" Constantine´s Christianity for the (Dis)integrated EU. Déjà vu of Constantine’s Roman governance reflecting of the mistrial of Jesus for EU? "

Author(s): MacGregor Pelikánová Radka / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Two thousand years ago, a horrific mistrial occurred demonstrating, among other features, many failures of proper governance and administration and constituting a total violation of the rule of law. Seventeen centuries ago, the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great embraced Christianity and overcame the immediately threatening disintegration of the Roman Empire. His administration and integration drive could be seen as addressing the faults of the mistrial of Jesus Christ. His approach to governance and justice under the auspices of Christianity allowed overcoming a set of crises and many disintegration issues linked to ineffectiveness, inefficiency and corruption, denoting him as an illustrious and just leader of a united Empire spreading over a large part of Europe and part of Africa and Asia. Seven decades ago, a modern European integration around the common market was launched and progressively expanded to other spheres. One decade ago a set of crises hit and challenged the European integration. The current post-Lisbon EU, constitutionally defined by the TEU, TFEU and Charter and strategically by Europe 2020, faces many issues which were greatly addressed by Constantine. Hence, the question emerges – is the post-Lisbon EU inspired by the lesson of Constantine? Namely, do its leaders, as well as the constitutional and strategic frameworks, encompass Christianity and Christian principles, especially those implied by the mistrial of Jesus? Or are we departing from Christianity and denying that Christianity is the glue and fundament of European, indeed Western, civilization and a great guidance for EU integration?

"Continuities and discontinuities. Educational program of The Planned Parenthood Association in Krakow (1957 – 1993)"

Author(s): Barbara Klich-Kluczewska / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2014

The article presents the program of sexual education prepared and offered by Krakow Branch of the Planned Parenthood Association in the wider context of socio-political situation in Krakow (1956 – 1989). Since the beginning of the Association’s existence, the special attention was paid to the development of educational program, which concerned the different aspects of „family life“. The article is going to answer the questions about its goals, the educational tools used to achieve them and its social targets. To accurately determine the position of the Association in the city‘s community I will analyse its foundation and activities in wider context of the pre-war traditions of the organisation and the activities regarding premarital counselling undertaken by the Krakow Catholic Church.

"Gott hat sein Evangelium auch durch die Musik gepredigt". Martin Luther, die Musik und das Kirchenlied

Author(s): Wilhelm Hüffmeier / Language(s): German / Issue: 10/2016

The article presents origins of the Evangelical church music in the XVI century. Pastor Dr Martin Luther is regarded as the father this music. The poet H. Heine described the hymn “A mighty fortress is our God” as Mar-seillaise of the Reformation. Luther was brought up in his school musical circle and recommended teaching music at schools of all levels. The Reformer, apart from prefaces to all kinds of songbooks, wrote four texts dedicated to the essence of Evangelical song where we find a thesis that music is a good deed of the God -Creator Himself what makes that music in its very nature is a good instrument to proclaim the Gospel. In one of his letters Luther wrote indeed that apart from theology music is the best art bringing consolation for the heart. His first song, Luther wrote not earlier than in 1523 in parallel to the undertaken efforts to reform Evangelical liturgy. Apart from the so-called propaganda songs of Reformation Luther’s favourite songs were paraphrases of psalms. In addition, another form of religious song created in the times of Reformation are catechism songs. The article also depicts the person of Elisabeth Cruciger, the first Reformation singer. Reformation triggered a mighty movement that intro-duced national languages to the liturgy and church services. This movement also transformed music giving it specific feature of piety emerging from the spirit of Evangelical church reformation in the XVI century.

"Maly Luter" ze Wschowy. Valerius Herberger (1562-1627) wzorem kaznodziei

Author(s): Adam Kalbarczyk / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2014

At the turn of the 17th century in the royal town of Wschowa lived and worked the famous Lutheran pastor Valerius Herberger, called "little Luther". considering his eager preaching, pastoral activity and outstanding theological works.

"Vy máte iného ducha!" Žilinská deklarácia - národno-politický aspekt slovenského evanjelického reformného hnutia

Author(s): László Matus / Language(s): Slovak / Issue: 1/2015

The constitution of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Kingdom of Hungary was established by the 1891-94 synod. This constitution had a tendency towards centralization and greatly restricted the autonomy of the church. The centralized administration rendered it possible for the leaders of the church to reduce the autonomy of Slovak Lutherans, who had majority in the Cis-Danubian district, by redrawing the borders of the districts. In the new districts the Slovak Lutherans found themselves in minority everywhere, losing their influence on decision making.This lead to the Žilina Declaration, which was signed by 68 north-west Hungarian Slovak congregations at the end of 1912 and the beginning of 1913. The declaration criticised the centralization and the concomitant tendencies towards Hungarian linguistic and the ideological nationalization of the church, and it even raised the issue of forming autonomous Slovak districts.The present study analyses the political context of the above mentioned document. The author uses primary sources because the topic lacks historiographical literature. The first research question of the study is whether the co-operation of the Slovak congregations was as an ad-hoc association or, rather, the result of the mobilisation of an institutionalized group. The second research question discusses the various representations of the relevance of the aforementioned congregational co-operation in the Slovak national narrative. In order to answer these questions the author relies on both political science theories and secularisation theories.

"Свешената книга" в романовата структура на "Хайка за вълци" от Ивайло Петров - релации и трансформации

Author(s): Zapryan Kozludzhov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian / Publication Year: 0

Ivailo Petrov's novel 'Wolf Hunt' is a dramatic saga with a story covering a long and contradictory period of Bulgarian history, from the first years after World War II to 1965. The fates of Ivan Shibilev, Mona Zhendo, Kalcho, Nikolin, Stoyan Kralev and their sons and daoughters intertwine and grow apart in passions and conflicts. This book is the story of people who are born during a totalitarian regime or die, frequently because of what they love. The hunt is the symbol of their thirst for revenge, the Old Testament 'an eye for an eye', with the outcome/redemption being presented as a pain of the soul caused by the loss of human happiness. The study discusses the presence of biblical motifs and images and the manner in which the author of the novel works with them. The moral categories through which each individual considers his/her life are skilfully woven in the book by the careful use of biblical symbols and messages. The characters in 'Wolf Hunt' fully experience the passions and sufferings of the Old Testament characters, thereby redeeming the original human sin.

...HIS ENEMY BE MADE HIS FOOTSTOOL - VISIONARY UPRISING ON AN URBAN SCENE – A CASE FROM MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY NORWAY

Author(s): Arne Bugge AMUNDSEN / Language(s): English / Issue: 1-2/2000

The article focuses on a series of events in the little town Fredrikstad in southeastern Norway in the year 1852. A small group of proto-methodists, who later on were influenced by Mormonism and emigrated to Utah, made serious efforts to dominate the public urban spheres: the church, the court room, the harbour and the streets. Their actions were, partly, inspired and legitimized by religious visions and hallucinations but their message included both religious and social reformation. They were charged with accusations of blasphemy, crimen laesae majestatis, disturbing public order and insulting His Majesty’s servants, and they eventually ended up with legal sentences. One of the rebels, the shipmaster Tobias Jacobsen, was also accused of being insane and made the object of a thorough psychiatric investigation. The author presents four main points of interpretation of these events: 1) The events can be analyzed in terms of “systems in conflict”, that is as a confrontation between radically different cultural values and symbols, 2) The conflict had rhetorical implications for both groups of participants: the group in revolt and the established public authority, 3) The rhetorical implications include different conceptions of time and history, and 4) As a contribution to the study of cultural history, a close examination of the visionaries’ rebellious narratives may show the close interaction between speech and action, event and narrative.

1883–1916 metų katekizmų religinių vietų pavadinimai

Author(s): Aušra Rimkute / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 19/2012

Names of places related to religion comprise about five percent of religious terminology used in catechisms published in 1883–1916. These words name various liturgical places important to believers such as buildings (bažnyčia (church), šventykla (church), katedra (cathedral)), their parts and spaces (altorius (altar), aukuras (altar), choras (choir), klausykla (confessional), koplyčia (chapel), sakykla (pulpit), zakristija (vestry)), places of burial (kapinės (cemetery), katakombos (catacombs)), afterlife (dangus (heaven), rojus (paradise)), miraculous or important religious events, for instance, visitations (dykynė (wilderness)), punishment or purification (pragaras (hell), skaistykla (purgatory)), and other places. According to their origin names of places related to religion used in catechisms published in 1883–1916 can be divided into Lithuanian (44 percent; aukuras (altar), dangus (heaven), pragaras (hell), klausykla (confessional), sakykla (pulpit), skaistykla (purgatory), šveitykla (purgatory), šventykla (church), vienuolynas (monastery), tėvainystė (heaven)), non-Lithuanian: a) international words (8 percent; altorius (altar), konfesionalas (confessional), presbiterija (presbitery)), b) old borrowings (12 percent; bažnyčia (church), koplyčia (chapel), rojus (paradise), zakristija (sacristy)), c) barbarisms (30 percent; atklanės (hell), pekla (hell), čysčius (purgatory), svietas (world)) and half- Lithuanian words (6 percent; altorėlis (altar), karalystė (kingdom), vyskupija (diocese)).

75 lat obecności bł. Urszuli Ledóchowskiej i jej Zgromadzenia w Łodzi 1922–1997

Author(s): Andrzeja Górska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/1998

Czym ma być dla nas ten Jubileusz? Przede wszystkim serdecznym wspominaniem minionych lat, a także uroczystym i radosnym dziękczynieniem Bogu i ludziom za przeżyty czas, za dokonane dzieła, za wszystkich i wszystko, czym nas Pan Bóg obdarzył; za wszystkie widoczne, a czasem niedostrzegalne dla ludzkich oczu łaski, dobrodziejstwa i doświadczenia; za te wszystkie tajemnice radosne, bolesne i chwalebne, które wypełniają każde ludzkie życie zarówno życie osobiste, jak i życie wspólnot i społeczeństw, wśród których i dla których żyjemy, pracujemy i które współtworzymy.

A 20.SZÁZAD TÖRTÉNELMI ESEMÉNYEINEK JELENTŐSÉGE A GÖRÖG KATOLIKUS EGYHÁZ SZÁMÁRA SZLOVÁKIÁBAN (CSEHSZLOVÁKIÁBAN)

Author(s): Béla Bohács / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2018

Historical Events of the 20th Century and Their Relevance for the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia (Czechoslovakia). In 2018, the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Prešov commemorates the 200th anniversary of its establishment. Throughout its existence, the eparchy experienced its heyday and there were times when the eparchy struggled and suffered. The darkest period was the total liquidation of the Greek Catholic Church by the totalitarian regime in the years of 1950–1968. The eparchy resumed its activities in 1968 during the “Prague Spring”. The period of unrestricted activities of the eparchy, however, commenced after the “Velvet Revolution” in 1989.

A comparative study of “Self examination or self knowing” from the viewpoint of Rumi and Shankara

Author(s): Ali reza Khajegir,Mohammad reza Afroogh / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2018

The mystics always have a special interest in human beings. They think about bothhuman being and his ideas, that is, in their thinking anthropology is of greatimportance from various dimensions especially epistemological, ethical andsocial. Therefore, the drawing and explanation of the features of the mystical manis a concern. They are for the sake of man and his greatness. Of course, it shouldbe noted that their attitude towards humans is more than moral and moraldimension, and other aspects of anthropology, practical action, have a specialplace in his thought. This attitude towards man by him is the epistemic existentialdimensions, as well as the nature of human truth, and in particular, the perfectman's attributes Includes. In this article, we use the views and opinions of thesetwo great mystics and their interpretation based on their literary texts to study therole and effect of self-knowledge as a great and common way between the twomystics for connecting to the Absolute Truth. The present study is a descriptivecomparative study and data are analyzed and analyzed using a content analysismethod in a library method.

A comparison of approaches to art in the constitutions of the Orders of the Discalced Carmelites and Trinitarians

Author(s): Miroslawa Sobczynska-Szczepanska / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

The reform process of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians) developed under the strong influence of the Teresian Carmel, which is reflected in the dependence of the first constitutions of the Discalced Trinitarians (1614) on the statutes of the Spanish Congregation of the Discalced Carmelites (1604). The article discusses the regulations on the artistic activity contained in the aforementioned texts and in the later statutes of both orders (including the unpublished constitutions of the Outside-Spain-Family of the Discalced Trinitarians compiled in 1770) that have as yet not been studied by historians of the Trinitarians Order. The analysis of these provisions leads to the conclusion that Trinitarian approach to art was determined by the legislations of the Spanish Discalced Carmelites and by the third point of the Trinitarian Rule, ordering that their churches were of simple construction. Unlike the Spanish Discalced Carmelites, the Discalced Trinitarians systematically modified their regulations, adapting them to the changing circumstances in which the religious buildings were constructed.

A durai zsinagóga nyugati falképciklusának vallási és politikai üzenete

Author(s): Géza Xeravits / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 2/2012

The west wall of the Dura synagogue is a kind of political and religious manifesto. The first artist of the west wall accentuated the enduring covenant between God and his people and the continuity of the cult. The second artist picked up these overall Leitmotivs, and expanded them by adding the figurative paintings. The modifications to the central panel emphasise the idea that Israel is a people chosen by God, in whose history God’s promises and the forefathers’ blessings are fulfilled. This is complemented by the wing panels, where Moses, the pre-eminent figure of the past, is depicted. This Mosaic cycle shows religious/cultic orientation. This aspect is further emphasised by the middle register of the narrative panels. As we look at the narrative panels, we see that the middle register has a kind of central position—framed by the top and bottom registers—which assigns to it a basic or essential place within the composition. The message of this mural is to meditate upon the believer’s relationship with God. After articulating the religious message of the west wall, the artist turned to political issues. The paintings of the bottom and top registers recalling various events of the histoire sainte—affirm the pre-eminence of the Jewish people. Affirming this in a minority context and in an especially turbulent period of regional history, these panels carry a message of consolation.

A FI ROMÂN ÎN ROMÂNIA UNITĂ VOCAȚIA VERTICALITĂȚII SPIRITUALE A UNUI NEAM HRISTIC

Author(s): Emil Jurcan / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1/2018

This is a work of awareness about a beautiful history of a vertical nation. More than ever we need to look for the landmarks of our beautiful nation, now that he is asked by Brussels to abandon his traditional values. I tried to show in my study what beautiful people we were in history. We were the only people of Europe that saved five peoples without any intention to ask anything in return. A beautiful people with much suffering in his history, but who unfortunately did not learn much from it. My work is an alarming signal for the loss of beauty of this nation, now that we celebrate a hundred years since the union of the country.

A FURFÓI IUPPITER LIBER-TEMPLOM SZABÁLYZATA (CIL I, 756)

Author(s): Tamás Adamik / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1-2/2002

There are some important editions of this inscription (CIL I, 756) nevertheless their text is unsatisfactory. Althought some details are disputable in the Latin text of the inscription, yet its intention and aim are clear and unambiguous. The temple in Furfo is dedicated to Jupiter Liber. In the temple regulations every activity is permitted — except bad faith and stealing — in interest of the temple and this suits well both the utilitarian view of the local vineyardists, and the businesslike, contractual nature of the roman religion.

A GYERMEKBIBLIA-KUTATÁS LEGJELENTŐSEBB EREDMÉNYEI

Author(s): Dávid Németh / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2018

The Most Significant Results of the Research on Children’s Bibles. About twenty years ago, Children’s Bibles gained special attention in the field of Religious Education. Since then there has been active research in this field. The historical investigations have revealed a great amount of data unknown before. This study presents the case of the Hübner Bible in Hungary. There has been research concerning the theological and pedagogical aspects based on which the selection of the Biblical stories was made, research about the theological and didactical aspects of the narrative style and also the developmental psychological aptitude on the receiver side that has to be taken into consideration. The types of changes and distortions that differentiate the texts of the Children’s Bibles from the original are also discussed in the study. The quality and the function of the illustrations are also a subject of investigation. Here again the needs and the characteristics of the age group of the children who use the Children’s Bibles is a significant aspect.

A háború gyümölcse

Author(s): Editorial Board Keresztény Szó / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 02/2018

A Half-Century of Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue (1967-2017)

Author(s): Józef Budniak / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

The pursuit of the unity in the Church is the primary task of all believers in Christ. This pursuit should take place on every level: spiritual (through prayer), practical (through concrete actions), and doctrinal (through dialogue about the main truths of faith). In the past 50 years (1967–2017), many common positions between Catholics and Lutherans have been worked out and recorded in the 2013 document From Conflict to Communion. October 31, 2016, which marked the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation as well as the 50-year anniversary of Catholic-Lutheran dialogue, has changed the way that Catholics and Evangelicals view each other. Pope Francis, as a representative of the Catholic Church, Bishop Munib Younan, and Fr. Martin Junge, who represented the Lutheran World Federation, co-hosted an ecumenical celebration that took place in Lund, Sweden, inaugurating the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. After the service, a joint document entitled Joint Declaration on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation was published. The document concluded with the following message: “We call upon all Lutheran and Catholic parishes and communities to be bold and creative, joyful and hopeful in their commitment to continue the great journey ahead of us. Rather than conflicts of the past, God’s gift of unity among us shall guide cooperation and deepen our solidarity. By drawing close in faith to Christ, by praying together, by listening to one another, by living Christ’s love in our relationships, we, Catholics and Lutherans, open ourselves to the power of the Triune God. Rooted in Christ and witnessing to him, we renew our determination to be faithful heralds of God’s boundless love for all humanity”. The 50-year Catholic-Lutheran dialogue should be an encouragement for Christians to testify together to a wounded and the divided world, to more passionately pursue further dialogue in order to overcome existing differences, and to be open to unity, which is the source of our common hope.

A HÁZASSÁGBAN ÉLŐ KERESZTÉNY LÉT LELKISÉGE ÉS TEOLÓGIÁJA

Author(s): Tamás Kruppa / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2018

Spirituality and Theology of the Married Christian Being. The „Milieu” where a modern Christian marriage exists, seems to be among not to easy circumstances. It is a double sided situation behind of you with God when you are together with your husband or wife, and behind of you with your wife or husband, when you are together with God. Although, we believe that in the Holy Spirit this two parts can be united into one whole. The marriage as institution is older than Christianity, but it is created and blessed by God from the beginning what’s the source of all holiness or sacrament. Christ gave it to the fullness when He raised it up to Himself. He is the only fundament in what all things stand up and fulfill sacraments, too. The marriage is a sacrament both in the Catholic and Orthodox Church, but from the point of you the of marriage’s mystery, they have some differences in their details. The scholastic Latin and the post patristic eastern Churches perspective the founda¬tion of sacraments like a creation ex nihilo, a discontinuing phenomena, and the sign of the sacraments are caused by Jesus Christ, the Incarnated Son of God. However the patristic tradition and the modern emigrant orthodox theology maintain that the foundation of the sacraments are in the fulfillments of sacrament’s sig or symbol which is created by God in the beginning intentionally in order to be able to reach its own final purpose. The “Love spiral” involves nine different grades which follow each-other again and again. In a really deep love connection these Moments of love need to be realized gradually. These grade are: 1. Calling, 2. Identity, 3. Intimacy, 4. confrontation, 5. Con¬version, 6. Reconciliation, 7. Communion, 8. Commitment, 9. Mission. Conclusion. There must be peaceful and friendly but professional confrontations between different parts of the divided Churches to find and looking for together the original place and status of the marriage in the Christianity. Marriage, Church, Sacraments, and particularly Eucharist are united in Jesus Christ ever and forever. This is the reason why Christian sacramental marriage make part of the sacraments of the Church and of Christ as Bride and Bridegroom.

A HOME FOR THE IMMORTALS: THE LAYOUT AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIEVAL DAOIST MONASTERIES

Author(s): Livia Kohn / Language(s): English / Issue: 1-2/2000

Monasteries typically have a structure and layout that suits both the spiritual and mundane needs of their communities: a central area that has a place of worship or meditation, a kitchen, refectory, dormitory, guest house, library, and basic work space; an outer layer with more specified workshops, stables and animal hutches, huts for solitary practice, memorial hall, and cemetery; and a third, most outward ring with orchards, fields, mills, and manufacturing sites. Studying the specific layout and organization of medieval Daoist monasteries, which came to flourish from the sixth century onward, it becomes evident that they follow mainstream Chinese models in their basic layout, imitate Buddhist structures in their buildings and their names, and continue traditional Daoist community centres and meditation retreats. In addition, one can also compare them to ancient Indian and medieval Western institutions, recognizing thereby the unique nature of the Daoist monastery. Planned and executed to imitate celestial landscapes and palaces, it served to attract immortals from above and prepare earthly aspirants for a more divine form of life, while also providing spiritual support for the state and a venue of merit-making for aristocratic sponsors.