Studia Theologica Doctoralia vol. XVII. Suferință și biruință: trăitori și mărturisitori ai credinței în spațiul românesc în secolul al XX-lea. Cercetări doctorale contextualizate
Studia Theologica Doctoralia vol. XVII. Suffering and triumph: Witnesses and Confessors of Faith in the Romanian space in the 20th century. Contextualized doctoral research
Contributor(s): Viorel SAVA (Editor), Pablo Argárate (Editor), Jack Khalil (Editor), Miltiadis Vantsos (Editor), Gabriel-Alin Piștea (Editor), Bogdan-Vlăduț Brînză (Editor)
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion, Religion and science , Sociology of Religion, History of Religion, Psychology of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Studia Theologica Doctoralia; International Symposium; doctoral research; theology; XVII Edition;
Summary/Abstract: In the bright and joyful atmosphere of the Easter season in which we find ourselves, protected and aided by the prayers of Saint Parascheva and Saint Joseph the Merciful, the patrons of the Cathedral on whose foundations we stand, and of all of Moldova, in communion of prayer with Saints John the Wallachian, Epiphany, Archbishop of Cyprus, and Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, celebrated today, gathered in Iași, the city of seven hills and the spiritual and cultural capital of Romania, with the blessing of His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, we participate together in the 17th edition of the International Symposium "Studia Theologica Doctoralia," whose proceedings, with your permission and together with you, we declare open. In 2025, our Symposium, as well as other similar activities within the Romanian Patriarchate, will revolve around the theme proposed by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, namely the Centennial Year of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Priests and Confessors, within which the theme we have proposed is Suffering and Victory: Living and Confessing the Faith in Romania in the 20th Century. Contextualized Doctoral Research.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-630-301-235-3
- E-ISBN-10: 978-630-301-2
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-630-301-235-3
- Print-ISBN-10: 978-630-301-2
- Page Count: 658
- Publication Year: 2025
- Language: English, Romanian
The Holy Spirit in the Lucan Diptych
The Holy Spirit in the Lucan Diptych
(The Holy Spirit in the Lucan Diptych)
- Author(s):Pablo Argárate
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion
- Page Range:11-18
- No. of Pages:8
- Keywords:Holy Spirit; Lucan Diptych; Gospel of Luke; Acts of the Apostles; pneumatology; Pentecost; salvation history; Spirit-bearer; exalted Christ; Christian mission; eschatological gift; early Church;
- Summary/Abstract:This study explores the central role of the Holy Spirit in the two-volume work of Luke – his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles – often referred to as the Lucan Diptych. The paper provides an overview of Lucan pneumatology, emphasizing the Spirit’s pivotal function in both the life of Jesus and the emergence of the Church. The narrative of Pentecost, unique to Luke, is analyzed as a theological and historiographical centerpiece, revealing how Luke conceives salvation history in three epochs: Israel, Jesus, and the Church—each inaugurated and propelled by the Spirit. Through a close examination of terminology, frequency, and thematic placement, the study demonstrates how the Spirit not only empowers Jesus and his followers but also emerges as the true protagonist of the Christian mission. While Luke's pneumatology is narrative and not systematic, it is nonetheless robust, portraying the Spirit as both the eschatological gift of the exalted Christ and the dynamic presence guiding the Church’s growth and proclamation. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is presented as the divine force personally shaping and sustaining the history of salvation.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Literary Topos of Suffering and Triumph in Luke – Acts Oppression, Memory, and Redemption in the Ethos of the Lucan Narrative
The Literary Topos of Suffering and Triumph in Luke – Acts Oppression, Memory, and Redemption in the Ethos of the Lucan Narrative
(The Literary Topos of Suffering and Triumph in Luke – Acts Oppression, Memory, and Redemption in the Ethos of the Lucan Narrative)
- Author(s):Daniel Ayuch
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion
- Page Range:19-28
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Luke – Acts; Lucan Diptych; Suffering; Triumph; Vindication; Hope; Humility; Liberation; Remembrance; Justice;
- Summary/Abstract:This article examines the literary topos of suffering and triumph in Luke – Acts as a central theological axis of the Lucan narrative. Moving beyond the passion and resurrection of Jesus, it explores how Luke portrays the lived experience of the early Christian community through episodes of oppression, hope, humility, and recognition. Employing narrative-critical and rhetorical methods, the study identifies four interrelated dimensions of the topos: the vindication of the oppressed, hope in suffering, humility as an act of liberation, and the dual operations of remembrance and recognition. These motifs reveal Luke’s ethical vision, which subverts conventional systems of reciprocity, hierarchy, and power, and replaces them with a countercultural model grounded in divine justice, mercy, and hope. By linking suffering to divine intervention and eschatological triumph, Luke – Acts articulates a theology that not only interprets past events but also offers guiding principles for addressing contemporary issues of injustice, oppression, and social inequity.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Glory of the First Adam as Depicted in a Fresco at Sucevita Monastery
The Glory of the First Adam as Depicted in a Fresco at Sucevita Monastery
(The Glory of the First Adam as Depicted in a Fresco at Sucevita Monastery)
- Author(s):Arhim. Hrisostom Rădășanu
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:29-44
- No. of Pages:16
- Keywords:Fresco; Adam; deification; divine glory; glory of God; new creation; vocation; iconography; monastery;
- Summary/Abstract:The Sucevița Monastery in north-eastern Romania is a foundation of the Movilești family of voivodes, built between 1583 and 1586. What distinguishes the monastery’s central church is its remarkable exterior frescoes – richly detailed images that convey profound theological meaning that refer to the idea of dogma in images at a time when literacy was very limited. A hermeneutical reading of Sucevița’s exterior iconography offers a compelling entry point into the understanding of Orthodox theology, serving as a visual equivalent to sacred text.The present analysis focuses on identifying, within this pictorial framework, the elements that articulate the role of the first Adam in the act of Creation. The icon under analysis captures the moment when Adam is called to name the animals – an act of co-creation with the Logos, a connection to divine energies, and a revelation of man’s deep vocation as king of Creation, as both microcosm and macrocosm.This interpretive approach is grounded in the writings of key Church Fathers: Irenaeus of Lyons, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Maximus the Confessor. The central purpose of this analysis is not archaeological or art-historical, but theological – namely, to understand the saving role of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Moreover, the relationship between the two persons follows the iconological pattern of type and antitype, a structure clearly reflected in the Sucevița fresco.In Christ, man becomes once again the bearer of divine glory, called to experience first within himself and then in relation to Creation, the work of God’s divine and deifying energies. Through Christ, man becomes once again co-creator with God, in a theanthropic act intended to advance the glory of the new heaven and the new earth towards the Kingdom of God. All this is suggested by a 16th-century iconographic text from a monastery in north-eastern Romania.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Time of the End, the End of Time, Messianic Time, and Liturgical Time in the Theology of Saint Apostle Paul
The Time of the End, the End of Time, Messianic Time, and Liturgical Time in the Theology of Saint Apostle Paul
(The Time of the End, the End of Time, Messianic Time, and Liturgical Time in the Theology of Saint Apostle Paul)
- Author(s):Hrisostom (Liviu) Ciuciu
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Pastoral Theology
- Page Range:45-58
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Mesianic time; Pauline theology; Chronos; Kairos; inaugurated eschatology;
- Summary/Abstract:This article explores the multifaceted theology of time in the Pauline corpus, with particular attention to the distinction and interaction between chronos (historical time) and kairos (the salvific moment). Through engagement with philosophical reflections from Leibniz, Kant, and Ricoeur, and with modern interpretations such as Giorgio Agamben’s messianic time, the study examines how St. Paul redefines temporal experience through the lens of eschatology and liturgy. The paper argues that, for Paul, time is not a neutral sequence of moments but a dynamic field of divine-human synergy in which eternity is anticipated within history.
- Price: 6.50 €
“The Land of Sojourn” in Ezekiel: A New Perspective
“The Land of Sojourn” in Ezekiel: A New Perspective
(“The Land of Sojourn” in Ezekiel: A New Perspective)
- Author(s):Chrysostomos (Maher) El Mecherki
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:59-72
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Land; Ezekiel; Sojourn; Exile; Israel;
- Summary/Abstract:The study sheds light on the land of sojourn in the book of the Prophet Ezekiel, as it is not simply the land of the exiles. Still, instead, it is the land of Israel, contrary to the prevailing belief among scholars, which considers that the phrase “The land of their sojourn” in Ezekiel 20:38, which is uniquely mentioned among all the prophets, is limited only to that place to which Israel was taken captive and sojourned far from its homeland, Jerusalem. Relying on an “intertextuality” reading, we approach the topic of “The land of sojourn” and the tradition to which it belongs. It appears that the prophet Ezekiel used the phrase “The land of their sojourn” as a synonym for the Land of Israel. The land of sojourn, and therefore the land of Israel, is the land (hāʾāręṣ) in which man alienates himself from everything that distances him from God. It is the one in which only the law of God is established, as there is no place in it for the rebels and those who transgress against God. It is the one that the new Israel enters after an actual Exodus in which it abandons any worship other than the worship of God. An Exodus that will not be achieved except on “That day” and with divine intervention. It is a land where Israel can have true communion with God.
- Price: 6.50 €
Rolul femeilor în rezistența duhovnicească împotriva comunismului
Rolul femeilor în rezistența duhovnicească împotriva comunismului
(The Role of Women in the Spiritual Resistance Against Communism)
- Author(s):Cristian Vasile Petcu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):History, Special Historiographies:, Theology and Religion, History of Communism, History of Religion
- Page Range:73-103
- No. of Pages:31
- Keywords:spiritual resistance; women; Romanian communism; ecclesia domestica; diakonia of proximity; forgiveness;
- Summary/Abstract:The study investigates the spiritual resistance of women in communist Romania and shows how practices of interiority and proximity – communal prayer, domestic catechesis (ecclesia domestica), devotional samizdat, diakonia of proximity (neighbor-serving ministry), forgiveness as a discipline, and witness-bearing writing – functioned as “infrastructures of dignity” capable of sustaining community under conditions of atomization and totalitarian control. The methodology combines archival sources (CNSAS), normative documents, memoir literature, and oral history in a triangulation that avoids both hagiography and cynicism. The case studies (Aspazia Oțel Petrescu; Elisabeta Rizea) exemplify the fusion between the logistical support of the resistance and spiritual resistance (prayer, forgiveness, remembrance), offering a practical canon of lived freedom. The contribution of the study lies in rebalancing the narrative of resistance by making visible the “economy of small fidelities,” largely sustained by women, and in highlighting the post-1989 impact on public memory and civic ethics (from museums and memorial houses to pedagogies of forgiveness). The conclusion affirms the pivotal role of women in preserving moral cohesion and a shared language of meaning – both essential for civic reconstruction after trauma.
- Price: 6.50 €
Ansamblul mănăstiresc Sfinții Trei Ierarhi din Iași. Între tradiție monahală și restaurare (sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea, începutul secolului al XX-lea)
Ansamblul mănăstiresc Sfinții Trei Ierarhi din Iași. Între tradiție monahală și restaurare (sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea, începutul secolului al XX-lea)
(The Monastery Complex of Saints Three Hierarchs of Iasi. Between Monastic Tradition and Restoration (late 19th, early 20th century))
- Author(s):Elisei Nedescu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:104-114
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:“Saints Three Hierarchs” Monastery; Gothic Hall; 19th century;
- Summary/Abstract:Public memory, historical research, and architectural expertise have established the “Saints Three Hierarchs” Monastery as a representative monument of Romanian civilization—with evident scholarly credibility—since the end of the 19th century. The recognition of the church and the Gothic Hall, that is, the entire monastic ensemble, led architect Nicolae Gabrielescu to note, in 1899, that “the long line of churches with Moldavian character had reached a stage of perfection and took on a final form of brilliance through the creation of the ‘Three Hierarchs,’ which rose in the heart of Iași. The slender proportions of the building and the richness of the decoration surpass all that our neighbors possess, making it truly unique in Europe”1. This study aims to systematically and objectively highlight the importance of the “Saints Three Hierarchs” monastic ensemble in Iași as a key spiritual, cultural, and educational element in shaping future generations of monks, priests, and believers, as well as the need to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving and conserving a monument representative of the entire Romanian culture.
- Price: 6.50 €
Preoții militari, mărturisitori pe câmpurile de luptă în marile conflagrații ale secolului XX
Preoții militari, mărturisitori pe câmpurile de luptă în marile conflagrații ale secolului XX
(Military Priests, Confessors on the Battlefields in the Great Conflagrations of the 20th Century)
- Author(s):Florinel-Cristian Brădățan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:115-128
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:The First World War; Romanian army; military clergy; The Second World War; apostles; re-Christianization;
- Summary/Abstract:In the history of the Romanian people we also find pages splashed with the blood of Romanian soldiers, soldiers called to defend the national being with their swords in their hands. In order not to fall prey to despair and in order for military actions to be successfully completed, the Romanian Orthodox Church sent alongside the country's soldiers a series of military priests with a clearly defined mission, that of taking care of the souls of the soldiers. Thus, in World War I and World War II we find numerous military priests who showed great courage and devotion, confessing to everyone their faith in God and in the national cause. World War II brings something extra to the mission of the military clergy, because stepping into the territories controlled until recently by the Red Army, they did a real apostolic work, reopening the churches closed by the Bolsheviks, rebuilding the demolished ones and baptizing the unbaptized. Thus, the military priests together with the Romanian army re-Christianized the territories, led the people from suffering to victory.
- Price: 6.50 €
Conservarea odoarelor de la Mănăstirea Trei Ierarhi în timpul marii restaurări de la sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea. Fapte, întâmplări și mărturii din presa timpului
Conservarea odoarelor de la Mănăstirea Trei Ierarhi în timpul marii restaurări de la sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea. Fapte, întâmplări și mărturii din presa timpului
(Conservation of the Odors of the Monastery of Three Hierarchs During the Great Restoration at the end of the 19th Century. Facts, Events and Testimonials from the Press of the Time)
- Author(s):Viorel Drăgan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:129-148
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:treasure; restoration; fire; controversies;
- Summary/Abstract:This study analyzes the process of preserving and protecting the treasure of the “Holy Three Hierarchs” Monastery in Iași over time, with particular focus on the restoration that took place in the second half of the 19th century. By examining key sources on this topic, such as official documents, administrative reports, contemporary newspaper articles, and specialized studies, the research highlights the complexity of the restoration, which was seen as necessary but generated significant controversy. Criticisms voiced by contemporaries and later by historians focused especially on the negligence regarding the opening of the founders’ tombs, the preservation of the original painting, the iconostasis, and the wooden furniture, the storage of the monastery’s treasure, and the placement of the reliquary containing the relics of Saint Parascheva in improvised and unsuitable conditions. This situation culminated in the 1888 fire in the Gothic Hall of the monastery. Most sources express a critical attitude toward the preservation of the treasure, largely justified, while others selectively reproduce historical data and testimonies without providing a neutral perspective. Part of the legacy left by Vasile Lupu to his foundation has been preserved to this day, offering a relevant glimpse into his aspirations.
- Price: 6.50 €
Mitropolitul Visarion Puiu – apărător și mărturisitor al dreptei credințe în spațiul românesc și în străinătate
Mitropolitul Visarion Puiu – apărător și mărturisitor al dreptei credințe în spațiul românesc și în străinătate
(Metropolitan Visarion Puiu – Defender and Confessor of the Orthodox Faith in the Romanian Space and Abroad)
- Author(s):Dragoș-Constantin Ivan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):History, Special Historiographies:, Theology and Religion, History of Communism, History of Religion
- Page Range:149-161
- No. of Pages:13
- Keywords:Metropolitan Visarion Puiu; Transnistria; communism; exile; confessor of faith;
- Summary/Abstract:Metropolitan Visarion Puiu was a prominent personality who helped Romanian society in the 20th century to overcome the new challenges caused by human vanity. His service as Metropolitan in one of the richest dioceses in the country, that of Bukovina, represented a difficult mission due to the powerful political figures in the area. The activity carried out in Transnistria, as head of the Romanian Church Mission for that region, marked the final stage of his involvement in the southeastern part of Central Europe, and the public condemnation of communist ideology proved to be a bold act, one that ultimately sealed his death sentence after the installation of the communist regime. Remaining abroad after 1944, the Metropolitan set out on the long road of exile, through Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. Far from the motherland, the hierarch continued to serve as a spiritual father to Romanian communities abroad. What is most striking in the journey of Metropolitan Visarion Puiu is the contrast between his period of activity and the end of his life, as he spent his final years marked by the harsh conditions of exile, passing away in obscurity for the community abroad, in an unsanitary room in France, in the year 1964. Nevertheless, he was not forgotten by the Romanian State Security Department, which continuously monitored him through operative agents, a file being opened in his name, in which he was sentenced to death.
- Price: 6.50 €
Aspecte inedite din biografia Părintelui Mărturisitor Dimitrie Bejan din anii 1930-1949
Aspecte inedite din biografia Părintelui Mărturisitor Dimitrie Bejan din anii 1930-1949
(Unpublished Aspects from the Biography of Father Confessor Dimitrie Bejan from the Years 1930-1949.)
- Author(s):Nicolae-Cătălin Luchian
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):History, Special Historiographies:, Theology and Religion, History of Communism, History of Religion
- Page Range:162-177
- No. of Pages:16
- Keywords:Dimitrie Bejan; Basarabia; legionary; communism;
- Summary/Abstract:The article presents biographical data of the confessor - Father Dimitrie Bejan, focusing particularly on his activity as a deacon and priest in Basarabia, in Bălți and Fălești, and respectively at the "Sf. Gheorghe" church in Târgu Neamț, during the years 1940-1941, at the time of the annexation of Basarabia. This biographical period, between 1937-1943, which was made little known by Father Bejan and with minimal references in his autobiographical books, was reconstituted by studying church archives as well as those of the Securitate. The article clarifies the origin of the accusations of legionary sympathies against Father D. Bejan, which were proven unfounded, while also highlighting his prolific cultural and missionary activity as a cleric until his departure for the front in August 1943. Additionally, new testimonies are brought from the Father Bejan's correspondence as a prisoner of war in the Oranki camp, which presents him as steadfast in faith, dignified in behaviour, and loving towards his suffering brethren.
- Price: 6.50 €
Sofronie Miclescu între datorie și exil: suferința unui ierarh incomod
Sofronie Miclescu între datorie și exil: suferința unui ierarh incomod
(Sofronie Miclescu: Between Duty and Exile – The Ordeal of a Troublesome Hierarch)
- Author(s):Mihai-Cătălin Pelin
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:178-188
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:Metropolitan Sofronie Miclescu; Exile; Suffering; the Struggle for National Unity; Secularization of Monastic Property;
- Summary/Abstract:This article seek to shed light on the suffering endured by Metropolitan Sofronie Miclescu of Moldavia (1851-1860) in the context of two significant historical events. In chronological order, the first represents the struggle for the unification the Romanian Principalities, a cause in which the metropolitan was deeply involved and emerged as a key figure. The second is marked by the initial reforms introduced by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza concerning the independent monasteries, most notably the secularization of monastic property. In the context of national unification, Metropolitan Sofronie`s suffering stemmed from his firm and public commitment to the unionist cause. However, during the secularization process, his conflict with the ruling authority intensified following what he perceived as injustices directed toward the Church as an institution. As a prominent figure of the 19th century, Metropolitan Sofronie Miclescu remained steadfast in his loyalty to both the Church and the State, though his actions were not always evaluated with fairness or objectivity by his contemporaries.
- Price: 6.50 €
Euthanasia: Αn Act of Mercy?
Euthanasia: Αn Act of Mercy?
(Euthanasia: Αn Act of Mercy?)
- Author(s):Miltiadis Vantsos
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:189-198
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:euthanasia; mercy; compassion; care; love; suffering; death; Christian ethics;
- Summary/Abstract:Euthanasia is often presented as an act of mercy and compassion towards terminally ill patients who are experiencing severe pain and agony due to their proximity to death. Mercy is a positive emotion because it involves feeling compassion towards a fellow human being in pain and is therefore accepted by all humanitarian ethics. However, is this sufficient moral justification for taking a human life, even when it is done at the patient's request? This question is addressed by presenting the mercy argument and its critique, and by exploring ways of expressing compassion for patients from the perspective of Christian ethics.
- Price: 6.50 €
Between Suffering and Triumph André Scrima’s Xenophile Christology
Between Suffering and Triumph André Scrima’s Xenophile Christology
(Between Suffering and Triumph André Scrima’s Xenophile Christology)
- Author(s):Michael Hjälm
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:199-212
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:André Scrima; Christology; ecclesiology; periphery; monasticism; interreligious dialogue; Vatican II; universality of Christ;
- Summary/Abstract:This article explores the Christology and ecclesiology of Father André Scrima, focusing on his vision of the “Xenophile Christ” – Christ as the Stranger who transcends all boundaries. Drawing on Scrima’s encounter with Father John Stránnik and his subsequent spiritual and philosophical journey beyond Romania, the study situates Scrima’s theology within a framework of voluntary exile and universal openness. His understanding of Christ as the Logos present in every culture informs a cosmic and inclusive theology that anticipates and complements the insights of Nostra Aetate and Dei Verbum. The article argues that Scrima’s ecclesiology, rooted in the periphery rather than the center, offers a dynamic vision of the Church as a pilgrim body revealed most clearly among the marginalized and in interreligious dialogue. Viewing the Church through the lens of monasticism as an “ecclesiophany,” Scrima redefines the Eucharist not as a possession of institutional power but as an eschatological gift approached from the margins. His vision challenges both Orthodoxy and Catholicism to rediscover their identity as communities of strangers guided by Christ the Gate – the threshold between heaven and earth – and invites a renewed ecclesial self-understanding oriented toward the periphery.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Bible and Mental Health: Insights from Greek Scholarship and Emerging Perspectives in the 21st Century
The Bible and Mental Health: Insights from Greek Scholarship and Emerging Perspectives in the 21st Century
(The Bible and Mental Health: Insights from Greek Scholarship and Emerging Perspectives in the 21st Century)
- Author(s):Sotirios Despotis
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:213-231
- No. of Pages:19
- Keywords:Bible; Mental Health; Orthodoxy; Psychoanalysis; Hermeneutics; Liturgy; Kenosis; Prayer;
- Summary/Abstract:New ways of interpreting the Bible are providing mental health professionals with innovative tools for therapeutic working with its texts. Rather than being intended for private reading, the Scriptures are life-stories crafted to be actively heard as unified Concertos or Oratorios within Communities. In the context of worship, these Communities enact the Scriptures, encountering – through characters who bear trauma and through surprising plot developments – a movement from the“land of idols” toward the Promised Land. This Promised Land represents a renewed connection with the Absolute and the Proto-Father. This spiritual journey parallels the stages of worship: the Liturgy before the Liturgy (the mystery of forgiveness), the Liturgy itself (the Eucharist), and the Liturgy after the Liturgy (a creative re-engagement with society and the whole of nature). Specific examples of the use of the Bible by Metropolitan Antony Bloom (1914-2003) in his book on prayer are presented already of the 70's decade. He is a characteristic example of a person who, like another Abraham, migrated from the East to the West and promoted Orthodoxy also through his medical profession.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Soteriological Foundation of the Spirituality of Saint Isaac of Nineveh
The Soteriological Foundation of the Spirituality of Saint Isaac of Nineveh
(The Soteriological Foundation of the Spirituality of Saint Isaac of Nineveh)
- Author(s):Fadi Giorgi Porphyrios
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:232-246
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:Redemption; Salvation; Merci; Love; Repentance; Spiritual Life; Synergy, Prayer; Knowledge;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper explores how Abba Isaac of Nineveh derives his understanding of spiritual life from the work of redemption offered by God for the sake of humanity and its salvation. It focuses on the way in which he, as a 7th century ascetic, approaches the role of the human person in responding to the divine call and in realizing in his or her own life the mystery of salvation. The paper also observes the systematic theological infrastructure of the spiritual teaching of Saint Isaac who has been regarded by many prominent scholars as a non-systematic writer.
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A Comparative Dogmatic Study on the Theology of Suffering, Sacrifice and Soteriology: The Martyrdom of Ḥusayn in the Light of the Passion of Christ
A Comparative Dogmatic Study on the Theology of Suffering, Sacrifice and Soteriology: The Martyrdom of Ḥusayn in the Light of the Passion of Christ
(A Comparative Dogmatic Study on the Theology of Suffering, Sacrifice and Soteriology: The Martyrdom of Ḥusayn in the Light of the Passion of Christ)
- Author(s):Filotheos-Fotios Maroudas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion
- Page Range:247-260
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Orthodox Christian Dogmatics; Comparative Theology; Soteriology; Martyrdom; Sacrifice; Interreligious Dialogue;
- Summary/Abstract:This study explores the martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn Ali in the light of the Passion of Christ, focusing on the dogmatic doctrines of suffering, sacrifice and soteriology as articulated within Shiite Islam and Christianity. While Sunni historians often portray Ḥusayn’s actions as impulsive and his leadership as reckless, Shiite traditions honor him as the “Prince of Martyrs” (sayyid al-shuhadā) and draw parallels between his sacrifice and that of Christ. Ḥusayn’s willingness to sacrifice his life for truth and justice has become a central theme in Shiite mourning rituals, evolving over time into a deeply emotional and culturally embedded expression of piety. Lebanese Mahmoud Ayoub (1935-2021) situates Ḥusayn’s suffering within a historical and spiritual continuum that connects Shiite piety to biblical prophets and the Gospel narratives of Christ. Shiite liturgical texts and commemorative reenactments of the event often evoke profound emotional responses, emphasizing themes of redemption and sacrifice that resonate with Christian notions of atonement through Christ’s crucifixion. This presentation examines the dogmatical dimensions of these traditions and explores them through the lens of Islamic-Christian dialogue, offering a comparative perspective on suffering, redemption, and salvation in the two faiths.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Ethics of Martyrdom: A Kantian Analysis of Duty, Sacrifice, and Moral Worth
The Ethics of Martyrdom: A Kantian Analysis of Duty, Sacrifice, and Moral Worth
(The Ethics of Martyrdom: A Kantian Analysis of Duty, Sacrifice, and Moral Worth)
- Author(s):Evangelos D. Protopapadakis
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:261-272
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:Kantian ethics; martyrdom; sacrifice; moral duty; sacrificial death; perfect duties; imperfect duties; categorical imperative;
- Summary/Abstract:This short paper aims to explore how Kantian ethics, arguably the most dominant and influential ethical tradition in Western thought, perceives the complex and often emotionally charged phenomena of martyrdom and sacrifice, which are frequently celebrated in religious, political, and moral traditions throughout history. Could these actions indeed hold up under the rigorous lens of Immanuel Kant’s deontological moral theory, which emphasises duty, rationality, and the moral law? Can self-sacrifice be truly moral? Does martyrdom represent a duty, or does it risk violating the central Kantian principle of respecting humanity as an end in itself? Although those who give everything for a cause rarely fail to attract moral admiration, the Kantian approach goes deeper, since it does not recognise moral merit based on outcomes or symbolic gestures, but only by considering whether any action was taken out of respect for moral law, and whether it honours rational agency. Kant’s perspective may seem hostile towards sacrifice and martyrdom at first glance, but a deeper look may offer a much more nuanced perspective.
- Price: 6.50 €
Education of freedom and responsibility: Preparing athletes for Christ
Education of freedom and responsibility: Preparing athletes for Christ
(Education of freedom and responsibility: Preparing athletes for Christ)
- Author(s):Maria-Christina Matsouka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:273-287
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Education; freedom; responsibility; teacher;
- Summary/Abstract:Our education risks producing one-dimensional people who worship what is useful, glorify what is practical, but remain unaware of the fundamental questions of existence. The freedom that education must cultivate is freedom from ourselves and from our personal happiness. Only freedom, as constant discipline and renunciation, self-denial and transcendence, communion and responsibility, constitutes our being and shapes our character. Only freedom can help children and young people, through education and formation, to resist the temptation of individual self-sufficiency, moral arrogance, self-justification, and above all the animalistic pursuit of happiness, where man enjoys, as much as he can, his own gratification without caring for others. Freedom is preserved and honored when it is lived as responsibility and as a cross to bear, as duty rather than as a right, as sacrifice rather than demand. The subjugation of education to individualism is neither an expression of humanism nor of progress. The pedagogy of the future must be a resistance against the terror of the useful, based on freedom and responsibility, in order to prepare, in St. John Chrysostom’s words, “athletes for Christ”.
- Price: 6.50 €
Pornography, gender-based violence and sexually related crimes. The perspective of Christian ethics
Pornography, gender-based violence and sexually related crimes. The perspective of Christian ethics
(Pornography, gender-based violence and sexually related crimes. The perspective of Christian ethics)
- Author(s):Maria Tsarouchidou
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion, Psychology of Religion
- Page Range:288-301
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:pornography; feminist theory; gender-based violence; Christian ethics; morality;
- Summary/Abstract:Pornography, as a global and particularly profitable industry, has recently become the focus of interdisciplinary research in Greece, with growing interest in its social, economic, and ethical effects. This article is a theoretical analysis grounded in Christian ethics. It entails a brief review of the history of pornography as it has developed over the years and attempts to present the opposing views shaped primarily by the representatives of feminist movements. Additionally, the article examines the association between exposure to pornographic material and violence, sexually related crimes, and the development of false standards that lead to the devaluation of women, incorporating the perspective of Christian ethics. The following definition is used as the most accurate: Pornography is any form of sexually explicit content or depiction of nudity that particularly aims at sexual arousal. What is considered sexually arousing material is subjective and dynamically changing over time. The exposure to such material is considered both consensual and voluntary and presupposes, on behalf of the consumer some investment, either in time, money, or labor.
- Price: 6.50 €
Câteva considerații despre conceptul de națiune în gândirea creștină răsăriteană
Câteva considerații despre conceptul de națiune în gândirea creștină răsăriteană
(Some considerations about the concept of nation in Eastern Christian thought)
- Author(s):Gelu Călina, Niculae Palea
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:302-311
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:nation; Christian thought; Orthodox; conceptions;
- Summary/Abstract:The concept of nation has been part of the life of the Church since the time of the Holy Apostles, a period in which we encounter the first Christian communities that identify with faith in Christ among the nations. This type of awareness of belonging to a nation through faith begins with the first Christian community in Jerusalem and will be perpetuated in all nations through the Church of Christ. In fact, we are referring to a way of life that those who follow Christ freely choose. Therefore, the concept of nationalism, in the Church, does not refer only to a people that identifies itself through its ethnic, linguistic, political, sociological and specific particularities, but to the way in which a nation chose and decided to serve Christ. In this study, we try to describe briefly how this process unfolded over time.
- Price: 6.50 €
Sprijinul psihosocial și spiritual al pacienților și al familiilor acestora în contextul suferinței sociale. Implicații teoretice și provocări ale îngrijirii familiale
Sprijinul psihosocial și spiritual al pacienților și al familiilor acestora în contextul suferinței sociale. Implicații teoretice și provocări ale îngrijirii familiale
(Psychosocial and Spiritual Support for Patients and Their Families in the Context of Social Suffering. Theoretical Implications and Practical Challenges of Family Care)
- Author(s):Petronela Polixenia Nistor
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Psychology of Religion
- Page Range:312-333
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:social suffering; social work; psychosocial support; family care; vulnerability; social exclusion; quality of life;
- Summary/Abstract:Illness is not merely an individual medical experience, but a complex social phenomenon that generates multiple forms of social suffering, such as the loss of autonomy, stigmatization, social exclusion and the vulnerability of the entire family system. In this context, social work plays a crucial role in identifying, preventing, and mitigating the effects of social suffering through integrated and personalized psychosocial support services.Psychosocial and spiritual support offered to patients and their families complements medical intervention, addressing the emotional, relational and spiritual dimensions of suffering. Accordingly, this article analyzes, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the theoretical implications of social suffering and the practical challenges of family caregiving, with a focus on caregiver vulnerability, the lack of institutional recognition of their role and the need to reform the existing social support framework. The paper also emphasizes the importance of a unified approach based on collaboration among social work, psychology and community networks or actors, as essential instruments for reducing social suffering and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.
- Price: 6.50 €
Îngrijitorul personal între vulnerabilitate și responsabilitate. Abordări psihosociale, legislative și spirituale
Îngrijitorul personal între vulnerabilitate și responsabilitate. Abordări psihosociale, legislative și spirituale
(The personal caregiver between vulnerability and responsibility. psychosocial, legislative and spiritual approaches.)
- Author(s):Petronela Polixenia Nistor
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Psychology of Religion
- Page Range:334-359
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:personal caregiver; vulnerability; social work; family; resilience; interdisciplinary care; spirituality;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper analyzes the status of the personal caregiver at the intersection of vulnerability and responsibility, from psychosocial, legislative and spiritual perspectives. In the context of the rising incidence of chronic diseases and the aging of the population, the care of dependent individuals becomes not only a familial obligation, but also a major issue of public concern. The study examines the stages of emotional adaptation within the family, according to the model developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, highlighting the psychological and relational impact of long-term caregiving.The analysis of the Romanian legislative framework reveals gaps between regulation and practice, as well as the inadequacy of existing measures aimed at protecting and professionalizing personal caregivers. Furthermore, the article proposes an interdisciplinary model of intervention in which the social worker, psychologist and spiritual advisor (or confessor) collaborate to support families affected by illness.The spiritual dimension is emphasized as a key resource for inner balance, resilience, and community solidarity, in harmony with the Orthodox tradition of self-sacrificial love. Ultimately, the study underlines the need to recognize the personal caregiver as a secondary beneficiary of social assistance and to develop coherent public policies oriented toward professional training, psychological support and social integration.In the final analysis, caregiving emerges as an act of human and spiritual communion, in which responsibility transforms into vocation.
- Price: 6.50 €
Monahul Nicolae Steinhardt ca model de intelectual creștin
Monahul Nicolae Steinhardt ca model de intelectual creștin
(The monk Nicolae Steinhardt as a model Christian intellectual)
- Author(s):Daniel Bîrneață, Marian Gherghinescu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:360-368
- No. of Pages:9
- Keywords:Steinhardt; intellectual; Christian; conversion;
- Summary/Abstract:The remarkable work of this father of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the 20th century, the trials of life he experienced in order to follow Christ, the strength of character and the moral values that characterized his life, all made him a model confessor and prayerful person both for those of his time and for those of today. In this way, he showed that there is no theoretical faith, but only the faith that gives man the conviction that he can overcome himself, that if you know yourself from the inside you can know the whole world. We have set out to write in this study about the way in which the monk Nicolae de la Rohia revealed to us, with firmness and courage, a realistic Christianity, without a trace of stereotype, alive, dynamic, concrete and subtle, valid not only for the masses, but also for intellectuals, closely linked to everyday reality, unintellectualized, although pretentious, demanding and realistic.
- Price: 6.50 €
Transumanimsul: religia seculară a viitorului? Cinci puncte de convergență și divergență dintre gândirea transumanistă și teologia creștină
Transumanimsul: religia seculară a viitorului? Cinci puncte de convergență și divergență dintre gândirea transumanistă și teologia creștină
(Transhumanism: the secular religion of the future? Five points of convergence and divergence between transhumanist thinking and Christian theology.)
- Author(s):Vlăduț Emil Cârlan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:369-379
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:transhumanism; secular religion; divine transcendence; self-deification; Christian theology;
- Summary/Abstract:It is known that the transhumanist ideology denies divine transcendence and promotes the idea of self-transcendence and self-deification through science and tehnology, trying to eradicate all aspects of human finitude. Of course most of the goals proposed by transhumanism are more or less utopian, but we still have to be careful about what scientific and technological progress is intended to achieve, especially when this intention takes the form of an ideology. On the one hand, in this paper I will argue why this new form of humanism has all the „ingredients” of a religion. Being a secular religion, transhumanism borrows ideas from Judeo-Christian religion, but at the same time conflicts with it through its secularism. So, on the other hand, I will analyze 5 convergent and divergent points between transhumanism and Christian theology: (1) authority and order; (2) the new man; (3) finitude and mortality; (4) transcendence; (5) evolution and progress.
- Price: 6.50 €
Petrache Lupu și receptarea „teofaniei” de la Maglavit-Dolj
Petrache Lupu și receptarea „teofaniei” de la Maglavit-Dolj
(Petrache Lupu and the reception of the “theophany” from Maglavit-Dolj)
- Author(s):Silviu Marian Dumitrașcu, Daniel Luțu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:380-386
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:Petrache Lupu; Maglavit; phenomenon; history;
- Summary/Abstract:In 1935, when the project of erecting the Maglavit monastery was started with great enthusiasm as an expression of the will of the Orthodox people to welcome the epiphanic event that occurred in the southwest of Oltenia, no one suspected that it would take almost a century to be completed, but especially, no one would have anticipated the way in which the fight, which was waged by the atheist communist regime against the “Maglavit phenomenon”, would contribute to keeping the Christian faith alive in this part of our country. In this study, we will show the efforts by which the atheist-secular system of the detractors of the theophanic phenomenon of Maglavit tried to deride it, by placing them in the mirror with the theological arguments designed to argue the authenticity of Petrache Lupu's divine vision.
- Price: 6.50 €
Hristologia și pnevmatologia în viziunea lui Yves Congar. Implicații asupra eclesiologiei trinitare
Hristologia și pnevmatologia în viziunea lui Yves Congar. Implicații asupra eclesiologiei trinitare
(The Vision of Yves Congar on Christology and Pneumatology. Implications for Trinitarian Ecclesiology)
- Author(s):Dragoș-Alin Fârtăeș
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion
- Page Range:387-398
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:Yves Congar; Christology; Pneumatology; Trinitarian Theology; Ecclesiology;
- Summary/Abstract:Christology, pneumatology and triadology are omnipresent themes in the work of the French Dominican Yves Congar. They are most often related to the life of the Church, to ecclesiology and thus to the economy of salvation, while speculations on ontology or Trinitarian theology are much rarer. In order to understand Congar's thought in terms of the above themes, it must be divided into two periods: before and after the Second Vatican Council. In the pre-conciliar period, Congar's theology is predominantly Christocentric, in which the Holy Spirit is not conspicuously absent, but his role is clearly subordinate to Christ. After the Second Vatican Council, a certain evolution in their Christological and Pneumatological thinking can be observed. At the beginning of the seventies of the last century, Western theology had to face certain criticisms, especially from Orthodox theology, which accused it of Christomonism. The main objection was that the Latins tended to make the Holy Spirit a mere function of Christ, the former merely doing the work of the latter. Because of these criticisms, the Dominican theologian felt the need for deep reflection, inviting Western theology to self-criticism. In this way, he would better articulate the work of the Son and the Holy Spirit, which would have a number of consequences for the understanding of the Holy Trinity.
- Price: 6.50 €
Periodicul eclesial „Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei”, lucrare mărturisitoare a preoților români
Periodicul eclesial „Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei”, lucrare mărturisitoare a preoților români
(The ecclesial periodical “Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei”, a witnessing work of Romanian priests during the communist period)
- Author(s):Vasile-Lucian V. Goldan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:399-409
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei; Ecclesiastical periodical; House publication; Orthodox faith;
- Summary/Abstract:The ecclesiastical periodical “Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei”, now known as the journal “Teologie și Viață”, a name given by His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel in 1990, represents one of the few periodicals, in general, and Orthodox theological ones, in particular, that has maintained its editorial continuity from the moment of its inception in 1924 until today. The significance of this periodical, which over time has changed its format and the way it approaches issues depending on the historical period and context of its emergence – the royalist, communist, and post-December eras – lies not only in its continuity over time but also in the fact that it represents the “house publication” of the Metropolis of Moldova and Bukovina. The periodical is an instrument of expression and testimony of the Orthodox faith, adapted to the needs and vicissitudes of the period in which it appeared, and last but not least, it has served as a launch platform for Orthodox theologians and future professors at theology faculties both in the country and abroad.
- Price: 6.50 €
Actualitatea Sfinților Părinți în lumea secularizată de astăzi
Actualitatea Sfinților Părinți în lumea secularizată de astăzi
(The relevance of the Holy Fathers in today's secularized world.)
- Author(s):Nicolae-Vladut Iorga
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:409-420
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:Holy Fathers; patristic theology; secularization; deification; spiritual crisis; communion; asceticism; prayer; Orthodoxy;
- Summary/Abstract:In a world increasingly marked by secularization and relativism, the teachings of the Holy Fathers remain a fundamental source of spiritual and moral guidance. This paper explores the relevance of patristic thought in the context of today’s challenges, highlighting how the writings of the Church Fathers offer answers to the modern human's identity crisis, lack of meaning, and existential fragmentation. Through a theological and anthropological approach, the study analyzes how patristic principles—such as asceticism, prayer, love, and communion—can serve as essential landmarks for rediscovering an authentic life. In an environment dominated by technology and consumerism, the wisdom of the Fathers gains special significance, providing a balance between the material and spiritual dimensions of life. The study proposes a rediscovery of patristic thought as an antidote to the spiritual and ethical crisis of the modern world, showing that the Holy Fathers are not merely witnesses of the past, but also guides for the present and future.
- Price: 6.50 €
Preotul Mărturisitor Gavriil Zob (1915-1997) din Gherla – ctitor de suflete și de biserici în vremea regimului comunist. Model pastoral de credință, curaj și demnitate
Preotul Mărturisitor Gavriil Zob (1915-1997) din Gherla – ctitor de suflete și de biserici în vremea regimului comunist. Model pastoral de credință, curaj și demnitate
(Priest Confessor Gavriil Zob (1915-1997) from Gherla – founder of souls and churches during the communist regime. Pastoral model of faith, courage and dignity.)
- Author(s):Sergiu V. Meleg
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:421-431
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:missionary model; communist regime; communist prisons; faith in God; church; fearless priest:
- Summary/Abstract:Father Gavriil Zob is a spiritual figure and a true missionary model of the 20th century. Although he had a rich missionary and pastoral activity during the difficult period of the communist regime, his personality and model of holiness are little known. The priest endured the hell of communist prisons for 14 years because of the following words he said to an acquaintance, which expressed the turmoil of a soul who loved his country and his faith: ‘What can our people do, so kneecapped and so mocked by the communist invaders from the East, who are now taking away everything we hold dear, our faith in God and all the riches of the Romanian land...’ After being released from prison and working for a period as an unskilled labourer in a factory, he was sent as a priest to the village of Hăsdate, near Gherla, where he built the village's current church from the ground up. Then he was sent to Gherla, where he built another church from scratch, a veritable cathedral, the current Orthodox Parish of St. Nicholas. While churches were being demolished in other areas, this fearless priest managed to build two churches from scratch, in the midst of the communist regime, and to keep people close to Christ. He was the priest who performed the first religious service in a Romanian prison after the fall of the communist regime, on Easter Night in 1990.
- Price: 6.50 €
Teologia mărturiSitoare a Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae. Câteva aspecte ale contribuției sale la formularea hristologiei bisericii ortodoxe
Teologia mărturiSitoare a Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae. Câteva aspecte ale contribuției sale la formularea hristologiei bisericii ortodoxe
(The confessional theology of the Holy Confessor Priest Dumitru Stăniloae. Some aspects of his contribution to the hristology of the Orthodox Church)
- Author(s):Cosmin-Paul Niergeș
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:432-444
- No. of Pages:13
- Keywords:confessional theology; Christology; suffering character;
- Summary/Abstract:The confessional dimension of the theology of the holly confessor priest Dumitru Stăniloae refers to his theological approach and to his theology work. His Christology is based on the universality and centrality of Person of Jesus Christ our Savior in creation, theology, spirituality, and Church and on the unity of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. The mystery of the union between divine nature and human nature is developed in his works in the spirit of the Chalcedon definition. One aspect which is developed in his dogmatic works referring to anthropology, Christology and ascetics is the patristic tradition of the „suffering character” (τὸ παθητόν) of the human nature of Christ. He developed this patristic tradition in: the human nature of Christ, the sinlessness of Christ, His real temptation through the innocent human passions, the role of human natural will in deification of His human nature. The suffering character has a positive and active aspect in Christ works, referring to the suffering of the divine Word in the body and suffering of deification by His human nature.
- Price: 6.50 €
From Paris to Mount Athos: The Athonite Journey of Saint Sophrony Sakharov
From Paris to Mount Athos: The Athonite Journey of Saint Sophrony Sakharov
(From Paris to Mount Athos: The Athonite Journey of Saint Sophrony Sakharov)
- Author(s):Alina Ana Nistor
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:445-455
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:Mount Athos; monasticism; prayer; hesychia;
- Summary/Abstract:Saint Sophrony the Athonite is one of the most prolific spiritual personalities of the twentieth century. A hesychast monk and a theologian, he was a connoisseur of spiritual experience expressed throughout all his theological works. The present paper aims to introduce the readers into the Athonite period of Saint Sophrony's life. In 1925 he left Paris and entered the Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon on the Holy Mountain. He then passed, over the course of 22 years, through all the stages of monastic life: novice, monk and hieromonk within the monastic community, hermit in the Athonite caves, hieromonk and confessor for the Athonite hermits and for the large monastic communities of Saint Paul, Gregoriou, Simonospetras and Xenophontes. On the Holy Mountain, monk Sophrony receives the vision of the Uncreated Light and lives in prayer for the whole world. In 1930, Hierodeacon Sophrony begins his apprenticeship with Saint Silouan, a monk of the monastery of Saint Panteleimon, who becomes his spiritual father. According to his own testimony, the seven years he spent with Staretz Silouan were the greatest gift God gave him. The Athonite path of Saint Sophrony, sealed by his providential encounter with Saint Silouan, will constitute the foundation for his later spiritual becoming and theology.
- Price: 6.50 €
Importanța cultivării valorilor și virtuților moral-religioase în formarea caracterului moral-creștin al omului, în general, al copiilor și tinerilor, în mod special
Importanța cultivării valorilor și virtuților moral-religioase în formarea caracterului moral-creștin al omului, în general, al copiilor și tinerilor, în mod special
(The importance of instilling religious moral values and virtues in development of the Christian moral character of man, in general, of children and young people, in particular)
- Author(s):Cristina Popa Negru
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:456-470
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:educational context; responsibility; values; virtues; moral-Christian character;
- Summary/Abstract:We choise this theological and pedagogical research theme, with the aim of pointing out the inner beauty of the human soul, the power of love and faith in the transformation, renewal and spiritual and moral perfection of man. By deepening the theological, methodological-scientific research theme, we propose pointing out the authentic value of the principles: good, truth, divine justice and Christian morality. By instilling theological and moral virtues in our live, we try to shape the moral-Christian character of children and young people, entrusted to us for education and trainig because they will be the future Christians of the Church and of the society where we live. By the constant concern for the training of the moral-Christian character of children and young people, we try to prepare them to be worthy, morally, spiritually, ecclesially, socieally intact. By shaping a moral-religious character in the Holly Orthodox Church, children and young people can became confessors of the Christian Orthodox faith when they face current challenges end trials.
- Price: 6.50 €
Mișcarea Rugul Aprins ca simbol al mărturisirii de credință
Mișcarea Rugul Aprins ca simbol al mărturisirii de credință
(The Burning Bush Movement as a symbol of confession of faith)
- Author(s):Marius Vasile Rogoz, George Daniel Oprea
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:471-477
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:prayer of the heart; Antim monastery; religious movement; communism;
- Summary/Abstract:During the Romanian communist period, the Church was considered a dangerous institution by the authoritarian political regime, which is why it tried to make it as insignificant as possible for public life. Despite the many compromises that the Church made towards this regime, such as withdrawing from cultural and social life, or holding religious services only inside places of worship, for example, the Church nevertheless undoubtedly made its presence felt in the lives of believers. A place of honor in this painful and striking process is occupied by the Burning Bush Movement from the Antim Monastery, which manifested among the most daring concrete actions of Orthodox spiritual resistance against the blows that communism dealt the Church. We have set out to write in this study about the spiritual treasure that the members of the movement, its clergy and laity, constitute, as a symbol and model of confession of the Orthodox faith.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Pious Gherontie, the Fool for Christ. Confessor and Healer of the 20th and 21st Century
The Pious Gherontie, the Fool for Christ. Confessor and Healer of the 20th and 21st Century
(The Pious Gherontie, the Fool for Christ. Confessor and Healer of the 20th and 21st Century)
- Author(s):Mihail-Stelian Stan
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:478-488
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:Fools for Christ; The Pious Gherontie the Fool; Tismana Monastery; Romanian Orthodox Church; 21st Century;
- Summary/Abstract:In 21st-century Romanian society, the figure of Venerable Gherontie, known as a “fool for Christ”, gained increasing appreciation, despite having been little understood and often rejected by those around him during his lifetime. From adolescence, he distinguished himself through a life of prayer and fasting, and during his imprisonment under the communist regime, he is said to have received from the Mother of God the calling of “foolishness for Christ”. This radical spiritual path made him difficult to comprehend for many. Yet the miracles attributed to him, even during his lifetime, led many to regard him as the first contemporary saint of this kind.
- Price: 6.50 €
Preotul și parohia – elemente de teologie și practică pastorală din opera Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae
Preotul și parohia – elemente de teologie și practică pastorală din opera Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae
(The Priest and the Parish: Aspects of Theology and Pastoral Practice in the Work of the Holy Confessor Priest Dumitru Stăniloae)
- Author(s):Viorel Sava
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:489-504
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:pastoral theology; pastoral actions; parish; priest; priest's family;
- Summary/Abstract:The article contains a series of pastoral aspects reflected in the theological work of our great theologian, St. Dimitru Staniloae. Although he is a specialist in systematic theology, Father Dumitru Staniloae offers an inspired vision on the practical aspects of an Orthodox parish priest. He is teaching us how to act in different circumstances, directing faithful people to Christ, who is the Heart and the Content of the priest's pastoral action. His pastoral theology is centered on Christ and guides to Christ. The goal of all pastoral action is the salvation of the parishioners.
- Price: 6.50 €
Basil of Seleucia’s homily In Elisaeum et Sunamitidem (CPG 6656.10) and its Old Georgian Translation
Basil of Seleucia’s homily In Elisaeum et Sunamitidem (CPG 6656.10) and its Old Georgian Translation
(Basil of Seleucia’s homily In Elisaeum et Sunamitidem (CPG 6656.10) and its Old Georgian Translation)
- Author(s):Tsotne Chkheidze
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:505-511
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:Basil of Seleucia (Isauria); Homily; Translation; Old Georgian; Manuscript; Elisha; Prophetic action;
- Summary/Abstract:Basil of Seleucia was a notable fifth-century bishop of Seleucia in Isauria and a distinguished preacher whose life and contributions have not been comprehensively studied. His figure presents significant challenges and opportunities for scholarly investigation. Basil was actively involved in the Synod of Constantinople in 448, which resulted in the condemnation of Eutyches. Subsequently, he voted in favor of Eutyches’ rehabilitation at the Latrocinium, which necessitated that Basil provide an explanation for his actions at the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. Following this, he appears to have emerged as a vigorous opponent of Monophysitism, thereby enhancing his importance in the theological discussions of his era. Basil of Seleucia presents a fascinating area of study, particularly in relation to his sermons, which some scholars suggest may have been influenced by Nestorius1. More than fifty sermons attributed to him have been preserved, including a notable collection of forty-one homilies (CPG 6656). These works were last published in volume 85 of the PG in 1864. Additionally, it is significant to note that at least three2 of these homilies have been translated into Old Georgian, highlighting Basil's teachings' enduring relevance and cultural impact. The preeminent example of Basil’s corpus within Georgian literary tradition is the translation of the sermon In Elisaeum et Sunamitidem (CPG 6656.10), which takes tenth place in PG. The objective of this paper is to analyze several philological and theological dimensions of the aforementioned Georgian translation. By examining these critical factors, we illuminate their profound impact on the content and interpretation of key dogmatic statements.
- Price: 6.50 €
The Prayers On the Ambo (ἐπιστάμβωνος) or Behind the Ambo (ὀπισθάμβωνος) of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
The Prayers On the Ambo (ἐπιστάμβωνος) or Behind the Ambo (ὀπισθάμβωνος) of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
(The Prayers On the Ambo (ἐπιστάμβωνος) or Behind the Ambo (ὀπισθάμβωνος) of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great)
- Author(s):Gabriel Piștea
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:512-534
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:Ambo prayers; Divine Liturgy; St. Basil the Great; Apolis; dismissal prayer; anaphora; Byzantine rite; Cappadocia; hagiopolite; Missal; Ieratikon;
- Summary/Abstract:The Ambo prayer was first introduced in the Byzantine version of the Basil’s Liturgy (BAS), following the process of byzantinization, probably imitating what already existed in the hagiopolite dismissal prayers. Thus, the evolution of the Ambo prayer started from these dismissal prayers, called the Apolis prayers, borrowed from the IAK, and received the name of Ambo prayers in Constantinople. The prayer of the Apolis or the hagiopolite dismissal prayer would form the basis of the Ambo prayer, especially since the texts of the Ambo prayers on Sundays of Lent, for example, do not follow the themes of the Lectionary or the Constantinopolitan Typicon, but develop the themes of the Armenian Lectionary of Jerusalem. The Liturgy of Basil includes several variants of the Ambo prayers, and I propose to analyze some of them, which I have identified in various byzantine manuscripts and in the printed romanian and greek Missals. Could any of these prayers be composed by St. Basil the Great?
- Price: 6.50 €
Filocalie și Sfântă Liturghie – slujirea liturgică a monahilor din Moldova la începutul secolului al XX-lea
Filocalie și Sfântă Liturghie – slujirea liturgică a monahilor din Moldova la începutul secolului al XX-lea
(Philocalia and Divine Liturgy - the liturgical ministry of the monks in Moldova at the beginning of the 20th century)
- Author(s):Alexăndrel Elian (Gavriil) Alexa
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:535-544
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Orthodox Church of the Kingdom of Romania; St. Liturgy; the monasteries of the Metropolis of Moldavia;
- Summary/Abstract:Popular culture was integrated into the Church in the Romanian space, and the flow of the calendar year unfolded according to the liturgical rhythm, whose cadence was always determined by the organized life of the monastic or parish church. While in parishes the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Sundays and religious feast days throughout the year, in monasteries and hermitages, the liturgical service was continuous, which gave the monastic space a particularly spiritual character. In order for the Divine Liturgy to be continuous, monastic life had to unfold in obedience, according to certain rules freely assumed by all monks and brothers in the community. For this reason, the liturgical time of monastic life was intertwined with the order of ecclesiastical canons and rules, to which were added the love of beauty, the love of God's holiness, or Philokalia. This study seeks to explain how the liturgical life of monks in the monasteries of the Metropolis of Moldavia was able to continue during a period of modernization of the State and, implicitly, of its institutions, through administrative reforms that were also adopted by the Orthodox Church of the Kingdom of Romania. Thus, the peace of the cell came to be seen in liturgical history as a dam against overly enthusiastic initiatives coming from the secular world toward profane service.
- Price: 6.50 €
Centenarul serbărilor de la Iași: O celebrare a identității naționale și religioase în contextul tradiției și înnoirii, reflectată în solemnitatea Hramului Sfintei Parascheva
Centenarul serbărilor de la Iași: O celebrare a identității naționale și religioase în contextul tradiției și înnoirii, reflectată în solemnitatea Hramului Sfintei Parascheva
(The Centennial of the Celebrations in Iași: a Commemoration of National and Religious Identity in the Context of Tradition and Renewal, Reflected in the Solemnity of the Feast of Saint Parascheva)
- Author(s):Stefan Iulian Apopei
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:545-558
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Sfânta Parascheva; 1925; hram; serbări;
- Summary/Abstract:The year 2025 marks the centennial of the 1925 celebrations in Iași, alongside two other major anniversaries for the Romanian Orthodox Church: 100 years since the official recognition of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years since the proclamation of its autocephaly. These milestones played a crucial role in consolidating the national and religious identity of modern Romania, being celebrated through a wide range of cultural, religious, and political events. Centered on the feast of Saint Parascheva, the celebrations reflected not only the spiritual significance of Iași but also the affirmation of the Church’s autonomous status within universal Orthodoxy. This study offers an interdisciplinary analysis of how both theological and secular press captured the atmosphere of those days, highlighting the traditions, customs, and cultural activities that took place. The consecration of the Palace of Justice in Iași (now the Palace of Culture), along with the commemoration of key synods, emphasized the deep connection between faith, culture, and justice. Drawing on historical sources and archival documents, this research provides a critical reassessment of Iași’s symbolic role as a space of convergence between religious identity and national consciousness.
- Price: 6.50 €
Mariologia în opera teologică a Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae
Mariologia în opera teologică a Sfântului Preot Mărturisitor Dumitru Stăniloae
(Mariology in the theological work of St. Priest Confessor Dumitru Stăniloae)
- Author(s):Dănuț Băcăuanu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:559-569
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:Mariology; Staniloae; dogmatist; theological writings;
- Summary/Abstract:In achieving the goal of honoring and promoting the mariological thought of St. Pr. Conf. Dumitru Stăniloae, one can notice a whole host of studies and articles focused on the subject. It can be observed, when compared with the style and language of other Romanian Orthodox dogmatic writings, that St. Father Confessor Dumitru Stăniloae even invents an expression through new terminology in theological discourse. This language, although it perfectly fits within the previous patristic discourse, is completely original. His Mariology is eminently Christological, managing to provide that balance in the presentation of ideas while maintaining the orthodoxy of the texts adapted to the speaking style of his time. His life was a life dedicated to serving God, alongside whom the Mother of God is ever-present. In any of his service activities, he displayed humility, piety, and unwavering trust in the Holy Trinity and in her who collaborated with divinity for the salvation of humankind.
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Considerații despre tema morții, ca laitmotiv în literatura filocalică
Considerații despre tema morții, ca laitmotiv în literatura filocalică
(Considerations on the theme of death as a leitmotif in philological literature)
- Author(s):Pamvo (Andrei Cătălin) Dima
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
- Page Range:570-588
- No. of Pages:19
- Keywords:Filocalie; asceticism; eschatology; detachment; freedom; deification; death; niptic literature; parents of the desert;
- Summary/Abstract:The topic of death is all over Filocalia literature. It's a big marker for spiritual growth and also for figuring out who you are as a believer in your relationship with God. For the Filocalia fathers, who are distinguished by the fact that they practiced an ascetic life oriented toward the goal of fulfillment, death represents the transition to eternal life. It is the threshold of inner maturity and the entrance into the horizon of true life. The theme of death is not limited to the biological end, because death acquires pedagogical and anthropological value through its own role in preparing us for eternal existence. „Death, if man keeps it in mind, is immortality”, teaches St. Anthony the Great.In Filocalia literature, earthly life is a space of transfiguration. In this space, the divine likeness planted in man is shaped through ascetic exercise, vigilance, and advancement in virtue. The memory of death stimulates the preservation of inner attention. The monk overcomes the fear of death and acquires spiritual freedom, in which personal restoration begins. Thus, in the writings of the Niptic fathers, the subject of death becomes a meaningful leitmotif. It accompanies reflection on human destiny and structures ascetic discipline. The leitmotif of death becomes a criterion of discernment that imposes on the faithful a eschatological direction oriented towards deification.
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Îndrumări pastorale ale Părintelui Profesor Nicolae D. Necula pentru cler și credincioși
Îndrumări pastorale ale Părintelui Profesor Nicolae D. Necula pentru cler și credincioși
(Pastoral Guidance’s of Father Professor Nicolae D. Necula for Clergy and the Faithful)
- Author(s):Andrei Dorneanu
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion
- Page Range:589-603
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:Orthodox Church; Pastoral guidance; Father Professor Nicolae D. Necula;
- Summary/Abstract:This article aims to highlight some of the significant pastoral guidelines offers by Father Professor Nicolae D. Necula, addressed to both priests and lay believers. With extensive theological and pastoral experience, Father Necula was deeply concerned with the proper formation of clergy and the active involvement of the laity in the life of the Church. For priests, he emphasizes the importance of conscious, responsible ministry, adapted to the current social context. Special attention is given to the living relationship between the priest and the community, the need for clear and edifying preaching, as well as the presence of the priest not only in the liturgical space but also in the daily lives of believers. As for the faithful, Father Professor encourages active and conscious participation in parish life, authentic living of the faith, and close collaboration with the priest in building a vibrant and united community. Through these guidelines, Father Nicolae D. Necula offers a balanced and relevant pastoral model, rooted in communion, responsibility, and mutual dedication in the service of Christ.
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Comunicatorul în Biserica Ortodoxă Română: mesajul Evangheliei în limbajul societății actuale
Comunicatorul în Biserica Ortodoxă Română: mesajul Evangheliei în limbajul societății actuale
(The communicator in the Romanian Orthodox Church: the message of the Gospel in the language of today's society)
- Author(s):Flavius-Ștefan Popa
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, Religion and science
- Page Range:604-613
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:social media; media theology; new media; communications; online gospel;
- Summary/Abstract:The digital environment offers the Church an outstanding framework for proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. This instrument is not merely an opportunity, but is increasingly becoming a priority in cultivating and transmitting the message of Christian faith to believers in the 21st century. Nowadays, the media overlaps with digital platforms, as all channels for communicating Church-related information are found online. A community whose message is consistently updated is a well-grounded and well-formed one, capable of responding to the challenges posed by the progressive space, which often brings misinformation or other harmful influences. Such communication should not come solely from individuals – whether ordained or not – who seek to plant the Word of God in people’s hearts, but should instead become an expression of the Church’s institutional identity. It ought to reflect an authentic way of life and present models to be followed in contemporary society, which is becoming increasingly confused and lacking in clear moral and spiritual reference points.
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De la autocefalie la persecuție: evoluția statutului juridic al Bisericii Ortodoxe Române și mărturisitorii credinței în secolul al XX-lea
De la autocefalie la persecuție: evoluția statutului juridic al Bisericii Ortodoxe Române și mărturisitorii credinței în secolul al XX-lea
(The evolution of the legal status of the Romanian Orthodox Church and confessors of the faith in the 20th century)
- Author(s):Cristian Ștefan
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:614-625
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:autocephaly; religious freedom; communist persecution; confessors of faith;
- Summary/Abstract:This article examines the historical and juridical evolution of the Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC) throughout the twentieth century, emphasizing the tension between canonical autonomy and political subordination. Beginning with the recognition of autocephaly in 1885 and the proclamation of the Patriarchate in 1925, the ROC consolidated its institutional identity as both a spiritual authority and a national symbol. However, the communist regime (1945-1989) imposed a radical transformation of its legal status, turning the Church into a subject of state control. The 1948 Cults Law and Decree 410/1959 illustrate the systemic attempt to dismantle ecclesiastical autonomy, restrict monastic life, and suppress theological education. Methodologically, the study integrates canonical analysis, constitutional provisions, and historical case studies of religious persecution. It highlights the paradox of a Church formally recognized as a legal entity but deprived of substantive religious freedom. Central to this narrative are the confessors of faith – hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and laypersons – who resisted ideological pressure and bore witness to the faith in prisons such as Aiud, Pitești, and Sighet. Their testimony represents both a moral resistance to totalitarianism and a juridical reminder of the fragility of religious freedom under authoritarian regimes. After the fall of communism in 1989, the ROC regained its full juridical autonomy within the framework of a democratic constitution. The 1991 and 2003 Constitutions, together with Law no. 489/2006 on religious freedom, redefined Church-State relations in terms of cooperative neutrality. At the same time, the canonization of confessors and martyrs of the communist prisons reflects the rehabilitation of memory and the restoration of ecclesial dignity. The article concludes that the trajectory of the ROC – from autocephaly to persecution and then to post-communist rehabilitation – illustrates the dynamic interplay between law, theology, and history. It also underscores the importance of confessors of faith as both spiritual witnesses and juridical actors in the defense of human dignity and religious liberty.
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Regimul libertății religioase și evoluțiile reglementărilor pentru organizarea și funcționarea Bisericii Ortodoxe Române în perioada 1918-1928
Regimul libertății religioase și evoluțiile reglementărilor pentru organizarea și funcționarea Bisericii Ortodoxe Române în perioada 1918-1928
(The regime of religious freedom and the developments of the Statute for the organization and functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the period 1918-1928)
- Author(s):Alin George Stoica
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:626-648
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:Romanian Orthodox Church; religious freedom; State-Church relation; the 1925 Statute of Romanian Orthodox Church; the 1928 Law on Religious Denominations;
- Summary/Abstract:The paper analyzes the adoption and impact of the 1925 Statute of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as the 1928 Law on Religious Denominations, within the context of Church-State relations in interwar Romania. The study highlights how these legal acts shaped ecclesiastical autonomy, influenced interdenominational relations, and generated debates regarding religious freedom and the role of politics in the confessional sphere. By examining the perspectives of the clergy and prominent contemporary figures, the research brings to the forefront the tensions between tradition and modernization in early 20th-century Romanian society.
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Autobiografia Cuviosului Paisie Velicicovski și surse documentare
Autobiografia Cuviosului Paisie Velicicovski și surse documentare
(The Autobiography of the Religious Paisiy Velitsicovsky snd Documentary Sources)
- Author(s):Hrisant (Antonios) Tsachakis
- Language:Romanian
- Subject(s):Theology and Religion, History of Religion
- Page Range:649-658
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Saint Paisius Velicikovski; autobiografia; spiritual life;
- Summary/Abstract:Saint Paisius's Velicikovski autobiography is of rare value and a unique historical source for the monastic and spiritual life of Ukraine and Moldova in the first half of the 18th century. Velichkovsky was not an original writer, he was a teacher and spiritual guide, author of books. The written texts refer to the spiritual life, to the teachings for monks, which he finds in the patristic texts, those that were translated by Paisius from Greek into Slavonic. However, his autobiography, a completely original text, proves his narrative capacity and captures the reader's interest, being a text of spontaneous expression, characterized by deep sincerity, which increases the author's reputation.
- Price: 6.50 €
