Church and Change with a Special Focus on the Romanian Institutional Ecclesiology

Author(s): Dan Sandu / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Pre present context views the Church as a construct of human mind, promoting religiosity and a certain ritual (mostly needed by the people with no reference to a living God) whose main role is to provide social services in a given society, or, in a more plastic exposure, "the club of Christ". And this is in general accurate given that she passed through history making use of the same means and instruments of any human organisation. Her transcendent dimension was entrusted to the mystical minds and liturgists who defined her as a boat of salvation and the foretasting of the Kingdom. Is such an institution subject to change? If yes, what can be changed and when, in what extent and for what length? The study aims at a few attempts to accept change as a form of subsistence. The faithful have their own expectations from the main Church, the experiences of the Romanian Church members abroad bring new challenges facing this conservative institution. One cannot speak of real change, but rather an adaptation to the new context where the mythical approach of religion leaves more room for the rational approach and even to the pluralistic one. This is presented as the normal evolution of the future religion which expects to be more spiritual than institutional, in line with the new discoveries of neuroscience, evolution and hard sciences, towards an integral (even super-integral) approach.

Evaluating the legal impact of EU economic sanctions on Russia from an EU business perspective

Author(s): Kieran Robert Spencer / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In response to the 2022 escalation of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, the European Union has implemented unprecedented sanctions targeting the Russian state, individuals supporting the war effort, and the Russian economy generally. These sanctions are unique in the history of the European Union, not only because of their political context but also because of their breadth and the novel legal instruments used. This paper will explore how these distinctive features might impact businesses working within the European Union.

Babai cel Mare și sistematizarea doctrinei hristologice în Biserica Siro-Orientală (sec. VI-VII)

Author(s): Justinian Mîndrilă / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

The Church of the East, or the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, as it is officially called, was known for a long time in the Church History books of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity as well as of all Western Churches as the „Nestorian” Church. The reason that stays behind this label – and thus behind the schism between the Church of the East and the Church within the Roman Empire was represented by the different views regarding the Christological doctrine. Since this remains until today the bone of contention between these churches it is needed to have a precise knowledge of the East-Syriac Christology. As the systematizer of this teaching in the Church of the East, the study of Babai the Great’s theology is a suitable starting point for this purpose. Until present times, the interest for his writings and teachings in the Romanian theology was quite low, if at all. Therefore, the present study aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the Christology promoted by Babai the Great and the Church of the East, by providing the context of its formulation, and explaining and evaluating his main theological concepts based on Babai’s writings, considering the latest research on this topic.

Biserica Ortodoxă Rusă în spațiul baltic între anii 1836-1848

Author(s): Andrei Gaju / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

In the first half of the 18th century Russia enlarged its borders and became an empire stretching from the steppes of Central Asia to the Baltic Sea. As a result, along with the territories and different ethnic groups, the religious traditions of these countries are incorporated into the Russian Empire. By extending its borders to the North-West, the Russian Empire is subjugating several peoples who traditionally profess Protestantism. Like any empire, Russia tries to merge the annexed peoples and territories by building a single state with a single political centre. Thus, in the mid-19th century, the political issue was not only the Russification of these peoples, but also their conversion to the majority confession of the empire - Orthodoxy. Therefore, this paper aims to give a brief historical account of the events of 1836-1848, when a massive process of accession to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Protestant population of the Baltic region took place.

Dezvoltarea curentului isihast prin lucrarea misionară pan-ortodoxă din secolul al XVIII-lea. Sfântului Nicodim Aghioritul, continuator al lucrării misionare inițiate de Sfântul Paisie Velicicovschi

Author(s): Vasile-Lucian Goldan / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

Nicholas, the future monk Nicodemus, arrives in the Holy Mount Athos at the moment of the public conviction of “alms”. A situation not exactly favorable for prayer and meditation, given the fact that at that time more and more monks were leaving Athos due to the dispute of the "alms". Despite all these shortcomings, Saint Nicodemus is the one who, together with Saint Metropolitan Macarius of Corinth, manages to start a cultural-religious project, focused on the rediscovery of Orthodox church spirituality, on the spiritual and national rebirth of the Greeks. His work was recognized and appreciated during his life, in Athos, in the pan-Orthodox and in the Western space, but he was also valued by the entire Greek people after the 1921 revolution, being the basis of national and spiritual emancipation of the Greeks.

Ханако: една кабуки актриса из България и Трансилвания в началото на XX в.

Author(s): Andronika Martonova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

For the first time, this study analyses and export to the academic community the rare documents and archival materials proving that the Japanese Kabuki theatre actress Hanako realised a tour in Kingdom of Bulgaria and Transylvania (Austro-Hungarian Empire) in 1911. Referring to the information from Sawada Suketaro‘s book “Little Hanako. The Strange Story of Rodin’s Only Japanese Model” the research paper tracks down and focuses on the contracts, advertisements and the critical reception who introduced unknown aspects of Japanese culture to the territory of mentioned countries from present Eastern Europe. Hanako’s presence is also set in a broad European and research context because she had an important influence on the development of Western stage practices.For the first time, this study analyses and export to the academic community the rare documents and archival materials proving that the Japanese Kabuki theatre actress Hanako realised a tour in Kingdom of Bulgaria and Transylvania (Austro-Hungarian Empire) in 1911. Referring to the information from Sawada Suketaro‘s book “Little Hanako. The Strange Story of Rodin’s Only Japanese Model” the research paper tracks down and focuses on the contracts, advertisements and the critical reception who introduced unknown aspects of Japanese culture to the territory of mentioned countries from present Eastern Europe. Hanako’s presence is also set in a broad European and research context because she had an important influence on the development of Western stage practices.

Характеристики и особености на Танската култура

Author(s): Iskra Mandova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The present paper discusses and analyzes some cultural phenomena of the Tang period in China, which is the era of unprecedented prosperity in Chinese history: literature (especially poetry), historiography, philosophy, art, science and technology reached unheard and unseen peaks. Political unity, social stability, economic prosperity, transport development and active international relations played the role of a catalyst in the process of quick development. It is a fact that other dynasties in Chinese history provided good social and economic conditions for the people as well but it is difficult to explain why they failed to make such brilliant achievements in the field of culture as Tang, when the innovative and creative potential of the nation managed to unleash.The present paper discusses and analyzes some cultural phenomena of the Tang period in China, which is the era of unprecedented prosperity in Chinese history: literature (especially poetry), historiography, philosophy, art, science and technology reached unheard and unseen peaks. Political unity, social stability, economic prosperity, transport development and active international relations played the role of a catalyst in the process of quick development. It is a fact that other dynasties in Chinese history provided good social and economic conditions for the people as well but it is difficult to explain why they failed to make such brilliant achievements in the field of culture as Tang, when the innovative and creative potential of the nation managed to unleash.

Образът на едно съсловие в съзнанието на един народ – предпоставки за формиране

Author(s): Polina Tsoncheva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Stereotypes that are formed in a society in terms of phenomena, conditions and processes are persistent and difficult to destroy. The reasons for their presence are complex. A basic explanation in this direction is offered by Yul. Popova, who reminds the character of stereotypes as a categorizing mechanism of human perception and leads to economy of effort that is being achieved through them (Popova 2015). The millennial consecutive evolution of Chinese nation favors the accumulation of cultural layers from different historical periods and determines the existence of a number of secondary images that mediate the relationship (Vassileva 2018) of its representatives with reality. This paper aims to present and suggest possible explanations of the negative associations accumulated within Chinese society for centuries towards the Eunuchs’ stratum.Stereotypes that are formed in a society in terms of phenomena, conditions and processes are persistent and difficult to destroy. The reasons for their presence are complex. A basic explanation in this direction is offered by Yul. Popova, who reminds the character of stereotypes as a categorizing mechanism of human perception and leads to economy of effort that is being achieved through them (Popova 2015). The millennial consecutive evolution of Chinese nation favors the accumulation of cultural layers from different historical periods and determines the existence of a number of secondary images that mediate the relationship (Vassileva 2018) of its representatives with reality. This paper aims to present and suggest possible explanations of the negative associations accumulated within Chinese society for centuries towards the Eunuchs’ stratum.

От Херодот до християнските автори: за вдовиците на траките и ритуалната им смърт

Author(s): Dobriela Kotova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper summarises the evidence provided by ancient authors about the public ritual death of the widows of some Thracians, with which they followed their deceased husbands voluntarily to the World Beyond. Herodotus was the first to narrate about that, followed by the Roman authors Pomponius Mela and Solinus, and after them – the Christian lexicographer Stephanus Byzantinus. Traces of such information about the Thracians are seen in one of the letters of St. Hieronymus. That written tradition is definitely based on the text of Herodotus. The late evidence repeats his words to a great extent. The ritual death of the Thracian widows was clearly transformed into locus communis, but the analysis of the communications reveals both dependences and differences between them. Viewed together, they are mutually complementary and supportive Herodotus testifying to the existence of variants of the universal ritual phenomenon of following into death among the Thracians. The paper summarises the evidence provided by ancient authors about the public ritual death of the widows of some Thracians, with which they followed their deceased husbands voluntarily to the World Beyond. Herodotus was the first to narrate about that, followed by the Roman authors Pomponius Mela and Solinus, and after them – the Christian lexicographer Stephanus Byzantinus. Traces of such information about the Thracians are seen in one of the letters of St. Hieronymus. That written tradition is definitely based on the text of Herodotus. The late evidence repeats his words to a great extent. The ritual death of the Thracian widows was clearly transformed into locus communis, but the analysis of the communications reveals both dependences and differences between them. Viewed together, they are mutually complementary and supportive Herodotus testifying to the existence of variants of the universal ritual phenomenon of following into death among the Thracians.

За произхода на името Казанлък и местоположението на град Крън

Author(s): Mariana Minkova,Ivan T. Ivanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The article shed light on the early history of the Ottoman city of Akça Kizinlik, the predecessor of the modern city of Kazanlak, in order to discover the meaning of this name and its possible relationship with the name of the former Bulgarian district town of Krun. Evidence is presented that the city of Krun was located within the territory of today’s town of Kazanlak, near the Kulenska mahala residential district. This conclusion is supported by the linguistic analysis of the semantic rout Kizin of Kizýnlik, which regularly conveys the name of the medieval Bulgarian town of Krun. The first part of the Ottoman name, Akça “spring, a place rich in potable water”, repeats the meaning of the old Greek name Krunoi “spring”, latter transformed into Bulgarian name Kran.The article shed light on the early history of the Ottoman city of Akça Kizinlik, the predecessor of the modern city of Kazanlak, in order to discover the meaning of this name and its possible relationship with the name of the former Bulgarian district town of Krun. Evidence is presented that the city of Krun was located within the territory of today’s town of Kazanlak, near the Kulenska mahala residential district. This conclusion is supported by the linguistic analysis of the semantic rout Kizin of Kizýnlik, which regularly conveys the name of the medieval Bulgarian town of Krun. The first part of the Ottoman name, Akça “spring, a place rich in potable water”, repeats the meaning of the old Greek name Krunoi “spring”, latter transformed into Bulgarian name Kran.

Творческа рецепция на античната традиция в „DE CULTURA HORTORUM“ на Валафрид Страбон

Author(s): Kalina Boseva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Walahfrid Strabo was a celebrated poet and theologian of the 9th century. He lived and studied mainly in Reichenau, a monastery in modern Germany, where he was monk and at some point abbot. His education covered the Scripture, the writings of the Holy Fathers, as well as Latin, Greek, geography, poetry and the liberal arts. Walahfrid’s many works, written in Latin, consist of theological treatises in prose and many poems on different subjects. Among them is a poem on gardening and the medicinal uses of the plants titled „De cultura hortorum” – „On the cultivation of gardens”. The poem has many scientific and poetical sources: Pliny the Elder, Collumela, Dioscorides, Celsus, Serenus Sammonicus, Pliny Valerianus, Apuleus Platonicus, Isidore of Seville, Virgil, Horace, Lucretius Carus. Strabo used his sources creatively, with a view to do more than just another compilation. He used the words and phrases he found as building blocks in order to come up with a new, contemporary concept for both aesthetics and utility. He is believed to have served as a monastery gardener himself, so likely fused his ideas and practical experience with the received literary tradition of his time. He thus created a unique snapshot of a real life cloister garden – his own garden – both authentic and ideal.

Самоутешение ли е „Утешение към Плибий“ от Сенека? Коментар върху жанровата принадлежност на текста

Author(s): Aleksandra Dimitrova / Language(s): Bulgarian,German Publication Year: 0

Виното в Китай и в поезията на Ли Бай

Author(s): Iskra Mandova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Wine in China has a long history which can be traced back to about 4000 BC to the period of the Neolithic Yangshao culture. In 1979 archaeologists excavated a grave of the Dawenkou culture in Shandong Province where they found a set of about 100 wine making vessels from 5000 years ago, including vessels for wine boiling, fermentation, storing and drinking. After issuing of the first anti-wine regulation in the Chinese history from the first ruler of the Western Zhou (1046–771), from the period of the Han dynasty wine industry registered a boom. Under the Sui and the Tang dynasties, wine making continued to develop, private production was no longer limited and ordinary people could make and sell wine freely.

Българското участие във францисканските мисии в Югоизточна Европа през XVII в.: Павел от Петокладенци

Author(s): Elmira Vasileva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The Bulgarian Catholics’ history should not be studied independently but in connection with the general Roman Church’s Balkan policy in the Ottoman period. The Bulgarian Catholics and their Franciscan priest were in contact with other Catholic groups living under the Ottomans, as well as outside the Empire. They are part of a sort of religious network that goes beyond political and geographical borders. Bulgarian Franciscans participated in Roman Church’s missions in the 17th century, being sometimes appointed to important positions. They are educated in the Catholic colleges in Italy and, being fluent in Italian and Latin, are familiar with the European intellectual trends and political concepts of their time. Actually, they are the main bearers of modern ideas among the Bulgarians.

GRAND STRATEGY AND MILITARY IMPLICATIONS OF NEW RUSSIA’S MILITARY DOCTRINE IN 21ST CENTURY: GEOSTRATEGIC ASPECTS OF HYBRID WARFARE STRATEGY AGAINST GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

Author(s): Vakhtang Maisaia / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

A paper reflects new dimensions of New Cold War geostrategic balance implications at pan-regional(European) and regional (Black Sea) levels that already has been transformed into classical hybrid warfare between the Russian Federation and NATO due to the Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. Currently adopted military doctrine of the Russian Federation envisages engagement into two military conflicts simultaneously and constructed its strategic operational framework founded on incorporation of three combat elements: military, non-military and information warfare measures and proper concepts. Hence, it means that Russia can beginwar-game scenarios at the same time against two neighboring nations as it occurs at time being against Ukraine and Georgia. At that respect, the incumbent Russian military leadership in aegis of so-called “GerasimovDoctrine” is promoting hybrid warfare as a key dominant grand strategy with relevant theater strategy and operational art elements (for instance, operational – strategic command HQ “South” and 5 Army Corp HQs). The military “muscle” could easily skew and twist European security environment that is much unprepared to the geostrategic challenge – Crimea occupation and annexation in 2014, war with Georgia in 2008, hybrid attack to Estonia in 2007 and very recently large-scale military intervention in Azov Sea and pending regional hegemony conditions in Caspian Basin. These military asymmetric challenges and risks deriving from the arms race derailed by the Russia’s incumbent authority, and security dilemma embroiled with by the elements of WMD are sufficient indications why the European security is plausible fragile against such challenges. From academic standpoint, the thesis deals in analyzing with the most dangerous threat targeting the European security architecture – asymmetric military challenge and realization of which is pursued in wagging hybrid war against Georgia and Ukraine. The new type of warfare is a probe stone perfected against these two post-Sovietnations indicates and poses real menace, mainly geostrategic origin, easily targeted NATO member-states, including Poland. The article predisposes reflection and understanding true meaning of so-called “GerasimovDoctrine” and the whole new version of Military Doctrine of Russia and how it is implemented at the stage. A shift transformation takes place in realms of contemporary century warfare doctrinal planning and the transformation has already implicated of identifying new type of warfare strategy – asymmetric war with representation of hybrid warfare that contributing in re-shaping a grand strategy that allows policymakers to steer through the uncertainties of a complex international security environment; Elaboration real content and new definition of “hybrid war” and its dual fold implications how to quell and deal with asymmetric military challenges and risks and how to cause the challenges on its matter. Moreover, it describes and review reformatting modality in planning and wagging war due to the military technology development that contributed to a far more complicated strategic environment for war than that of previous century. In that respect is to be identified new style of warfare – Urbanistic warfare presented in 2008 August Russia-Georgia war as well as in war in Ukraine (Mariupol battle) new definition of the warfare in general matter.

PUTIN’S POLICY IN UKRAINE: A DESTRUCTIVE, UGLY, ATTRITION BASED WAR, FOUGHT AIMLESSLY, FOR THE SAKE OF WAR

Author(s): Iulian Chifu / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

It is a challenge to try to draw conclusions and find the characteristics of an ongoing crisis. Even more so when it is a large-scale war, like the one fought by Russia in Ukraine, a war already defined as a war of aggression of Russia in Ukraine, unprovoked, illegal and unjustified, an invasion of Russia in Ukraine aimed at conquering new territories for Moscow to annex. But, after three months of war, some basic arguments are already in place and it is worth assessing the regularities of this war and its particularities in a way that allows us to predict the evolution of this war. And if no two wars are alike, comparisons give us hints about previous behaviors and perspectives of evolution. In this case, the 7 districts buffer zone in Nagorno Karabakh could give us a hint on the way the destruction of Eastern Ukraine will be used in the future by Russia to deny any the presence of weapons close to its borders.

THE ROLE OF UKRAINIAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES WITHIN THE WAR IN UKRAINE

Author(s): Adrian-Corneliu DIEANU / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The analysis of Ukrainian special operations forces’ capabilities is an important endeavor in studying the development of the war from Ukraine – as a consequence of the Russian Army invasion, in February 24, 2022. The actions of the Ukrainian elite military forces contributed to the failure of the initial Russian military planners’ strategic aims. National Ukrainian Army initiated the preparations to defend against an invasion force of the Russian Federation Armed Forces of 200,000 militaries, grouped in tactical units around the Ukrainian borders. Special operations Ukrainian forces had the significant role of stopping Moscow’s objectives established at the beginning of the Russian invasion and of obtaining these remarkable results within the fights against the Russian army’s units; they stood out, especially within the planned action of defeating the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. The role of Ukrainian special operations forces within the war in Ukraine consisted in bold actions behind the adversaries’ lines, resulting in destroying certain command points and in eliminating several important commanders from the command chain of the Russian Federation invasion forces. Ukrainian special operations forces engaged efficiently the fight with the Russian elite forces that landed in the neighborhood of Kyiv and also blocked the military actions that intending to get the control over certain strategic objectives.Interrupting the logistic flow of the Russian Armed Forces, destroying the Russian logistic centers from Ukrainian and Russian territory, as well as organizing resistance cells for guerrilla fight within the Ukrainian territories occupied by the Russians are among the successful missions of the Ukrainian special operations forces. The endeavor of the current article is to analyze the Ukrainian special operations force’ transformation process since 2014 – an evolution from a structure specific for the „Spetsnaz” and Soviet Union (U.R.S.S) to the current capabilities and modern endowment, driven upon a development & training program, commonly developed with special forces units from NATO armies.

Скалигеровият Патерик и двояката трансмисия на църковнославянските текстове

Author(s): William R. Veder / Language(s): English,Bulgarian,Old Slavonic Publication Year: 0

An abridged version of the Slavonic Scaliger Patericon is shown to be copied both from Cyrillic and Glagolitic antigraphs; the same circumstance is observed in the translations of the Scete Patericon and Athanasius of Alexandria’s Homilies Against the Arians. Twofold transmission makes it possible to contrast the features of copying from Glagolitic with those of copying from Cyrillic.

Цар Иван Александър и развоят на гражданската война във Византия през 1343 – 1344 г.

Author(s): Momchil Mladenov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper presents the key moments of the participation of the Bulgarian state in the Civil war in Byzantium. The author emphasizes the information of the Turkish poet Enveri (15th century). He reports that Bulgaria is part of the sacred alliance organized by the Papacy to fight with emirate of Smirna. Аccording to the author, Tsar Ivan Alexander is part of the Christian coalition. His involvement in Byzantine civil war is a consequence of these diplomatic actions.

Залезът на двете царства – татари и българи през втората половина на XIV век

Author(s): Aleksandar Uzelac / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0