2012/2 (LIV)

ARTICLES

• Jürgen Moltmann 128

  Sun of Righteousness, Arise! Die Freiheit eines Christenmenschen- damals und heute; für Täter und Opfer der Sünde

  Abstract:

  Famous theologian’s reflection on the meaning of Martin Luther’s Reformation, based on his lecture delivered in Atlanta in 2011: The nature of Christian freedom is discussed as defined by the ambiguous synergism of being redeemed by Jesus Christ on one hand and at the same time obliged to serve others or even being exloited by them.

  Keywords:

  freedom – righteousness – Christianity – Reformation – Martin Luther

• Zdenko Š. Širka 142

  The Role of Theoria in Gregory of Nyssa´s Vita Moysis and in Canticum Canticorum

  Abstract:

  In this article the author focuses on the problem of spiritual sense in the hermeneutics of Gregory of Nyssa, as it is described in his late works Vita Moysis (The life of Moses) and In Canticum Canticorum (Commentary on the Song of Songs). The author explores how spiritual sense (in terms of theoria) was understood in the milieu of the Early Church. He then approaches each of the mentioned books in their own context and analyzes them from the perspective of modern scholarship. Finally the author presents Gregory’s unique hermeneutics of spiritual sense, which is assembled around three terms: allegory, skopos and akolouthia. His primary goal is to advocate the ascent of the soul to God. In addition the author questions the summary dividing of patristic hermeneutics into Alexandrian and Antiochene approaches.

  Keywords:

  Gregory of Nyssa – spiritual sense – theoria – patristic hermeneutics – Origen of Alexandria

• Tim Noble 164

  Rights of the Indigenous People and the Orthodox Mission to Alaska

  Abstract:

  This article looks at the Russian Orthodox mission to Alaska in the nineteenth century. It offers a brief history of the mission from its beginnings in the eighteenth century, focussing on some key figures such as St Herman and later the first bishop of the region, St Innocent Veniamin. It shows how the missionaries first protected the indigenous people against the brutality of the Russia America Company, and then, after the sale of Alaska to the USA in 1867, against the forced acculturation policies of the American administration. The Russian mission is seen as one that sought to inculturate the gospel in the region, respecting and working with what it found good in the native cultures.

  Keywords:

  Russian Orthodoxy – Mission – Alaska – St Herman – St Innocent – Veniamin – Inculturation – Human Rights

• Kateřina Bauer 184

  Emigration as Taking Roots and Giving Wings: Sergei Bulgakov, Nikolai Berdyaev and Mother Maria Skobtsova

  Abstract:

  This article concentrates on three Russian emigrants, Sergei Bulgakov, Nikolai Berdyaev and Mother Maria Skobtsova, whose lives were closely bound not just by life in Paris but also by their friendship. It shows their different reactions to the “uprootedness” of life in diaspora and how the process of understanding of the new historical circumstances brought new understanding of their own roots. For each of them, the understanding of roots and the state of being “uprooted” and “unrooted” differed: Bulgakov’s understanding of the roots was more groaning for them, while for Berdyaev rootedness was the feeling which was alien to him both back at home and in diaspora, and finally Mother Maria transformed the roots into the wings of Holy Spirit.

  Keywords:

  Russian emigrants – diaspora – roots – uprootedness – Sergei Bulgakov – Nikolai Berdyaev – Mother Maria Skobtsova

• Nikolaos Asproulis 203

  Is a Dialogue between Orthodox Theology and (Post)Modernity Possible? The Case of the Russian and the Neo-Patristic „Schools“

  Abstract:

  Following one of the basic arguments of Pantelis Kalaitzidis’ recently published book “Orthodoxy and Modernity – An Introduction”, in which he poses the provocative question “Did Orthodox Christianity come to a halt before Modernity”, I would like in this paper to advance the whole problematic a step further, reflecting on some fundamental aspects of the widely-recognized dominant trends in Modern Orthodox theology worldwide, namely the so-called Rus- sian School and the Neo-Patristic one. Hence an introductory and not a definite attempt will be made after a brief methodological orientation in the theological perspective to trace certain positive or negative premises and reactions of theologians and thinkers related to these streams, concerning the possibility of an original and creative encounter and certainly reciprocal dialogue between contemporary Orthodoxy and Modernity or Post-Modernity.

  Keywords:

  Orthodoxy – Post-Modernity – Russian School – Neo- Patristic School – Church Dogmatics – Church and World Dogmatics

BOOK REVIEWS

• Pavol Bargár 223

  Pavel Hošek, Židovská teologie křesťanství (A Jewish Theology of Christianity)

• Parush Parushev 226

  Aristotle Papanikolaou, The Mystical as Political: Democracy and Non-Radical Orthodoxy

• Fr. Christofor Panaitescu 232

  Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Orthodoxy and Political Theology