Kršćanska teologija kao odgovor na islamski izazov – Historijska perspektiva

Author(s): Stefan Schreiner / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 61/2015

Od samog početka su kršćani, osobito kršćanski teolozi, Muhamedovu objavu, i iz nje proizašlo nastajanje islama kao religije i religijske zajednice sa zahtjevom na vlastitu Objavu i iz nje izvedenim odnosno na njoj utemeljenim zahtjevom na Istinu, na jednoj strani, i brzo širenje ove nove religije i područja vladavine njenih pristalica, na drugoj strani, shvatili ne samo kao društveno-politički nego, upravo, i kao teološki izazov. To se po kršćanskom uvjerenju uopće nije moglo desiti da se post Christum natum, nakon objave kroz Isusa (Mesiju) Krista, tačnije: nakon samoobjave Boga dogodi još jedna druga, nova Božija objava, kada se samoobjava Boga kroz Isusa Krista po svjedočanstvu poslanice Hebrejima dogodila “jednom za sva vremena” i “konačno” (Heb 7,27).

„W MOCY DUCHA ŚWIĘTEGO. KSIĘGA PAMIĄTKOWA DLA JEGO EKSCELENCJI KSIĘDZA BISKUPA EDWARDA BIAŁOGŁOWSKIEGO Z OKAZJI XXV ROCZNICY ŚWIĘCEŃ BISKUPICH”, RED. P. MIERZWA, M. NABOŻNY, RZESZÓW 2013, S. 496, ISBN 978-83-936516-0-3

Author(s): Waldemar Pałęcki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 18-20/2013

THE EVOLUTION OVER TIME OF THE HISPANO-MOZARABIC TRADITION

Author(s): Bogdan Ștefan Avram / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 36/2024

The Hispanic Rite is the distinctive way of celebrating liturgical actions in the Spanish Church during its first ten centuries of history. It was first used by the Hispano-Roman Christians, and its use continued under Visigothic rule, during which time the great Fathers of the Visigothic Church significantly enriched it. There is no doubt that the Hispanic rite was influenced by Eastern liturgies, from which the Goths had borrowed ecclesiastical traditions through the Bishop of the Goths, Ulfila. He had Arianized the people and translated the Bible into the native language. At this point, the Hispanic rite acquired a predominantly Eastern-Byzantine character without ceasing to be fundamentally Roman. It was also used by Christians who remained under Muslim rule in various regions of Spain, as well as by those in the unoccupied regions.

REDEMPTION AND SPIRITUAL SUFFERING IN THE “MARIE DOLENTE AU PIED DE LA CROIX” POEM

Author(s): Paul-Cristian Albu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 36/2024

The purpose of the paper is to offer a panoramic view of the relation between religion and humanism in the French evangelical poem Marie Dolente au Pied de la Croix, written in sixteen century. I am interested in discussing how the Christian religion can be reflected in a humanist century, in a world where social vicissitudes are essential for understanding the universal message of Christianity. By this poem, God would like to invite us to reflect on the concepts of peace, freedom, love, and fraternal peace. I am also interested in observing how the universal message of Eternal Love can penetrate a secular society. I will consider using the technique of close reading the poem and diverse literary and religious books, to reflect in which way it is sought to express the idea of Christian Redemption in the literary world. The creative use of language will be regarded as a means to make visible the new paradigm of fraternity can be understood by the readers in contemporaneity.

Psychologiczne rozważania o roli kobiety w Kościele

Author(s): Dorota Kuncewicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

The question about the role of a woman in the Church is asked in the context of the world and triggers its problems. And the modern world has difficulty accepting roles, requirements and interdependence, but also in appreciating every day, arduous effort aimed at the common good. The context for answering the question should also be the parallel definition of the roles of other members of the community - men, priests, nuns. And of course, there remains the question of why the question is asked and whether the answer is consistent with the one given in real life.

DESCENSUS AD INFEROS - AN ARTISTIC PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE SAVIOR ARCHETYPE IN EUROPEAN CONSCIENCE

Author(s): Ana-Irina Iorga / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 37/2024

With the 15th century in Western art in general, in visual art in particular, there are some clear signs of changes related to the form of beliefs, so to the soul intimacy of the Western man. Forms of religious consciousness, themselves the result of earlier changes, it changes and will change once more. The content of religious consciousness remains immutable. It has at its center the archetype of the savior from death. 14 centuries this archetype was personified in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the conqueror of hell and death. The period of the 15th - 21st centuries conveys, through visual and musical art, that the Christ personification of the savior gradually changes until it almost disappears, its place being taken by Orpheus, the mythological hero of ancient Greece.

THE ACTIVITY UNDER CENSORSHIP OF THE LORD'S ARMY WITHIN THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Author(s): Mihai Liviu MARICI / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 37/2024

The movement of religious and moral revival of the Army of the Lord, which appeared in the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1923, at the initiative of the priest Iosif Trifa (1888-1938) from Sibiu, will exert a strong influence on the Orthodox Church. The relations with the ecclesiastical authority, the Archdiocese of Ardeal, represented at that time by the Metropolitan Dr. Nicolae Bălan, and the de facto founder of the movement, the priest Iosif Trifa, at first very good, cooled down with the extension of the movement's activity beyond the borders of the Archdiocese of Sibiu, and his acquisition of a personal printing house. A tense situation built up which, in 1935-1938, degenerated into a conflict with unforeseen consequences for the Army of the Lord. Under the communist regime, which regarded the movement as anti-sectarian and chauvinist, the civil sentence of the Court of Sibiu of 22 December 1949 dissolved the Army of the Lord as a society and eliminated it from the register of legal entities. The Army of the Lord continued to exist underground and manifested itself through isolated actions of members in various parishes in the country until 1990 when it was legally and canonically rehabilitated.

THE PERSONALITY OF THE METROPOLITAN DOSOFTEI

Author(s): Nicolae Nucă / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 38/2024

Romanian Orthodox theology had a categorical and unwavering attitude on the line of the right faith in respecting the dogmatic and liturgical truth. The metropolitan of Dosoftei was a providential man in the eucharistic dispute between the two churches, Russian and Ukrainian, having a major contribution in clarifying the eucharistic liturgy. Through the holy liturgy, the most lively spiritual connection and the richest communication between Christ and his church is realized.

ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE HUMAN BEING AT DUMITRU STĂNILOAE - PLEADING FOR STUDYING DUMITRU STĂNILOAE’S WORKS FROM PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE IN THE THEOLOGICAL HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULA

Author(s): Marius Golea / Language(s): English Issue: 38/2024

During our research on the philosophical consolidation of the theological system elaborated by Dumitru Stăniloae we have ascertained the presence of all necessary elements for asserting that Stăniloae rather elaborated a system of reflexive religious philosophy instead of simply reiterating already formulated theology. To the extent we are aware of it, Stăniloae is the only case of Orthodox religious philosopher who developed a complete theological system and, after researching his dialogue with the works most important philosophers up to the XX Century, we think that we can argue with the necessary degree of certitude that he is among the greatest religious philosophers ever existed. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief contouring of Stăniloae’s ethics on the human being seen as an active factor engaged in the transformation for better of the world. The research methods we have adopted is that of the qualitative research applied from the world view of the postpositivism. We think that we have succeed to argue that Stăniloae treated the so complex matter of the human being from an optimistic perspective, valuing the present existence, and integrating the human being and the world in a progressist project of mutual improvement, on the ground of an ethical approach.

The Enigma of the Temple Site and the Word-play ‘Moriah’

Author(s): Martin Prudký / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

The name ‘Moriah’ is conventionally associated with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In Jewish tradition, this identification is attested in a number of texts, including one biblical reference (2 Chr 3:1). On the other hand, other biblical passages where we might expect such an identification do not contain the name ‘Moriah’ nor a precise localization. This study examines the enigmatic name ‘Moriah’, which in the narrative of the patriarch Abraham (Gen 22:1–19) – one of Israel’s primary foundation narratives – describes the sacrificial cult site without precisely locating it. This name is nowhere attested as a primary toponym. Its form is actually a common noun that generates significant semantic allusions to and connotations with several key motifs of the narrative in question. Hence, the term ‘Moriah’ is a skillful wordplay, a pun using allusions and imagination in the given literary context of the Abrahamic cycle. As part of the foundation narratives shared by the two ‘ecumenical’ communities of post-exilic Judaism, the name helps to etiologically legitimize the place of worship (‘ha-maqom’, the temple) for both the Jerusalemite and Samaritan cultic communities without using real names and locations. The shared Torah text is open to both perspectives of reading and to both identifications that we find in the history of reception.

„Zjevení Božího hněvu.“ Poznámky k výkladu Ř 1,18–32

Author(s): Jan Roskovec / Language(s): Czech Issue: 2/2024

The moral judgments that Paul makes in Romans 1 must be interpreted in context, i.e. in light of the intent that Paul follows throughout the section on “the revelation of the wrath of God.” In a kind of black-and-white pattern, he describes human condition of need, the core of which he sees in the erroneous substitution of the created for the Creator, as a result of which man comes into conflict with himself. Paul depicts this as a parody on the creation account in Gen 1. In this context, he presents homoerotic behaviour as a manifestation of arbitrariness. Obviously, this argument is only possible if one views homosexuality as the behaviour of heterosexually oriented individuals.

The Courage to Be and Types of Anxiety in the Theological Metaphysics of Paul Tillich

Author(s): Marius Cucu,Oana Lența / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2024

The metaphysical theology proposed by Paul Tillich offers the perspective of a constant connection between the human existential journey and the problem of Non-Being. Centered on the idea of Being, both metaphysics and theology seem to place the issue of Nothingness, of Emptiness, in the background. In reality, the dialectic between Being and Non-Being constitutes the central dynamic for the entire evolution of existence and, likewise, of human thought. Confrontation with Non-Being becomes one of the most important sources of reflection and fundamental ontic experiences. From Non-Being arises anxiety, manifesting in multiple forms that appear equally devastating to our consciousness. A natural question would be: how did those in the past overcome anxiety, and how can we do so today? Paul Tillich believes we are mistaken. Anxiety cannot truly be overcome; instead, it can and must be assimilated—otherwise, convulsive despair could overwhelm the consciousness.

Soteriologický kristocentrizmus v Hexamerone svätého Bonaventúru

Author(s): Pietro Maranesi / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 1/2025

How to explain salvation as possibility offered to everyone and to the whole man? This question represents one of the most important subjects to which Bonaventure was turning his attention during whole of his life. Climax of this process is reached in his Hexaëmeron, the very last of his works containing twenty three conferences held in Paris, which, unfortunately could not be finished because of death of its author in 1274. Franciscan doctor presents in Hexaëmeron the figure of Triplex Verbum by which he brings to completion his soteriological cristocentrism: through the Verbum increatum everything was created, through the Verbum incarnatum everything was redeemed and through the Verbum inspiratum everything was revealed. These three moments of the Verbum expose objective dimension of the creative and redemptive speaking of God through the first and second cristological figures, and at the same time a cognitive dimension enabled by the third figure which illuminates man in his cognitive and sapiential return to the truth of God. Bonaventure was thus able to protect – against every form of antiintelectualistic spiritualism and also against rationalism closed in front of the revelation – and represent by his soteriological cristocentrism the very essential subject of his thinking: the unity of Christian knowledge in which mind, heart, reason and love are united in an intellectual and affective return to the mystery of God, who supports and includes everything.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD IN THE WORK OF LEIBNIZ – AN ORTHODOX AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Sorin Benescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

The research aims to identify the divine attributes in Leibniz's work and highlight his closeness to Christianity. The study begins with a brief characterization of the author, after which I move on to the analysis of Leibniz's work and philosophical conception, where I highlight the main lines of his thinking. In the third part of the work, I demonstrated the existence of divine attributes in his works. Finally, I concluded with a chapter of conclusions.

8TH CENTURY CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN MUNTENIA: FORMS, SYMBOLS AND INFLUENCES. THE AESTHETICS OF THE SACRED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING ARCHITECTURAL TRADITIONS IN ROMANIA AND IN THE WORLD

Author(s): Marinel Pădure / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

Church architecture from the 8th century represents an essential chapter in universal history and culture. It marks a period of transition and synthesis between the cultural influences of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, reflecting the social, political and religious changes of the era. The architectural styles developed during this period, such as the Christian basilica or the first forms of Byzantine architecture, offer a profound perspective on how faith and culture shaped sacred space.The preservation of these buildings and their specific elements is of particular importance for future generations. They are not only monuments of faith, but also valuable historical testimonies, which provide information about the construction techniques, the materials used, as well as the symbolism and aesthetics of the era. By protecting and conserving them, the continuity of a living link with the past is ensured, allowing a better understanding of the cultural and spiritual identity of humanity.This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of ecclesiastical architecture of the 8th century, its importance for the global cultural heritage and the need to protect these masterpieces for the future.In the 8th century, the region of Wallachia, which is today part of Romania, was in a period of cultural and historical transition. The influences of ecclesiastical architecture of this period are difficult to identify precisely due to the lack of direct sources and well-preserved ruins. However, some general features can be highlighted, taking into account the historical and cultural context. In the 8th century, the influence of the Byzantine Empire was predominant in the south of the Danube, and elements of Byzantine architecture began to penetrate the Wallachia area. Building materials included stone and brick, and churches built during this period (or immediately after) reflected the use of simple forms, with a cruciform plan and domes. Local traditions and syncretism include the church architecture of Wallachia during this period, which reflected a mixture of Byzantine influences and local traditions.Din cauza invaziilor și migrațiilor repetate, multe structuri religioase din această perioadă nu s-au păstrat. Totuși, cercetările arheologice din România au scos la lumină urme ale unor așezări și sanctuare creștine timpurii.Church architecture is one of the most impressive artistic and cultural expressions of humanity, having a profound meaning throughout history and maintaining its relevance to this day. It reflects not only the religious beliefs of the communities, but also the artistic, technological and social development of the eras in which it was created. Cultural and tourist heritage: Many churches are included in the UNESCO heritage (for example, the Monasteries of Bukovina or the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris), attracting millions of visitors annually. Continuing the tradition: Currently, church architecture combines tradition with innovation, preserving the symbolic essence while adopting modern techniques. Sources of inspiration: Churches continue to inspire artists, architects and designers with their beauty and complexity. Spaces of contemplation: They remain places of prayer, meditation and spiritual refuge for people around the world. Church architecture is more than an artistic expression; It is a living testament to the faith, culture and identity of the communities that created it. From early basilicas to modern cathedrals, these sacred edifices continue to inspire respect and admiration, connecting the past with the present and spirituality with art.

RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM – CONCEPTUAL DELIMITATIONS IN THE THEOLOGICAL-MISSIONARY APPROACH

Author(s): Irinel Ciobotaru / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

The complexity of today's world reflects the theological, missionary and pastoral challenges facing the Church of Christ. The missionary exercise is a fundamental essence of the Church, which has the vocation to be in the world as the depository and preacher of the Truth revealed in the Gospel. In the context of 2024, in which religious diversity coexists with secularization and religious indifferentism, the Church's mission must remain faithful to its identity tradition while adapting its strategies to effectively articulate its witness to Christ, the risen Son of God. The article aims to explore the dimensions of religious syncretism from a missionary perspective.

THE ETRUSCAN INFLUENCE ON ROMAN RELIGION

Author(s): Daniel Ene / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

The adoption of Etruscan elements into Roman religious practices signals a dynamic process of cultural appropriation and adaptation, and underlines the complexity of religious and cultural interactions among ancient peoples.Our study explores the significant influence of Etruscan culture on early Roman religious practices, focusing on divination (augury), the veneration of specific deities, and other religious rites. Through a detailed analysis of these elements, our study reveals how Etruscan religion not only shaped the foundation of Roman religious practices but also contributed to the broader cultural and political development of the Empire.

CLERICAL SACRAMENTAL INSTITUTIONS: EPISCOPATE, PRIESTHOOD AND DIACONATE

Author(s): Florentin Ionut Popa / Language(s): English Issue: 40/2025

The Mystery of the Priesthood in the Orthodox Church is deeply anchored in Christian doctrine and practice, representing a fundamental pillar of spiritual and community life. The Holy Fathers, including St. John Chrysostom, extensively explored the sacredness and responsibilities of the priesthood, emphasizing its crucial role in mediating divine grace and in the spiritual leadership of the faithful. The priesthood is presented not only as a liturgical function, but as a vocation that involves a profound spiritual transformation, which is equivalent to a permanent state of sacrifice and dedication in divine service. This mystery is manifested in a double dimension: an ontological one, through which the priest becomes an intermediary between God and man, and a functional one, oriented towards the administration of the Holy Mysteries and the moral and spiritual guidance of the community. Reflecting on the nature and consequences of the Priesthood, Orthodox theology emphasizes its continuity from Christ through the Apostles, to contemporary priests, who are seen as true stewards of the divine mysteries. The current study aims to deepen the theological and spiritual understanding of the Priesthood by analyzing the relevant patristic and scriptural texts. It will examine how this mystery contributes to the perpetuation of Christ's mission and presence in the world, emphasizing the essential role that the priest plays in the individual and collective salvation of the faithful, as well as its impact on the structure and dynamics of ecclesiastical life.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

Author(s): Iulian-Constantin Vrabie / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

The deepest meaning of creation is revealed only in a correct understanding of the Incarnation, the crucified sacrifice of Christ, penetrating into the "profound meaning of the Cross" and of the Resurrection as the crowning of His redemptive activity, according to which "the Cross represents a new step in Christ's work of our salvation, the highest culmination of it, having on the one side the Incarnation and on the other side, and closely united with the Cross, the Resurrection from the dead. In this way, the perspective of Orthodox missionary theology witnesses permanently through the Cross of Christ and the result of the Resurrection, thus emphasizing the joy in both aspects due to their permanent connection because in the sacrifice of Christ is seen the perspective of the Resurrection.

THE ECUMENICITY OF THE CHURCH AND ITS PHILANTHROPIC MISSION REFLECTED IN THE HYMNS OF THE CANON AND THE FIRST PRAYER OF THE HOLY UNCTION

Author(s): Iulian-Constantin Vrabie / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 40/2025

In the Great Eclection, in addition to the other petitions, there is the prayer that "may this oil be blessed with the power, the work and the coming of the Holy Spirit". In this petition is reflected what Father Stăniloae calls the awareness that "the Holy Spirit is the power that sustains in us - through the prayer of the Church - the tension towards resurrection: it is He who will bring about our resurrection by which we will participate in the risen, fully transparent body of the Lord, through our bodies themselves becoming fully transparent in the joyful experience of the treasures of His love". This awareness also accompanies the prayer for the sick person: "For the servant of God (N) and for his seeking in God and that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon him". Moreover, this is the conscience of the whole Church of Christ, the Church being the community of those who are advancing by the power of the Spirit of Christ towards the resurrection and the fullness of perfect communion with Christ and with all who believe