows. God escapes this flow, He also escapes direct contact, through the senses, with the beloved being, let alone through digits. The Holy Trinity cannot be communicated at all, not to mention the two digit values, 0 and 1, which ensure the digital transmission (as opposed to the analogue one, which is modular, respecting the signal emitted by the source, without ”encoding” it). I believe that the ”mathematisation” of transmission, its reduction to a rapid and astonishing alternation of only 2 digits, its digitisation - in other words - makes it impossible to grasp and to understand clearly a message or the work of grace (Holy Sacraments, blessing services) in which God is present or in which God is invoked. We cannot intercept the right ”waves” with on-board instrumentation planted directly in us by God Himself, let alone use electronic tools to do so...
- Price: 6.50 €
Farmacia din Casa Domnului sau despre efectul taumaturgic al cuvântului cultic
Farmacia din Casa Domnului sau despre efectul taumaturgic al cuvântului cultic
(The Pharmacy in the House of the Lord, or on the Thaumaturgical Effect of the Liturgical Word)
- Author(s):Dan SANDU
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:353-364
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:healing; cure; suffering; disease; health; Scriptures; Liturgy; salvation; aid; prayer; spirituality; spiritual life; help;
- Summary/Abstract:The Church, which St. John Chrysostom described as a “spiritual hospital” (or “spiritual infirmary”), is concerned with individual health, viewed holistically, while also focusing on the spiritual health of the person called to live in relationship, which is communitarian, as ordained by Christ through the apostolic mandate. For example, a person who has a physical deficiency will be able, if spiritually healthy, to experience even bodily suffering as a state of theological health, depending on how they approach suffering and vice versa. This observation enables us to deduce the paradox that through the experience of biological suffering man “connects” to God, i.e. to the source of health, whereas, when enjoying physiological health, man (if spiritually unhealthy) may distance himself from God. Without exploring the criteria by which God works together with man towards his holistic health, we will highlight in particular that God not only does not bring on disease to guide humans to Himself, but rather He removes or allows it, leaving it up to man to interpret the message. Christ was and remains the healer par excellence, Who shows that God’s power is above suffering, that He wants to heal everybody, by forgiving sins and eliminating helplessness, both through direct intervention, at times miraculous, and at other times through the elements that He puts at our disposal in His creation.
- Price: 6.50 €
Inimă, suflet, dialog: vindecarea prin Cuvânt și paradigma sănătății în cardiologia bazată pe dovezi
Inimă, suflet, dialog: vindecarea prin Cuvânt și paradigma sănătății în cardiologia bazată pe dovezi
(Heart, Soul, Dialogue: Healing through the Word and the Paradigm of Health in Evidence-Based Cardiology)
- Author(s):Alexandru BURLACU, Preasfințitul Nichifor HORIA
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:365-385
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:empathy; communication; health; cardiovascular disease; doctor-patient relationship;
- Summary/Abstract:In the therapeutic, patient-doctor conversation, with a particular focus on the field of cardiology, it is recommended to embrace a perspective rooted in hospitality and respect deeply reflected in the expression “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. Often, cardiology focuses on reaching “hard endpoints” such as cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke, and tends to omit or neglect other essential dimensions of human existence that can also be measured and quantified. This orientation emphasises the need to recognise mutuality and mutual respect in the healing process, suggesting that both actors in this conversation should approach each other with the same openness and admiration that animated the spiritual encounters of old. The main aim of this paper is to explore how an ethics of acceptance and respect for the other, in conjunction with a re-evaluation of the indicators of success in cardiology treatment, can improve the cardiologist-patient relationship, facilitating a more efficient and humane healing process by recognising a wider spectrum of variables that influence the patients’ quality of life. The in-depth exploration of four key directions reveals the critical importance of the doctor-patient dialogue in evidence-based cardiology and emphasises the need for an integrative approach in the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases. 1) Empathy and communication: Empathy, seen as a way of perceiving the world from the patientʹs perspective, is essential in improving patient satisfaction, according to several studies. It is important to note that empathy does not have to be just a personal characteristic, but it can be developed and improved through ongoing training and practice. Patient-centered communication, which is based on active listening and understanding the patientʹs individual needs, can significantly improve the quality and outcomes of healthcare. 2) Managing patientsʹ expectations and promoting mutual understanding are essential to avoid discrepancies and misunderstandings that could affect healthcare. By communicating openly, clarifying and creating an environment where the patient feels listened to and understood, physicians can build stronger and more productive relationships with their patients. 3) Patient feedback: Patientsʹ words play a crucial role in the continuous improvement of healthcare. By providing a unique perspective on the quality of medical services and care, patient feedback can help health care providers make informed decisions to improve the quality of health care. Promoting open responsiveness and encouraging patients to share their experiences are important in order to facilitate the continuous improvement of health services. 4) Encouraging religiosity to promote cardiovascular health: Religiosity can play a significant role in promoting cardiovascular health by reducing risk factors, improving lifestyle and providing social and emotional support for patients with cardiovascular disease. In addition, it can provide meaning and purpose in life, which can help reduce mortality and adverse cardiovascular events. These directions reflect the need for an integrative approach to cardiovascular health management and emphasise the importance of an open, empathic, and evidence-based dialogue between clinicians and patients to improve quality of life, treatment, and care.
- Price: 6.50 €
