Abstract

1. APOSTOLACHE IONIŢĂ, University of Craiova nutuapostolache@yahoo.com

The place and reception of the Syriac theology in the philocalic mystic of father Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract. Syriac theology has a very special place in the Romanian philocalic tradition and also in apologetics. In this concern, especially father Dumitru Stăniloae has a very important contribution. He is therefore the translator and interpret of the work of Saint Isaac the Niniveh (the Syrian) in his teen volume of Philocaly. In our research we will try to underline the importance of Syriac theology for the oriental mystic, his place and confluences and also the contribution of father Dumitru Stăniloae in this regard. Moreover, because our research issue is the apologetics, we will try to underline the contribution of Saint Isaac the Syrian in this domain.

Biography. Ioniţă Apostolache is an Orthodox priest from the diocese of Craiova, at the Obedeanu Church. He is also a PhD Lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of Craiova. His academical preoccupation are: Apologetics and Syriac Theology. He write many articles in some know Periodicals from Romania and from outside the country. He graduated a postdoctoral research program at the Pontifical Oriental Institute (PIO) of Rome. His most important books are: Christology and Mystic in the Syriac Theology (2013), The Orthodox Apologetic – confession and apostleship (2017), Spiritual words, peoples and places from the history of the Church from Oltenia (2017), Daco-roman confession work in the Eternal City (2018). He also translated in Romanian language a number of very important papers and books, as Sebastian Brock, Brief Outline of the Syriac Literature (Metropolia Olteniei Publishing House, Craiova, 2016).

2. ARTEMI EIRINI, Hellenic Open University & Israel Institute of Bible Studies from Hebrew University of Jerusalem artemi@theol.uoa.gr

The Experience of God as Revelation and knowledge of the Triune God in the works of Dionysius Areopagite and their use in the theology of Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract: Dumitru Stalinoae in his Dogmatic Theology develops the connection of the Experience of God as Revelation and knowledge of the Triune God based and on the works of Dionysius Areopagite. The divine essence remains inaccessible eternally. For this reason the man as finite logic being should articulate a moderate thought. The knowledge of God commensurates with the ability of the finite man to know the infinite God. he doesn’t not completely escape from the reality of darkness – a general characteristic of the created nature. The very fact that man was created out of nothing, and the characteristics of createdness and decay contain in his nature, this is an essential differentation between him and his Creator. Thus, the basis for every human expression or knowledge about God is the fact for the ontological distinction between the created and the uncreated nature. The knowledge of God should be understood as the knowledge of God’s attributes and His modes of being, the direction from the “heaven” to the “earth” and not the opposite one. The sole ground of man’s knowledge of God is thus God’s self-revelation; it is premised on the idea of divine incomprehensibility. The term revelation signifies two things; that the knowledge of God itself by itself is impossible. However, God can be known (economically) through revelation, and a human being is capable of receiving this knowledge according to her/his capacity.

Biography. Dr Eirini Artemi has bachelors in theology and in classical philology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has a master and a doctorate in theology especially in History of Dogma, patrology and patristic theology from the same university Also, she has post-doctorate in ancient and Byzantine philosophy from the University of Patras. She
teaches theology at the Hellenic Open University in the postgraduate level. Also, she teaches biblical Greek koine language at Israel Institution of Biblical Studies of Hebrew University and  She teaches Patrology and Patristic theology in the Orthodox Theological School of
Kinshasa- Congo. She is the National Correspondent of Association International of Patristic Studies for Greece. Her current theological interests are mainly about Cyril of Alexandria and Cappadocian Fathers.

 

3. BĂJĂU CONSTANTIN, Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Craiova

The existential-ontological relation between the human being and God in the theology of Reverent Professor Dumitru Staniloae

Abstract. The existential connection between the human being and God-man as it is theorised in the study of Reverent Staniloae’s theology, represents a chapter not only of dogmatic and moral theology but also of practical theology, as it is connected to life, to the human beings, to their living into God, in communion with Him, aiming at their perfection and theosis. The connection between man and God is possible and necessary, man being God’s creation. Through the act of creation man is in a permanent connection to Him, being created “in His image and likeness.” This man-God connection becomes even more accessible through the Embodiment and the Resurrection of God. It starts from God, continues through man, who receives it through a synergetic act of divine attraction and of participation to the divine life of man in whose character the living, dynamic tendency towards God is implanted as a potency. Through his structure, man is not separated from God, because he is created by Him, and endowed with the capacity to move and aspire towards Him. From the part of God there is the attraction He exercises. God is person. He is a Father, a Son and a Holy Ghost, and in the Trinity of His Holy Persons He makes Himself accessible to man, who is a person himself. And being a person implies a relationship which is achieved through love both at a human, natural level and at a supernatural level, between the Divine Persons and between God and man. Key words: God, man, person, grace, energy, existence, consciousness, creation, creature

Biography. Băjău Constantin, born on 16 November, 1968, in Romania, is a graduate of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest, Romania, in 1993. He got his MA in Patrology, History of Dogmas and Symbolic Theology, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Athens, Greece. He holds a PhD in Theology, with a specialization in Patrology, obtained at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Sibiu, Romania. He works as an Associate Professor, PhD Habil. at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Craiova, Romania, as well as an Orthodox priest.

4. BATHRELLOS DEMETRIOS, Hellenic Open University, Athens and Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies of Cambridge frdemba@gmail.com

The Trinitarian Theology of Fr Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract: This paper offers a presentation and analysis of key aspects of Staniloae’s Trinitarian theology, on the basis of its exposition in his celebrated Orthodox Dogmatic Theology. It focuses, inter alia, on the place and function of Trinitarian theology in Staniloae’s Dogmatics, the concept of love as the overarching organizing principle of Staniloae’s Trinitarian theology, the strengths of Trinitarian Doctrine over philosophical and religious monotheism, the concept of God as ‘absolute subject’, and the question of the Filioque. A respectful evaluation of the above will suggest ways for making good use of Fr Staniloae’s significant theological heritage.

 

Biography. Fr Demetrios Bathrellos teaches theology at the Hellenic Open University, Athens and at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge. He is the author of several books and articles, including The Byzantine Christ (OUP, 2004) and The Sinlessness of Jesus (under contract with OUP). He leaves and serves as priest in Athens.

5. BERGER CALINIC, Catholic University of America in Washington DC revcalinic@yahoo.com

The Christological Foundation of Father Stăniloae’s Person/Nature Synthesis: A New Look at Enhypostasia

Abstract: In his 1943 book, Jesus Christ or the Restoration of Man, Father Stăniloae invokes the “enhypostasia” theory, first attributed to Leontius of Byzantium by Friedrich Loofs, and draws from it principles that ground his own Christology and its concomitant person/nature synthesis. This paper will analyze the notion of “enhypostasia,” which has come under considerable scrutiny in contemporary scholarship, and its associated “insubsistence Christology,” both as it is found in Neo-Chalcedonian Christology, and how it was understood and employed by Father Stăniloae.

Biography. Father Calinic Berger, Ph.D., an independent scholar, has served as Visiting Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and has taught and published on Orthodox theology and spiritual life in a variety of academic and ecclesiastical venues. His publications in Romanian include Teognosia: sinteza dogmatică şi duhovnicească a părintelui Dumitru Stăniloae (Deisis, 2014) and Provocări ale gândirii şi vieții ortodoxe astăzi (Deisis, 2012). He currently serves as the associate pastor of St Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles.

6. BROCK SEBASTIAN, Oriental Institute of Wolfson College, University of Oxford brock@orinst.ox.ac.uk

Typology and imagery in the hymns on Mary attributed to St Ephrem

Abstract: In order to provide a wider context for the Hymns on Mary attributed to Ephrem, the paper will open with a quick survey of the main genres of Syriac literature where texts and traditions concerning Mary are to be found.  Then, turning to the Hymns on Mary attributed to Ephrem (d.373), but which probably belong to the fifth century, the focus will be on both the character, and the biblical sources, of the types of Mary to be found in these hymns. Particular attention will be paid to a small group of selected types which, for one rason or another, are of special interest.

Biography. SPB is Emeritus Reader in Syriac Studies in the University of Oxford, where he taught in the Oriental Faculty from 1974 until his retirement in 2003.  Previously he had taught in the Theology Faculty, University of Birmingham, and then in the Faculty of Oriental Studies in Cambridge.  He has published extensively in the field of Syriac Studies, and among his translations is Bride of Light: Hymns on Mary from the Syriac Churches.

 

7. BUNTA SILVIU, University of Dayton, Ohio sbunta1@udayton.edu

The Voices of the “Triumphant Hymn”: The Orthodox Sanctus as a Christian Merkabah Text

Abstract: The overall argument of this paper is that the Orthodox Sanctus (in both versions) is a merkabah text, containing a significant cluster of the motifs central to this ancient Jewish and Christian mystical tradition. A secondary argument is built on this overall point, namely that the four participles that introduce the “triumphant hymn” refer specifically to the sounds of the four faces of the Cherubim, the roaring of the lion, the lowing of the ox, the crying of the eagle, and the singing of the human. This original sense of the four participles is attested in the earliest commentaries on the Liturgy and is depicted in Byzantine iconography.

 

Biography. Fr. Silviu Bunta is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He was born and grew up in Romania, where he also finished his seminary education. He and his family moved to the United States in 1999, where he studied ancient Jewish and Christian spirituality under the guidance of (then) Archimandrite Alexander Golitzin and Dr. Deirdre Dempsey, at Marquette University. Since 2007 he has been a professor at the University of Dayton, where he mostly teaches ancient Jewish and Christian spirituality, the ancient Scripture, koine Greek, biblical Hebrew, and Orthodoxy. His research is focused on ancient Jewish and Christian mystical traditions and scriptural hermeneutics. 

 

8. COMAN VIOREL, KU Leuven – University of Leuven coman@kuleuven.be

Orthodox Views on the Holy Spirit’s Presence in the Church: Georges Florovsky, John Zizioulas, and Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract: This paper explores the pneumatological insights of three important Orthodox theologians pertaining to the 20th-century Neo-Patristic movement: the Russian theologian Georges Florovsky, the Greek metropolitan of the Ecumenical Patriarchate John Zizioulas, and the Romanian theologian Dumitru Stăniloae. The core of argumentation revolves therefore around the idea that different and even contradictory approaches to the theology of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Church coexist in Orthodox theology. The paper also claim that such approaches have different implications for the life of the Church.

 

Biography. Post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies/ Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, Dr. Viorel Coman (b. 1984, Buzau, Romania) is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies/Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. His post-doctoral project explores the interaction between the Orthodox Neo-Patristic Movement and the French Catholic Ressourcement through the lens of receptive ecumenism. Dr. Coman’s doctoral dissertation, defended in 2016 at the Catholic University of Leuven, focused on Dumitru Stăniloae’s Trinitarian Ecclesiology in the Context of the 20^th-Century Debates on the Filioque. He is author of book chapter and articles published in international peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Irish Theological Quarterly, Pro Ecclesia, Downside Review, Logos: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies, Irénikon, Communio, Studii Teologice. Dr. Coman is also co-author of the monograph entitled Hotărârile dogmatice ale celor șapte Sinoade Ecumenice [The Dogmatic Decrees of the Seven Ecumenical Councils] (Bucharest: Basilica, 2018). He is member of the European Academy of Religion (EUaRE), American Academy of Religion (AAR), and International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA).

 

9. COVAN ADRIAN D., West University Timișoara covan@yahoo.com

“Touching Saints in a Kiss” or the Icon Experience in Professor Father Dumitru Stăniloae „the Confessor”

Abstract. Father Dumitru Staniloae, state of the art interpreter and fine connosseur of patristic literature, based his meditation and theological feeling on Holy Fathers writings combatting the iconoclasticism, bringing forth the outstanding contributions of patristic authors before and after the iconoclastic period, beginning with St. Athanasius the Great, Capadoccian Fathers, St. Maximus the Confessor, ending up with St. Gregory Palamas and St. Simeon of Thessalonic. For the foresitter of romanian theology, the real presence in the world of Jesus Christ as a human being is the argument forte within theology of icon’s foundation. Paradoxically, the saints astounding aspect, embodied in their iconic infused of divine power, makes its debut by abandoning this world, an environment opposing the righteousness, rooted in a climate of holistic reality.

10. GOLITZIN ALEXANDER, Marquette University alexander@bdoca.org

Wedding Feast and Holy War: Macarian Homily I.50 and Aphrahat

Biography. Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin) was born and grew up in California. After graduating from the University of California Berkley and the St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary, he completed his doctorate on St. Dionysius the Areopagite at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Met. Kallistos Ware, while also finding the spiritual guidance of Elder Aimilianos at Simonopetra. He was a professor at Marquette University for 23 years, where he taught courses on eastern Christian patristics. He retired from Marquette in 2012, when he was elected and consecrated to the episcopacy in the Orthodox Church in America. He published extensively on Orthodox spirituality, including several books, most notably Et Introibo ad Altare Dei: The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita (1994), St Symeon the New Theologian on the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses (1995-1997), and Mystagogy: A Monastic Reading of Dionysius Areopagita (2013). 

11. HIMCINSCHI MIHAI, Faculty of Orthodox Theology “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia himmihai@yahoo.com

Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s Contribution to Deepening the Teachings about the Communion Relations in the Holy Trinity. About the Holy Spirit’s Resting and Shinning in and through the Son

Abstract. Starting with the second half of the 20th century, the Romanian Orthodox Theology was marked by the personality of a great priest, professor, Ph.D., and academician: Dumitru Staniloae. The range of his theological interests comprised topics which belong to all fields of the theological study: the history of the church (Romanian and universal), philosophical problems in contrast with the Christian teachings, but especially teachings of faith, all of them approached at a high academic level and deeply anchored in an authentically Orthodox patristic thinking. Dogmatics, as a theological discipline, was taken out from the scholastic and arid framework. The connection between man and God is now seen through ontology, personalism and love communion in which God and man are present. The starting point is God, who is the trinity of persons towards which man aspires in his communion life with Him and hopes to get there through a continuous effort.

Key words: triadology. Communion, person, Holy Trinity, canon, cause, journey, God, the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, salvation.

Biography. Born in 1967. Orthodox Priest, Professor and Ph.D. Coordinator at „1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, Faculty of Orthodox Theology. The subject he teaches is Orthodox Missiology, and the research field he is focused on is the Church in society. He is the author of 6 books: Doctrina trinitară ca fundament misionar. Relaţia Duhului Sfânt cu Tatăl şi cu Fiul în teologia răsăriteană şi apuseană. Implicaţiile doctrinare şi spirituale ale acesteia, Reîntregirea Publishing House, Alba Iulia, 2004, 414 pages, ISBN 973-8252-64-4; Misiune şi dialog.  Ontologia misionară a Bisericii din perspectiva dialogului interreligios, Reîntregirea Publishig House, Alba Iulia, 2003, 333 pages, ISBN 973-8252-36-9; Biserica în societate. Aspecte misionare ale Bisericii în societatea contemporană, Reîntregirea Publishing House, Alba Iulia, 2006, 327 pages, ISBN 973-7879-33-3; Misionarismul vieţii ecleziale, Reîntregirea Publishing House, Alba Iulia, 2008, 278 pages, ISBN 978-973-7879-91-2; Mărturie şi dialog. Aspecte misionare în societatea actuală, Reîntregirea Publishing House, Alba Iulia, 2008, 277 pages, ISBN 978-606-509-034-7; Violenţa – o analiză misionară şi teologică, Reîntregirea Publishing House, Alba Iulia, 2010, 280 pages, ISBN 978-606-509-113-9. The author of 149 specialty studies and articles published in Romania and abroad. He attended 60 international and 11 national symposiums on the topic of missionary involvement of Church contemporary society. He is an evaluator accredited in 3 commissions: at the Mistry of National Education, the Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

12. IOJA CRISTINEL, Orthodox Theological Faculty “Ilarion V. Felea”, University „Aurel Vlaicu” of Arad ioja@yahoo.com

Father Dumitru Staniloae and Renewal Orthodox Dogmatic in Romanian Theology

Abstract: In the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century both went through significant changes. Orthodox Dogmatics is influenced in its structure and sometimes in its content by the model of Western Dogmatics, studied by the Orthodox theologians during their studies at the Western universities. The same aspect is observed with regard to dogmatic theology in Romania, which bears the imprint of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Dogmatics or of the Russian and Greek Dogmatics influenced in turn by Scholastic. The Orthodox dogmatic theology in Romania develops in interaction with Russian and Greek theology. Since the early twentieth century the Romanian scholars felt the need for delimitating their thinking of Western influences, but also of some inaccuracies of Russian and Greek theologians thinking. At the end of the first half of the twentieth century we can see that the Orthodox Dogmatics in Romania rigorously began to take the selection principle and to find its own way of reconnecting to the dogmatic and spiritual tradition of the Christian East. Recovering Palamas’ theology in Father Stăniloae thinking and articulating it in the interwar Romanian theology and culture is an event that demonstrates the capabilities of Romanian Orthodox theology to return to its springs, to inter-connect dogma and life, to look uniformly dogma-spirituality-worship, to deepen the reflection on Dogmatics key questions and dogmas. The fundaments of dogmatic thinking laid in the first half of the twentieth century by rediscovering the Fathers, the ecclesiastical experience in the relationship between dogma and spirituality, the importance of people in communion, the paradoxical thinking on dogmas and the relationship between God and the world, were deepen in the second half of the twentieth century. The eloquent example Father Dumitru Stăniloae who covered a whole century through his theological-dogmatic thinking. Through the translation of the Philokalia, again the Orthodox Dogmatics had the chance of re-centring in the method and spirit of the Fathers of the Church’s thinking. This opportunity was gradually capitalized by the most prominent representatives of the Orthodox Dogmatics in Romania during the communist period, and in this context, Father Dumitru Stăniloae became one of the most important Orthodox theologians of the 20th century.

Biography. Cristinel Ioja (born 1974). Priest, PhD. Habil. In Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bucharest. Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Apologetics at the”Hilarion V. Felea” Faculty of Orthodox Theology  at “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad. President of the Senate of “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad (2012-2016). Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Arad (2016). He wrote works of Dogmatic and Apologetic Theology addressing cosmological, gnoseological and anthropological aspects, as well as aspects related to the challenges of consumerism, secularization and media, expressing from inside the Tradition of the Eastern Churcin apologetic-dogmatic, spiritual and missionary positions. He published two dialogue books – in which he also addressed the apologetic aspects of the Church mission – with one of the most important Romanian dogmatists, academician Rev. Dumitru Popescu. He co-authored two new academical textbooks edited in Romania: The Orthodox Dogmatic Theology (Basilica Publishing House, Bucharest, 2016) and The Orthodox Apologetics, vol. I-II, (Basilica Publishing House, Bucharest, 2013-2015). Single author books: Reason and Mysticism in Orthodox Theology (Publishing House of “Aurel Vlaicu” University from Arad, 2008; Cosmology and Soteriology in the Thought of the Eastern Fathers, (Publishing House of “Aurel Vlaicu” University from Arad, 2008); Homo Adorans. Between Jesus Christ and the Politheism of Contemporary World (Publishing House of “Aurel Vlaicu” University from Arad, 2008); Homo Economicus. Jesus Christ, the Meaning of Creation and the Shortcomings of Simple Biology, (“Marineasa” Publishing House, Timisoara, 2010); A History of Dogmatics in Romanian Orthodox Theology, (ProuniversitariaPublishing House, Bucharest, 2013); Dogmatics and Dogmatists, (“Doxologia” Publishing House, Iaşi, 2017). He has supported and organized numerous conferences in the country and abroad, participating in national and international meetings on doctrine, apologetics and Church mission. He has initiated the National Dogmatic Theological Colloquium of Romania (2006) and the International Symposiums of Dogmatic Theology, being co-founder of the International Association of Orthodox Dogmatic Theologians (2007).

13. KKARAS AVGOUSTINOS, University of Nicosia in Cyprus aflokkas@imconstantias.org.cy

Abstract.

Archimandrite AVGOUSTINOS KKARAS. He is chancellor in diocese Konstantias Ammochostou. He was born on 13/2/80 in Paralimni. He studied Theology in Thessaloniki and had his Master at University of Nicosia in Cyprus, in Apokryfa evaggelia. He is working in diocese Konstantias Ammochostou as a chancellor.

14. KOUTLOUMOUSIANOS CHRYSOSTOM, Heythrop College, University of London chrys888@gmail.com

Liturgy and Nepsis: ancient unity, modern uncoupling

Abstract: In recent decades Orthodox academic theologians have discerned and affirmed two distinct types of spirituality. The “eucharistic” and the “therapeutic” type. The latter of which, supposedly signifies a divergence from the authentic ecclesial life that characterized the earlier centuries of Christianity. The paper questions the validity and merit of this division, seeking  to detect its roots, and reaffirming the unity of spiritual life in its liturgical, ascetic and mystical dimensions. Such unity is manifested not only in early monastic literature, but also in the hymnographic production of St Romanos the Melodist, the main representative of the ‘cathedral’, non-monastic office.

15. KYRIACOU CHRYSOVALANTIS, Royal Holloway, University of London Kyriacou@hotmail.com

Reading history through theology: Nikolai Berdyaev, Dumitru Stăniloae and Alexandre Kojève’s “end of history”.

Abstract: This paper explores different approaches to the interpretation of history by the Russian philosophers Nikolai Berdyaev and Alexandre Kojève, and by the Romanian theologian Fr Dumitru Stăniloae. Beginning with Kojève’s reading of Hegel, a creative combination of Marxism and Existentialism, we focus on the role of the “Wise Man” in connection to the notions of the “end of history” and the “death of Man”, which have been associated by Agata Bielik-Robson with a “crypto-theological” justification for the creation of a superior philosophical elite. Berdyaev and Stăniloae are presented as the Orthodox alternative to Kojève’s crypto-theology, emphasising the eschatological dimension of history in light of the interpersonal life of the Trinity, the transfiguration of the world and Christ’s salvific death on the Cross. Ultimately, while Kojève’s Hegelianism puts forth the image of the thanatic “Wise Man” as a model for political and social transformation, Berdyaev and Stăniloae see history as something far more richer and meaningful, underlining the intersubjective nature of the Trinitarian mystery and its cosmic implications.

16. LOUDOVIKOS NICOLAOS, University Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki senioreditor@analogiajournal.com

What s sanctity? Fr Staniloae‘s view of Orthodox spirituality and the modern technologies of the self

Abstract:

Fr. Nikolaos Loudovikos is the Senior Editor of Analogia, The Pemptousia Journal for Theological Studies. He studied Psychology and Pedagogy at the University of Athens, Theology at the University of Thessaloniki, Philosophy at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, Philosophy and Roman Catholic Theology at the Catholic Institute of Paris, and Protestant Theology at the University of Cambridge (England). He received a PhD in 1990 from the Faculty of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is a former President of the University Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki (UEATh), and a former Chair of the Department of Theology and Pastoral Studies of UEATh. Today he is Professor of Dogmatics and Philosophy at the UEATh, a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Winchester, U.K. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of four international Journals of Philosophy, one Journal of Psychology, and two Theological Journals. Fr. Nikolaos Loudovikos is member of several academic associations and a member of the International Association of Orthodox Dogmatic Theologians; he is a member and the Orthodox Co-secretary of the Saint Irenaeus Joint Orthodox-Catholic Working Group. His books include: A Eucharistic Ontology: Maximus the Confessor’s Eschatological Ontology of Being as Dialogical Reciprocity, Translated by Elizabeth Theokritoff, revised and extended. Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline, Mass, 2010; Church in the Making: An Apophatic Ecclesiology of Consubstantiality, translated by Norman Russell, revised and extended. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 2016; Beyond Spirituality: Mysticism of Power and the Poiesis of the Christian Self, in East and West, forthcoming, Brepols.

17. LOUTH ANDREW, Durham University, Emeritus Professor, andrew@gmail.com

The Mother of God in the Orthodox Dogmatic Theology of Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract: This paper looks at the place of the Mother of God in Fr Dumitru’s theological vision, as given expression in his Orthodox Dogmatic Theology. At first sight, this is quite puzzling: there is a chapter explicitly on the Mother of God in Fr Dumitru’s discussion of Christology, but it is remarkably reticent about the Mother of God herself.  However, later on, in the section on eschatology, the Mother of God figures much more prominently, when he comes to discuss the intercession of the Saints (‘The Communion of the Righteous’). The paper will discuss the contrast and how to account for it, and compare fr Dumitru’s approach to the Mother of God with that in a selection of twentieth-century Orthodox theologians.

 

Biography. Andrew Louth is Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, University of Durham, and was Visiting Professor of Eastern Orthodox Theology in the Faculty of Theology attached to the Amsterdam Centre of Eastern Orthodox Theology (ACEOT), Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, 2010–14.  His research has largely been in patristics, with monographs on Dionysios the Areopagite (1989), Maximos the Confessor (1996), and John Damascene (2002). His most recent books are Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology (2013) and Modern Orthodox Thinkers: from the Philokalia to the Present (2015).  He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2010, and is an archpriest of the Diocese of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate).

 

18. MIHOC IOAN, Eftimie Murgu University of Reșița ioanmihoc@gmail.com

Thoughts on Holy Scripture and theological exegesis in Fr Dumitru Stăniloae’s studies

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to outline the manner in which Father Dumitru Stăniloae understands the relationship between Holy Scripture and Church through Holy Tradition both in the chapter of his Dogmatics dedicated to this subject and in a study published in the journal “Ortodoxia” (Holy Scripture and Apostolic Tradition in the Confession of the Church, No. 2, 1980). In addition to this, the paper captures the exegetical accents in the presentation of a biblical text in another article by Fr Stăniloae in the same journal: The Mother of God in the Prologue of the Gospel of Luke, “Ortodoxia”, no. 3, 1980. From these studies it is understood that theology, as an explanation of God’s plan of salvation and deification of man in Christ, must be, on the one hand, according to the essence of Holy Scripture, because the mysterious content of the words of Scripture is God the Word – or as Fr Stăniloae says, Holy Scripture is the Son and Word of God who interpreted Himself in words – and on the other hand, it is called to be a theology according to the Apostolic Tradition, for, as he confesses, the Church has preserved and explained through Tradition only what is in Scripture. The Patristic and hymnological exegesis pattern proposed by Father Stăniloae in his Lukan study is added to his high conception of the relationship between Theology – Liturgy – Theophany, as evidenced in the volume Spirituality and Communion in the Orthodox Liturgy, as well as in some other studies. Keywords: Revelation, Holy Scripture, Apostolic Tradition, Luke Gospel, patristic exegesis, Church worship

 

Biography. Mihoc, Ioan: Orthodox priest, PhD Associate Professor, Univ. ‘Eftimie Murgu’ of Reșița, Department of Theology and Social Sciences; Disciplines: Old Testament Study; New Testament Study. Last published article: ‘Unity in the Truth: One Body in Christ, Diverse Gifts (Ephesians 4:1-16’, in Mihai Himcinschi/ Lucian Colda/ Ovidiu Panaite/ Răzvan Brudiu, editors, Simpozionul Internațional de Știință, Teologie și Artă (ISSTA) 14-15 mai 2018, Centenarul Unirii Românilor și Europa de azi. Religie și Geopolitică, vol. 3, Presa Universitară, Cluj-Napoca / Reîntregirea, Alba-Iulia, 2018, p. 231-246.

19. MOŞOIU NICOLAE, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu nicolaemosoiu@yahoo.com

Three Theological syntheses in the work of Father Dumitru Stăniloae: the knowledge of the revealed Truth; the form of the Church; the open conciliarity (sobornicity)

Abstract. The three theological syntheses tackled in this paper are as follows: 1. The dynamics of theology in the knowledge of the revealed truth and in the communication of the Tradition – a genuine infinitus progresus in idem. 2. The Form of the Church – that is, the presence of the Paschal (Easter) Christ in the kenotic visibility of the Church through the sacramental way, in charismatic manifestations. 3. The open conciliarity as an ecumenical typology – or the ecumenical significance of Orthodoxy. This wording implies the development of the teaching according to which Christianity in the Orthodox Tradition has a universal significance due to the discipline of conciliarity – among the local Churches, a discipline which is included in an ecclesiology of communion.

Biography. Nicolae Moșoiu is an Orthodox priest and associate professor of Dogmatic Theology at the „Saint Andrei Șaguna” Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University „Lucian Blaga” of Sibiu, Romania. He studied Theology in Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Oxford and, for short periods of time, he undertook research in Paris, Cambridge, Geneva, Oslo and Göttingen. In 2017 received his    Habilitation in Theology, at the University  of Bucharest. He published numerous articles (mainly in Romanian but also in English) and several books: Taina prezenţei lui Dumnezeu în viaţa umană. Viziunea creatoare a Părintelui Profesor Dumitru Stăniloae (The Mystery of God’s Presence in Human Life. Dumitru Stăniloae’s creative vision), Paralela 45 Publishing House, 2002, 323 p.; Cunoaştere, participare, iubire (Epistemology, Participation, Love), “Lucian Blaga” Univesity Publishing House, Sibiu, 2006, 215p.; Hermeneutica ortodoxă ca dezvoltare teologică în Tradiţie (Orthodox Hermeneutics as Theological Development within Tradition), Astra Museum Publishing House, Sibiu, 2013,586p; Orthodox faith witnessed in today’s world –  doctrinal themes in the context of postmodernism and globalization, Ed. Astra Museum, Sibiu, 2015, 421p; Darul filiaţiei adoptive baptismale – πνευ̃μα  υίοθεσία, spiritum adoptionis filiorum (Rm8,15) (The Gift of Baptismal Adoptive Sonship – πνευ̃μα  υίοθεσία, spiritum adoptionis filiorum (Rm8:15), Astra Museum Publishing House, Sibiu, 2016, 324p. He is the editor of Elemente de istorie, doctrină şi practică misionară- o perspectivă ecumenică (Elements of History, Doctrine, and Missionary Practice – an Ecumenical Perspective), “Lucian Blaga” Univesity Publishing House, Sibiu,   2006, 621p.; Relevanţa operei parintelui profesor Ion Bria pentru viaţa bisericească şi socială actuală. Directii noi de cercetare in domeniul doctrinei, misiunii şi unităţii Bisericii (Contemporary Relevance of Revd Professor Ion Bria’s Work for Church and Social Life. New Directions of Research in Doctrine, Mission and Church Unity), “Lucian Blaga” Univesity Publishing House, Sibiu, 2010, 682p.  and  Biserica Ortodoxă în dialogul ecumenic. Documente oficiale, (The Orthodox Church in  Ecumenical Dialogue. Official Documents), vol.I (1902-1986, 544p.), vol.II (1987-2006, 515p.) Cluj University Press, 2014 (co-edited with Professor Stefan Tobler). Revd Nicolae Moșoiu attended over 90 conferences and ecumenical meetings. As a representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches, he was a member of: the Central Committee; the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism and, from 2015, the Commission on Faith and Order.

20. MUNTEANU DANIEL, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg & Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Valahia University, Târgoviște munteanu@uni-bamberg.de

The Iconic Structure of the Human Being and the World as Plasticized Rationalities of the Holy Trinity. Main Aspects of the Cosmic Anthropology of Fr. Dumitru Staniloae

Abstract: Dumitru Stăniloae is one of the most creative orthodox theologians of the 20th century. His understanding of the human being and the world as plasticized rationalities of God that are founded in the eternal, divine paradigm s , has a substantial contextual significance for the dialogue between theology and science and for an orthodox view of thetheological dignity of the world.  There is an interdependence between the iconic character of reality and the pan-sacramental aspect of creation. As gifts and plasticized words of divine wisdom, all things of the world are „transparent bridges towards God.” In this paper I will analyze the main aspects of Stăniloae´s theological anthropology, that ought to be placed in the context of the anthropological turn.  For Karl Rahner, the leading figure that promoted this theological, anthropological turn, „theology is anthropology”. The focus of this paper lies in the analysis of Stăniloae´s conception of the iconic structure of man and world, as well on the relationship between the plasticized rationalities and the divine, eternalparadigms . For Staniloae the world and the human being are iconic realities, i.e., dynamic rational structures, that are transparent to the divine paradigms. He promotes this way a perichoretical and eschatological worldview, in which creation exists only due to the uncreated, creative and providential energies of God.

 

Biography. Daniel Munteanu is Professor of Dogmatics and Ethics at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology and Sciences of Education, University Valahia, Targoviste, Romania; He coordinates PhD studies at the University “1st december 1918” of Alba Iulia; He is member of the National Council for Attestation of University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates (CNATDCU), Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Orthodox Theology (www.orthodox-theology.com), Privatdozent at Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg, Germany. He is the first theologian of the Romanian Orthodox Church with habilitation in a western country (Germany). 2002 he finished his PhD at the oldest University in Germany, namely Ruprecht-Karls-University. For his dissertation: The Comforting Spirit of Love. Towards an ecumenical doctrine of the Holy Spirit through the Trinitarian theologies of J. Moltmann and D. Staniloae, he received 2007 the John Templeton Award for Theological Promise (20.000 $). Visiting professor: Union Theological Seminary în New York, USA,  2011/2012; Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München, Germania, 2010; Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München, Germania, 2015; Awards: 2007: John Templeton Award for Theological Promise ($20,000); 2007: Seal of Emperor Henry II – in the context of the 1000th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Bamberg; 2013: The Medal Dumitru Staniloae. Books: Habilitation: What is the human being? Basic features and social relevance of an ecumenical anthropology based on the theologies of Karl Rahner, Wolfhart Pannenberg and Johannes Zizioulas, with a foreword by Jürgen Moltmann, Neukirchen-Vluyn 2010 (573 pages). PhD Dissertation: The Comforting Spirit of Love. On an ecumenical doctrine of the Holy Spirit on the Trinitarian theologies of J. Moltmann and D. Staniloae, With a foreword by Jürgen Moltmann Neukirchen-Vluyn 2003, (325 pages); Theology of Koinonia. Ecumenical Introduction to Orthodox Theology and Spirituality, Leipzig: Winterwork 2013; On the footsteps of Love. Trinitarian contributions to a culture of sanctifying communication (Pe urmele iubirii. Contribuții trinitare la o cultură a comunicării sfințitoare, Ed. Bibliotheca, Târgoviște 2013). Research topics: Trinitarian theology, anthropology, public theology, ecotheology, bioethics, social ethics, cultural hermeneutics, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

 

21. NEACȘU NATHANAEL, Theological Faculty „Dumitru Stăniloae” of University of Iaşi nathanael@gmail.com

Personal and communitarian identity and becoming in Church. A theological perspective from Fr.  Dumitru Stăniloae and Archim. Sophrony Sakharov

Abstract: Based on the very consistent theological treasury of Fr. Dumitru Staniloae and Archim. Sophrony Sakharov, we attempt in this paper to analyze some theological principles regarding man existence as a person and his vocation to be in communion with other persons, in the Church of Christ. A man’s life has to be expressed in a double way; individual and communitarian. How can a man be both individual and communitarian at the same time? The answer comes through the revelation of Christ. Man is called to live in Christ and in His Church, a great community of divine and human persons, his life in an individual way, the life of all humankind, and the divine life of Holy Trinity. Thus, the man`s becoming is accomplished personally and in a communitarian way within Church as mystery of union of man with God.

 

Biography. Achim. Dr. NATHANAEL NEACŞU is Professor (affiliate lecturer) of Dogmatics of Theological Faculty „Dumitru Stăniloae” of University of Iaşi, Romania. He is serving as priest the Metropolitan Cathedral of Metropolis of Moldavia and Bucovina, Iaşi. BA – Theological Faculty „ Andrei Şaguna” of Sibiu,  „Man and cosmos in the Fr. Dumitru Staniloae`s theology”; MA – Theological Faculty „ Andrei Şaguna” of Sibiu, „Iconic elements of the Christian mystery of ‘theosis’ in the major world religions”; PHD-Theological Faculty „ Andrei Şaguna” of Sibiu, “The dogmatic consciousness and spiritual life in Fr. Sophrony Sakharov`s thinking”; PHD-Theological Faculty of Aristoteleio University, Thessalonic “Person and communion in Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae`s theology”. He has completed two post-doctoral research studies in Ostkirchliches Institut, Regensburg, Germany, and at the Institute for Orthodox Christian, Studies(IOCS), Cambridge, UK. He is the author of many theological books, papers and studies of particular relevance are: Conștiintă dogmatică și viată duhovnicească în gândirea părintelui Sofronie Saharov, ed. Doxologia, Iași, 2015; Πρόσωπο και κοινωνία στη θεολογία του π. Δ. Στάνιλοαε, εδκ. Όστρακον, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2015; Η πολιτεία των αγγέλων-θεολογική προσέγγιση, ”Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς”, 819/2007; Η θεολογική γνωσιολογία ως θέωση κατά τον Γρηγόριο τον Παλαμά, Γρηγόριος Παλαμάς, martie-aprilie 2009; La synodalité épiscopale, le primat et l’assemblée des fidèles au service de l’unité  de l’Église – une perspective théologique orthodoxe, „Revista Teologică”, nr. 2/2017. Website of Theological Faculty of Iaşi: http://www.teologie.uaic.ro/

 

22. PAPANIKOLAOU ARISTOTLE, Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University papanikolaou@fordham.edu

 

From Sophia to Personhood: the Development of the 20th century Orthodox Theology from S. Bulgakov through V. Lossky and D. Staniloae to Metropolitan John D. Zizioulas

Abstract: In this essay, I want to provide an analysis of the development of contemporary Orthodox theologies of personhood, and in so doing, I want to both disagree and agree with its critics.  I want to agree with its critics that theologies of personhood as we read them in Lossky and Zizioulas, in particular, are not exactly to be found in the fathers, but I also want to argue that that is acceptable.  I agree with the critics that it would be difficult to find in the fathers an articulation of theologies of personhood as developed by Lossky and Zizioulas; but, as I have argued elsewhere, Lossky and Zizioulas can be interpreted as consistent with the fathers insofar as they develop the patristic distinction between hypostasis and ousia on basis of the principle of divine-human communion, or theosis [“Is Zizioulas an Existential in Disguise?” Modern Theology 20:4 (2004) 601-608].  I will, thus, disagree with the critics in defending contemporary Orthodox theologies of person as offering genuine Orthodox insights into both Trinitarian theology and the question of what it means to be human, and in so doing, I hope to demonstrate what I call the existential dimensions that are inescapable in the task of doing theology, even for the fathers of the Church, and which can be justified on the grounds of the Incarnation itself.  To be more specific, I argue that an Orthodox theology of personhood is, itself, confirmed in human experience, which raises the question of the role of human experience in theology.  And it is here that I will draw on the theology of Dumitru Staniloae, who was not afraid to reflect on the human experience of love as a source for his understanding of Orthodox theology.

23. POPA CĂTĂLIN ȘTEFAN, Philipps-Universität Marburg

“The Virgin Mary in the East Syriac Exegesis of the 9^th century. An analysis of Īšōʿdād of Merv’s Commentaries on the Gospels”

Abstract. This paper deals with the exegesis of Īšōʿdād of Merv on the Virgin Mary. Īšōʿdād was a East Syriac bishop of Ḥdatta located on the East bank of the Tigris. Īšōʿdād was a very prolific Syriac interpreter who wrote different commentaries on the whole Bible. His exegesis, as one might expect, had a prominent place in the East Syriac tradition. In his Commentaries on the Gospels, the East Syriac author offers fascinating pieces of Christian interpretation with many assessements dedicated to Mariology and invoking permanently different early Church Fathers as guarantors for his arguments.The analysis  will select some quintessential passages attempting to reflect on Mary’s image in Īšōʿdād’s understanding and putting the focus on theological as well as contextual questions as follows: What does Mary’s virginity mean and what kind of further coextending images of virginity does the author appeal on a biblical background? In order to be convincing in his inquiry, Īšōʿdād discusses on the basis of Mary’s virginity some profiles from the Old Testament, such as Elijah,  Jeremiah and John the Baptist. Another important point is how does Īšōʿdād see Eve-Mary’s typology and what type of role does this issue have within the East Syriac exegesis? What kind of epithetology does the author use describing this parallel? Eve seems to be called “the mother of Sin” and her antitype is the Virgin Mary designated by the author as “the Mother of Life, and of the Virgin Son, who was Father of the future”. Īšōʿdād also implements important circumstantial elements, such as Mary’s age at the time of the Dormition (Assumption), as well as other historical aspects that complement the biblical context in which the Virgin Mary appears. Based on interesting passages from his Commentaries on the Gospels we will deep in this comprehensive material to demonstrate how paradigmatic are the Syriac perceptions on Mariology and the imagery and symbols used, in order to reveal East Syriac veneration of the Holy Virgin Mary and respectively, their admiration’s expression of her virtues. Selected Bibliography: The Commentaries of Isho’dad of Merv, Bishop of Hadatha (c. 850 A.D.) in Syriac and English, edited and translated by Margaret Dunlop Gibson, Horae Semiticae V, VI, VII, vols. 1, 2, 3, Cambridge University Press, 1911.

Biography. Catalin-Stefan Popa holds his PhD from Georg-August-University of Göttingen (2016) with the thesis: Gīwargīs I. (660-680). Ostsyrische Christologie in frühislamischer Zeit, Göttinger Orientforschungen, I. Reihe: Syriaca, Band 50, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag 2016. He is a Fellow of Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Saint John’s University Collegeville, Minnesota (2017) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2018). Currently he is working on his professorial thesis (habilitation). Popa’s research background combine Syriac and Arabic topics from Late Antiquity until Late Middle Ages. He has published papers on a range of oriental subjects and has given impressive public lectures at Åbo Akademi University Turku; Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy Stockholm; Freie Universität Berlin; Philipps-Universität-Marburg; Collegium Orientale Eichstätt; Universität Konstanz; Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz; Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg; Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, Saint John’s University Collegeville, Minnesota; Pontificio Istituto Orientale, Rome; University of Cairo; Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam &c.

24. PORTARU MARIUS, Patristic Institute Augustinianum, Rome mportaru@startmail.com

 

On the Mutual Sustenance between Hesychasm and Eucharist and on Its Acknowledgement in Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae’s Eucharistic Doctrine

Abstract: The present paper describes the development of Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae’s eucharistic doctrine, from a minor article in Telegraful Român (1936) to the monumental Spiritualitate și comuniune în Liturghia Ortodoxă (1986) and beyond. In doing so, it looks at Stăniloae’s eucharistic doctrine from the point of view of the relationship between hesychast spirituality and Eucharist: since hesychast spirituality was present in Stăniloae’s theological project from the outset (through his study on Gregory Palamas (1938) and the translation of The Philokalia, whose first volume appeared in 1946), our paper investigates the influence it had on his understanding of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

Biography. Marius Portaru is a PhD student at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum (Rome), where he writes a thesis on St Maximus the Confessor’s theology under the kind supervision of Prof. John Rist. Previously, he has been a research assistant at the University of Bucharest (2011-2014), with a project on the Barlaamite Controversy (see the list of publications). He holds a BA in Orthodox Theology (2004-2008), and another BA in Classics (2005-2008), both from the University of Bucharest, and MA degrees in Historic Theology (2008-2010, Univ. of Bucharest), Patristics (2008-2012, Augustinianum) and Ancient Philosophy (2013-2014, Cambridge UK). He has delivered papers at numerous conferences throughout Europe. His previous publications range from patristic theology and ancient philosophy (Apollinaris, Maximus, Dionysius, Aristotle, Plotinus), to Byzantine (Gregory Palamas) and contemporary theology (Dumitru Stăniloae).https://patristicum.academia.edu/MariusPortaru

 

25. POVÎRNARU RAFAEL, West University Timișoara, ieromrafael@yahoo.com

The Archetypal Love of the Holy Trinity and the Communion with It through the cult of the Church, according to Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s teaching

Abstract. The Holy Trinity, the supreme mystery of the existence, or the communion of the faultless love according to Father Dumitru Stăniloae, represents for us as Christians, the dimension of the utterness as a state of completeness of the human being permanently found in a direct and personal relationship with God – Father and Son and Holy Spirit. However, in order to understand thoroughly this everlasting relation between God and the man – relationship which translates as a dialogic expression of love always present in the act of ministration, either public or private – it is proper to outline several essential aspects, fundamental for our study as they focus on the existence and manifestation of the Holy Trinity.

Biography.

26. SFERLEA OVIDIU, Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Bishop dr. Vasile Coman”, University of Oradea ovidiusferlea@gmail.com

Interpretation and Reception of the theory of epektasis in Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract: Although he is not generally known as a patristic scholar, and even less as a specialist in Gregory of Nyssa, the writings of Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae contain abundant evidence of a consistent interest in Nyssen’s much celebrated theory of spiritual perpetual progress, conveniently labelled epektasis in patristic scholarship. This paper proposes an analysis of Stăniloae’s reading of Gregory’s theory by comparing it with three influent modern interpretations, namely those elaborated by Jean Daniélou, Ekkehard Mühlenberg and Ronald Heine, respectively. It is remarcable that Fr. Stăniloae’s understanding of Nyssen’s theory retains elements from all these patristic scholars, but in the same time his interest goes far beyond a mere historical and exegetical inquiry. I suggest indeed that we have good reason to speak about a genuinely theological reception of this idea in his thought, a fact which is not very common among others systematic Orthodox theologians from the twentieth century.

Biography. Assist. prof. dr Gheorghe Ovidiu Sferlea, Universitatea din Oradea (Patristics), PhD at École Pratique des Hautes Études-Sorbonne. Publications: Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomium I (2010) and II (2018, forthcoming), introduction, translation and notes, Iassy. Articles in Vigiliae Christianae, Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Revue d‘histoire ecclésiastique, Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses, Studia Monastica, Laval Théologique et Philosophique, etc. Book Chapters at Études Augustiniennes, E.J. Brill, Palgrave Macmillan, Cerf etc.

27. TĂNASE NICHIFOR-GHEORGHE, Archdiocese of Timișoara, independent researcher (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, alumnus)

“Show Me Your Face and I shall be saved.” The eschatological description of the Christ’s Face according to Father Stăniloae

Abstract. Father Dumitru Staniloae, in his neo-patristic synthesis, emphasizes that the uncreated Light of Christ, ascetico-somatic internalized, radiates concentraded on the shining face of the God-seeing ascet. He shows how final deification will consist into a “look and living” of divine energies “irradiated in front of Christ” (Ascetic and Mystic). However, the human face (dogmatic-liturgical-mystical leitmotif at Father Stăniloae) does not send or refer to that Greek prosopon (which he redesignates it or resignify it through a recovery of the biblically-semitic semantics found it into the concept of face/panim – a recognition of an ontological content of the person). For Father Staniloae person/face is presence, because that “shinning face” which irradiates uncreated light is the presence of Christ within the man. The eschatological description of the Christ’s Face, the personal perihoretic communion as intersubjectivity, the light of man’s face from the light of Christ’s Face as face-to-face meet, as well as its liturgical description, all these represent the red thread of his theological synthesis. According to the Romanian theologian, throughout the circumscribed features of His human face spirituality, the apophatic-pnevmatical character of the human ontology is being revealed. Thus, apophaticism is not pure negation, but unspoken perception, through an architecture of phenomena of a Face, of a Presence, of a Light through which we genuinely become the sanctuary of Presence.

Biography. Priest Nichifor TĂNASE was a lecturer (2010-2017) at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Eftimie Murgu University in Resița and currently he is Counselor in Education Sector within the Timișoara Archdiocese, the Metropolis of Banat. He is a graduate of Orthodox Theology (2002), and since 2010 has a Ph.D. in Theology from the Orthodox Theology Faculty „Andrei Şaguna” from „Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu. He is the author of the volumes (in Romanian): Ontology of the Incarnation: being-essence-phenomenon triptych (Bucuresti: Paideia, 2008), Christ and Time. The energetic perichoresis between time and eternity (Galaxia Gutenberg Publishing, Târgu Lăpuş 2012) and Orthodox Spirituality. Neopatristic-palamite synthesis (Eftimie Murgu University Publishing, Resita 2012). He works on/for the publication of two volumes of theology: Logic and Spirituality. Deification rhetoric to Saint Gregory Palamas and “Shining Face” – Aesthetics of Apophaticism. He published chapters in volumes (appeared at New Europe College, Cambridge  Scholar Publishing, Wiph & Stock, Peeters-Leuven și Springer). He is a member of International Association of Patristic Studies (Lyon/Oxford/Roma), The Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies (Exeter College, Oxford), Centre of Theology and Philosophy (University of Nottingham), The Nordic Society for Philosophy of Religion (The Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo), Mystical Theology (Oxford University), British and Irish Association for Practical Theology (Edinburgh Scotland), Association des Amis de Sources Chrétiennes (Institut des Sources Chrétiennes – Lyon, France). He participated in conferences in the following centers: Utrecht, Birmingham, Belgrade, Sibiu, Leuven, Leeds, King’s College (University of London), Berlin (Freie Universität), St. Edmund Hall (Oxford University), St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia), St. Anne’s College (Oxford), Prešov (Slovakia), Durham University, New Europe College (Bucharest). He is interested in the relationship between the Desert Fathers’s “shining face” christology as an apophatic hidden and aisthetic revealed Christology of Light (Pambo, Silvanus, Sisoe, Joseph of Panephysis, John of Lycopolis the great “Seer of the Thebaid” or Apa Aphou of Oxyrhynchus), the experiential knowledge of the indwelling of God in the purified soul to the Syrian Fathers (Dadiso Qatraya, Isaac of Ninevah, Joseph Hazzaya, John of Dalyatha) and the Hesychast Theology of uncreated Light during the period of the late Byzantium (St. Symeon the New Theologian, Nicephorus the Hesychast, Gregory of Sinai, Gregory Palamas). The emphasis is, especially, on the experience of uncreated light in bodies of ascetics, reflecting the glory of God’s light on their shining faces, and the being-energies distinction as a possibility for Trinity’s indwelling presence within the human.

 

28. THEOKRITOFF ELISABETH, Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies of Cambridge, theokritoff@btinternet.com

Liturgy and Cosmology in Stăniloae and beyond

Abstract: It has been said of Fr Dumitru Stanilaoe that ‘more powerfully than any other Orthodox writer of our day, he presents a convincing theology of the world’ (Metr Kallistos). The premise of this paper is twofold: that the need to explore and apply such a theological approach has only become more pressing in the decades since Stanilaoe was writing; and that there is work still to be done in finding ways of expressing Orthodox Christian cosmology that do justice to the scale and complexity of the universe. The paper therefore looks at the eucharistic themes of gift and sacrament in Staniloae’s ‘theology of the world’ side by side with related themes, and different forms of liturgical cosmology, in other modern Orthodox writers. In the process, it considers the continuing value and the limitations of Staniloae’s approach for contemporary Orthodox thinking.

Biography. Elizabeth Theokritoff is a research associate and lecturer at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge. She is co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology and author of Oikosystema kai Anthropini Kyriarchia (Athens: Maistros, 2003) and Living in God’s Creation: Orthodox Perspectives on Ecology (St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2009), as well as numerous articles and book chapters on ecological and liturgical themes.

 

29. TOMA ȘTEFAN L., Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel tstefan_lucian@yahoo.com

The Reception of Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s Theological Thinking within the Framework of the Athonite Spirituality and of the Greek Contemporary Theology

Abstract: This paper attempts to offer a general perspective regarding the contribution of Father Dumitru Stăniloae to theology, underlining appreciations and commentaries (from the space of the Athonite spirituality and of the Greek theology) related to this topic. As promoter of the Patristic Tradition, Father Stăniloae elaborated successfully a form of neopatristic theology. His struggle against the scholastic typology, the promotion of Saint Gregory Palama’s theology, the spiritual approach to dogmas, the importance of the Philokalic theology, the role of the patristic exegesis and ascetic experience in the dogmatic development of Tradition are just a few aspects of this step. The end of the paper provides the perspective of how Father Stăniloae’s theology has been approached within the contemporary framework of the Athonite spirituality and Greek theology.

Biography. Ştefan L. Toma, Habilitand in Church History, „Christian-Albrechts” University Kiel/Germany. Dr. Toma holds a B.A. degree in theology from the University of Sibiu/Romania, a M.A. in Church History (2001), a M.A. in International Relations and European Studies (2010), M.A. in Law (2012) from the University of Sibiu and a Ph.D. in Dogmatic Theology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki/Greece (2006). Dr. Toma worked between 2006-2013 as administrative secretary and counselor at the Metropolis of Ardeal (Sibiu), beind ordained deacon in the Metropolitan Cathedral from Sibiu by Metropolit Laurenţiu Streza (on the Feast of Resurrection 2011). Dr. Toma specializes since 2014 at the Institut for Church History of the University of Kiel/Germany in the the Fifteenth Century (the end of the Byzantine Empire and the beginning of the Ottoman Empire) his main research interests include the life, activity and works of Georgios-Gennadios Scholarios (1405-1472/1473), the first Patriarch of Constantinople after the Fall of the City (1453) and a well known philosopher and theologian before 1453. Dr. Toma is author of many studies on field of Dogmatic Theology, Church History, Patristic and Byzantine Spirituality, being known also for translated books from Greek Language into Romanian language. Some of his publications are related with the theological *-thinking of Father Dumitru Stăniloae: Η Πατερική Παράδοσις εις το έργον του π. Δημητρίου Στανιλοάε και ο σύγχρονος κόσμος, Εκδόσεις Π. Πουρναρά, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2007 (Foreword of His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew), Tradiţie şi actualitate la pr. Dumitru Stăniloae, Editura Agnos, Sibiu 2008, Π. Δημητρίου Στανιλοάε, ο πατερικός θεολόγος της Οικουμένης, Ostracon Publishing, Θεσσαλονίκη 2014, Π. Δημητρίου Στανιλοάε, Η Αγία και Μεγάλη Σύνοδος της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας. Ο πνευματικός της ορίζοντας, Εκδόσεις Μπαρμπουνάκη, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2014 (Foreword and editor), Π. Δημητρίου Στανιλοάε, Η άσπιλη Παρθενία της Θεοτόκου και το νόημα του Κόσμου, Εκδόσεις Μπαρμπουνάκη, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2014 (Foreword and translator).

 

30. TOROCZKAI CIPRIAN IULIAN, Faculty of Orthodox Theology „Andrei Şaguna”, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu torocipri@gmail.com

Knowledge and Holiness in Vladimir Lossky and Dumitru Stăniloae. A Comparative Approach

Abstract. After a brief presentation of the life and work of Vladimir Lossky (1903-1958), respectively Dumitru Stăniloae (1903-1993) the first part of the paper exposes the role that dogmas have in theology. They are the milestones of the authentic Christian experience, being somewhere “between gnosis – charisma and silence, contemplative knowledge and existential knowledge – and episteme – science and rational thinking”. Dogmas have emerged for a twofold reason: on the one hand, because of the need to relentlessly fight to defend truth against heresies and, on the other hand, because of the need to express the fullness of the divine revelation in the Church. Since they involve the community relationship with the revealed God, dogmas have an antinomic and apophatic character. The decisive concept is the “distinction/identity” one which is in the centre of Lossky’s theology. Lossky’s over-stressing of the apophatic character of theology and of the Alexandrian school encountered criticism from scholars such as Polycarp Sherwood, Rowan Williams or Dumitru Stăniloae. Distinguishing between gnosis and the theological teaching, Lossky captures the role that both of them have in the life of the Church. Gnosis is a “projection of eschatology in the present moment” while the theological doctrine, by contrast, is made for the historical work here, it must be adapted to space and time, to the historical contexts and moments. In Lossky’s thinking distinction does not mean opposition, consequently the theological teaching and gnosis as a contemplative act must be complementary. There is piety of the theological knowledge having the premise that we must not adapt revelation since revelation adapts us through asceticism of mind (metanoia). The second part focuses on defining the Tradition in Lossky’s work as the “life of the Holy Spirit in the Church”. First of all, there is an inextricable bond between the Church, Tradition and the Scripture: The Bible is the written tradition and tradition is the Bible lived in the Church, in the breath and inspiration of the Spirit. One should also distinguish between Tradition and traditions. In the Church, the horizontal line of the “traditions” received from Lord and then transmitted through the Apostles and their successors intersects with the vertical line of the communication-tradition of the Holy Spirit. Since revelation is perfected in Jesus Christ, one must understand that through the work of the Holy Spirit and through its teachings, worship and canonical discipline, the Church transmits its believers the same communion of life with Him. The third part shows how the theological knowledge is “embodied” in the people, namely in the saints. Noticing the bond between doctrine, worship and spirituality, Vladimir Lossky says that “there is no Christian mysticism without theology; moreover, there is no mysticism without theology”. Nevertheless, this principle is not a theoretical one, but has a solid, practical basis. (It is to be noticed in the life of the saints such as the famous Elders of the Optina.) Spiritual fatherhood shows how Christianity is conceived as a living, not individualistic but communitarian-ecclesial experience, passed from generation to generation in the Church. Theology is brought to life in the saints, hence the recognition of the values of the spiritual father by the Orthodox believers. In fact, the attributes possessed by Spiritual Fathers (insight and discernment, universal love and the power to transform the physical and the human environment) are nothing but gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus, asceticism does not mean anything negative (e.g. the Optina hermitage was not only a place of prayer, contemplation and pilgrimage, but it was open towards the cultural, social and political life of Russia, which the abbots judged from a spiritual, prophetic perspective).

In conclusion, the author points out that, despite the low number of books and studies that have been dedicated to him, Vladimir Lossky remains perhaps the best known and most influential of all the modern Orthodox authors. The reason of this particular influence was revealed by Father Dumitru Stăniloae: Vladimir Lossky’s main goal was “to make dogmas for the modern, present man” and the patristic message that Lossky reappraised was that Orthodoxy is based on combining knowledge with experience. But these reflections are valid for Stăniloae himself!

Biography. Ciprian Iulian Toroczkai is Assistant Professor at the „Andrei Saguna” Orthodox Faculty of Theology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. He is  the author of  nine books, and  a great number of articles, essays and book reviews in theological and  literary journals. Among his works: Adevăratul şi falsul ecumenism: perspective orto­doxe asupra dialogului dintre creştini , Tradiţia patristică în modernitate: Ecleziologia Părintelui Georges V. Florovsky (1893-1979) în contextul mişcării neopatristice contemporane, Cunoaștere și sfințenie la Vladimir Lossky,, Teologia rusă din diaspora. Context istoric; principalii reprezentanţi şi originalităţile lor teologice,  C.S. Lewis: the Fate of Heroism and Christianity in the 20th Century , Nihilismul în opera lui Dostoievski,  Misiunea Bisericii Ortodoxe, ieri și astăzi, and Literatura teologică românească în secolul XX: accente, sinteze și repere bio‐bibliografice..

31. TUDORIE IONUȚ ALEXANDRU, University of Bucharest – Faculty of Orthodox Theology altudorie@yahoo.com

 

Fr Dumitru Stăniloae and the Romanian Academic Theological Education in the Interwar Period (1926-1938)

 

Abstract. Following the reunification of all the Romanian provinces in December 1918 and the statement regarding the Romanian Patriarchate in February 1925, one of the most interesting issues that were to be discussed and settled was the reorganization of the theological education. In the regions of the former Romanian Kingdom (id sunt Wallachia and Moldova), as well as in Bessarabia, theological education was taught in two types of institutions: seminaries with a training period of 8 years and faculties with 4 years. Bukovina only had the Faculty of Theology in Chernivtsi with a training period of 4 years. On the other hand, in Transylvania, theological education could only be acquired in the so-called theological academies with a training period of 4 years. Between 1926-1938 several legislative projects were drafted on the reorganization of theological education, which divided the Romanian ecclesiastical society in two parties: on one side there were those who supported the establishment of the institutional binomial seminary-faculty, with some changes required in the curriculum; on the other side there were those who emphasized the benefits of theological and spiritual development within a theological academy, an educational system which had proven its worth starting with the second half of the 19^th century in Transylvania.

Biography. Lecturer Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, PhD (University of Bucharest). Dr. Tudorie, 41, holds doctorates in both Theology and History from the University of Bucharest. Additionally, he has been the director of two advanced research projects and has served as secretary of his department and member of the Commission for Quality Education at the University of Bucharest. His research has received financial and intellectual support from prestigious international institutions including the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study, Dumbarton Oaks Library and Collection, New Europe College, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Romanian Academy, National Council for Scientific Research, and Institute for Research in Humanities (University of Bucharest). St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has appointed Dr. Ionuţ-Alexandru Tudorie to the position of academic dean. He comes to SVOTS highly recommended by scholars at Dumbarton Oaks. His publications and scholarly works include Imperial Authority in Crisis: Michael VIII Palaiologos (1258-1282) and the Relations between the Byzantine State and the Church (in Romanian, 2016); “Et tenentes frenum equi ipsius: A new approach to the 13th-century relationship between the Byzantine emperor and patriarch”(The Patriarchate of Constantinople in Context and Comparison, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2017); Le patriarche Athanase Ier (1289-1293 ; 1303-1309) et les arsénites: une lettre patriarcale contre les schismatiques (Le Patriarcat Oecuménique de Constantinople et Byzance hors-frontières (1204-1586). Actes de la table ronde organisée dans le cadre du 22e Congrès International des Études Byzantines, Sofia, 22-27 août 2011, Centre d’études byzantines, néo-helléniques et sud-est européennes / École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, 2014); and an introductory study and chronological overview for a bilingual edition of Photios of Constantinople’s Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit (Polirom Publishing House, 2013).

32. TULCAN IOAN, Orthodox Theological Faculty “Ilarion V. Felea”, University „Aurel Vlaicu” of Arad tulcan_ioan@yahoo.com

Trinitarian and Anthropological Personalism in Father Staniloae’s Vision and Its Significance for the Contemporary Man

Abstract: The issue of the personal character of God and of man is essential to a true, profound and faithful understanding of Revelation, regarding both God and man’s understanding. For Father Stăniloae, the conclusion that God is not a certain reality or a superior substance, but that He is a community and communion of divine, infinite and eternal Persons starts from the premise that God is love. Only by understanding God as love can we understand that love in an abstract and impersonal mode cannot exist. On the contrary, only people are common bearers of what we call love. Referring to God as love, Father Stăniloae asserts that “perfect love paradoxically unites these two things: many loving individuals, remaining unaltered, and a complete unity among them. Without the existence of perfect and eternal love, love cannot be explained in the world, nor can the world’s purpose be seen. Love in the world presupposes the origin and purpose of eternal and perfect love among more Divine Persons.” (see: D. Stăniloae, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, The Bible and Mission Institute Publishing House of the Romanian Orthodox Church, 3rd edition, Bucharest 2003, p.293). Starting from here, Father Stăniloae remarks with great force of conviction that man has also a personal character. This theological statement bears multiple meaning. First of all, the human being is a person because it is related to the living and personal God by its “image” of God. Through this quality, man feels the need to be connected with God-Person. On the one hand, the personal character of man is confirmed by the fact that he feels the necessity of always being connected with God and at the same time of being closely connected with the whole creation. On the other hand, the personal character of man can be seen in the fact that he feels the need to conscientiously and freely process the creation given to him by God in order to catch its ever-new virtualities, approaching its understanding, as is this in the “thinking” of God Himself, concerning every creature in part, and with reference to creation as a whole. This vision of God understood as Person and man understood as personal being has many meanings for the contemporary man. This theological understanding comes to correct the unilateral and reductionist visions of God and man. Depending on the extent to which the contemporary man opens himself to this understanding concerning himself, he will be able to avoid present and future dangers; by rejecting his personal character in the relationship he should have with the surrounding world, in its quality of creation of God, man could dwindle the effects of the various current threats. In this respect, the mission of Orthodox theology is essential in our times as well.

33. TURCAN NICOLAE, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj nicolaeturcan@gmail.com

Love in Fr Dumitru Staniloae’s Thought: A Phenomenological Approach

Abstract. In reading Fr Dumitru Staniloae, it is obvious that love and divine-human communion have a prominent role in his theology. This text aims to do a phenomenological approach on this topic: it analyzes the implicit reductions working in Staniloae’s texts, the presence of the intentionality, the role of the ego and his limits, and also the problem of reciprocity of love (raised by Jean-Luc Marion). I will try to claim not only that there are phenomenological influences in Staniloae’s understanding of love, but also that such a topic requires a phenomenology that synthesizes the phenomenology of world (Husserl and Heidegger) and the phenomenology of life (M. Henry). Because love, in his perfection, is a gift of Holy Spirit, the both phenomenologies must be completed with a dialogical and paradoxical one, an archi-phenomenology of love, where the Given can be invisible, living, eternal saturated, and never reducible to an object, or to a concept. Keywords: Dumitru Staniloae, Jean-Luc Marion, love, erotic reduction, theological reductions, reciprocity of love, spiritual life, phenomenology

 

Biography. Senior Lecturer, Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Nicolae Turcan (born 1971) is a Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), the director of Center for Dialogue between Theology and Philosophy (http://cdtp.orth.ro), and the editor of Diakrisis Yearbook of Theology and Philosophy (http://diakrisis.orth.ro). He holds a PhD in Philosophy (2006, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania), and a PhD in Theology (2015, “1 December 1918” University, Alba-Iulia, Romania). Areas of interest include the dialog between theology and phenomenology, the continental philosophy of religion, history of philosophy, apologetics, eastern orthodox dogmatics, metaphysics, phenomenology and postmodernism. Books published: Dumnezeul gândurilor mărunte. [God of Small Thoughts.] Cluj-Napoca: Limes, 2009; Despre maestru și alte întâlniri. Eseuri, cronici, recenzii. [On Master and Other Encounters: Essays & Reviews.] Cluj-Napoca: Limes, 2010; Credința ca filosofie. Marginalii la gândirea Tradiției. [Faith as Philosophy: Marginalia to the Thought of the Christian Tradition.] Cluj-Napoca: Eikon, 2011; Începutul suspiciunii. Kant, Hegel & Feuerbach despre religie și filosofie. [Beginning of Suspicion: Kant, Hegel & Feuerbach on Religion and Philosophy.] Cluj-Napoca: Eikon, 2011; Abisul și cealaltă dragoste. [Abyss and the Other Love.] Florești, Cluj: Limes, 2012; Cioran sau excesul ca filosofie. [Cioran or the Excess as Philosophy.] 2^nd ed. Cluj: Limes, 2013; Marx și religia. O introducere. [Marx and Religion: An Introduction.] Cluj-Napoca: Eikon, 2013; Postmodernism și teologie apofatică. O apologie în fața gândirii slabe. [Postmodernism and Apophatic Theology: An Apology against Weak Thought.] Florești, Cluj: Limes, 2014; Apologia după sfârșitul metafizicii. Teologie și fenomenologie la Jean-Luc Marion. [Apology after the End of Metaphysics Theology and Phenomenology in Jean-Luc Marion.] București: Eikon, 2016; Paradoxuri și îngenuncheri. Meditații despre filosofie și credință. [Paradoxes and Kneels: Thoughts on Philosophy and Faith.] București: Eikon, 2017. Web site: http://nicolaeturcan.ro

 

34. TURCESCU LUCIAN, Concordia University, Montreal Turcescu@concordia.ca

The Human Person as Man and Woman: Dumitru Staniloae in Dialogue with Anca Manolache

Abstract: Anca Manolache, a former doctoral student of Dumitru Staniloae, was one of the very few Orthodox female theologians of during communist Romania. In her few writings, she began developing a theology of Orthodox women as persons and wrote in a very convincing way about the role of women in the Orthodox Church. In this paper, I would like to bring her in dialogue with the theology of personhood of her professor and compare and contrast them.

Biography. A layman in the Romanian Orthodox Church, married with one child, Dr. Lucian Turcescu is a Professor and past Chair the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. He has done research, published, and taught in several areas, including early Christianity, religion and politics, and ecumenism. Some of his books include Justice, Memory and Redress in Romania;  Church, State, and Democracy in Expanding Europe; Religion and Politics in Post-communist Romania; Gregory of Nyssa and the Concept of Divine Persons. Currently he is the Principal Investigator in a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Grant dealing with collaboration and resistance of religious groups in Romania under communism.

35. VESA VALENTIN, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj vesa@gmail.com

Incarnation and divine knowledge in Isaac of Nineveh and John Dalyatha

Abstract: In the mystical theology there is a strong connection between Christology and divine knowledge, for Christ is the revelation of the Father and all knowledge occurs in Him/ by the means of Him. The possibility of spiritual experience resides in the way of describing Christ’s person and in particular in the relation between his divine and human natures. This discussion becomes more interesting when referring to the East Syriac theology, so called Nestorian, which does not allow a courageous expression of a mystic theology, because of its strict diophysite Christology. One knows that during time there were two parties within this community, one more scholastic and rational, sustained by the theological schools and the hierarchy, and a second one, experientially oriented, mystical and courageous, not always in accordance with the official doctrine, professed mostly by monastics. Isaac, Bishop of Nineveh, belonged to this second party. This paper will analyse the connection between Incarnation and divine knowledge in the writings of this prominent author or, in other words, will interpret his Christology as space for a courageous mystical theology. A first section will be dedicated to the vocabulary used to develop a specific Christology, and a second part will interpret the gnoseology/ divine perception expressed in his writings. Lastly, we will draw some conclusions regarding the relation between the author in discussion and the theology of the East Syriac Church of his time.  Keywords: East Syriac Christology, Incarnation, divine knowledge, divine vision, Isaac of Nineveh.

Biography. Archim. Benedict (VALENTIN) VESA, PhD Lecturer. EDUCATION: Graduate of Theology (“1 Decembrie 1918” University, Alba Iulia, 2008); Master in Systematic Theology (“1 Decembrie 1918” University, Alba Iulia, 2010), Master in Ecumenical Theology (Bossey Institute/ University of Geneva, 2011); PhD in Spiritual Theology (Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 2013), PhD in Religious History (University of Padua; Tutor: Prof. Paolo Bettiolo/ East Syriac field, 2016); Lecturer – Spiritual Theology (Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Cluj-Napoca, Rou). PUBLICATIONS: 5 Books (Knowledge and Experience in the Writings of St. Isaac of Nineveh, Gorgias Eastern Christian Studies 51, 2018, 333 p.; Personalități duhovnicești contemporane/ Spiritual contemporary personalities. Biographies and Markings, Cluj-Napoca, renașterea, 2016, 198 p.; The Knowledge of God according to Isaac of Niniveh (Rou), Cluj-Napoca, 2013; The Experiential Theology of the Saints and its ecumenical role: St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Comparative study, Alba Iulia, 2011; Singing the mercies of God. Introduction in the theology of St Isaac the Syrian (Rou), Alba Iulia, 2010); cca 30 studies different topics on spirituality and in particular East Syriac tradition in the academic journals (as: “Mystical life and social work in the contemporary monastic life. Two case studies: Mother Maria Skobtsova and Mother Gavrilia Papaiannis”, in The Missionary Ethos of the Church in Post-modernity I, Reîntregirea, Alba Iulia, 2015, p. 455-488; The Motherhood of Virgin Mary and the Motherhood of the Spiritual Man (and the Church) in the Syriac Tradition. Kinship and Imagery, “Eastern Theological Journal”, 1 (2015), pp. 349-362; Mystical life and social work in the contemporary monastic life. Two case studies: Mother Maria Skobtsova and Mother Gavrilia Papaiannis, in “The Missionary Ethos of the Church in Post-modernity, Alba Iulia, 4-6 May 2015”, vol. 2, pp. 95-114; The Liturgical Epiclesis as Image for Mystical Life in the Syriac Tradition. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Incarnation, Eucharist and Spiritual Prayer, in ”Euharistie, Spovedanie, Martiriu. Lucrările Simpozionului Internațional al Facultății de Teologie Ortodoxă din Cluj-Napoca (3-5 noiembrie 2014)”, vol. I, Cluj-Napoca, Renașterea, 2014, pp. 226-239; La teofania “delle spalle” di Dio nella roccia (Es 33) secondo l’interpretazione di Isacco di Ninive e Gregorio di Nissa, in „La Scuola Cattolica”, 142 (2014), p. 89-112; The threefold divine knowledge in the discourses of St. Isaac of Niniveh. General introduction, in „Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Theologia Ortodoxa”, 58 (2013), 2, p. 133-159; Church – imperial power relationship in the Persian empire of the 5^th century: the role of politics in the reception of the First Ecumenical Council in the East Syriac Church, in „Religion and Politics. The 12^th International Symposium on Science, Theology and Arts. Alba Iulia 14-16 May 2013”, Supplement of Altarul Reintregirii Journal, Alba Iulia, 2013, p. 261-276; Suffering, God’s compassion and human solidarity in the experiential theology of St Isaac the Syrian and St Thérèse of Lisieux, in “The Human condition between Suffering and God’s Love. Disease therapy and palliative care”, International Symposium May 2012, Vol. 1, Alba Iulia, Reintregirea, 2012, p. 343-357; God, visible world and human according to Isaac of Niniveh (rou), in „Credință și (îm)plinire. Simbolul de credință și plinirea organizatorică a Bisericii Ortodoxe Române. Doctrină, istorie, actualitate, mărturisire”, Cluj-Napoca, 2012, pp. 219-232; The monachos and the universal solidarity: St. Isaac the Syrian and his optimist vision on the life to come), in “Altarul Reîntregirii”, XVI, 2, 2011, p. 119-147); numerous articles in various journals and religious newspapers; 16 participations to International and National Symposiums. SPEAKING LANGUAGES: Romanian, English, Italian and French; reading ancient languages: Syriac, Latin and Greek.

36. XIOUROS IRAKLIDIOS, University of Nicosia in Cyprus

Abstract.

Father IRAKLIDIOS XIOUROS: Director in Metropolitans office – diocese of Konstantias Ammochostou. He was born on 27/3/74 in Paralimni. He studied Theology in Athens and had his Master at university of Nicosia in Cyprus. He is working in diocese of Konstantias Ammochostou as a Director in Metropolitans office.