Journals of Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Babes-Bolyai University (Romania)
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God's Mercy or Jonah's Anger?
Get PDFThe Book of Prophet Jonah challenges us to face a reality that justifies our quality of God"™s children. Often, Christians are faced with a choice between creating or not the necessary frameworks for the redemption of the contemporary man who has sometimes an adverse attitude towards the Church. It is this choice that their privileged status of God"™s chosen people, of holy people whose mission is to be a light among other people, depends on. Those who set themselves up as judges and punishers of others"™ deeds are in conflict with God, by neglecting their vocation and the mission to which they have been called. For these reasons, the association with Jonah is extremely appropriate. The prophet refuses to preach in Nineveh in order to avoid being the instrument by which God brings redemption to an impressive number of sinners. The aim of this study is to fructify this behavioural paradigm to acknowledge the fact that disobedience towards God takes us out of communion and makes us lose the privileged status of God"™s chosen one. In order to succeed in this endeavour, I shall bear in mind the most recent researches that try to solve the mystery of the prophet"™s unexpected behaviour, but also the opinions of some personalities who represent the Jewish and patristic tradition, which mostly characterises the Christian East. These directions shall offer the reader the possibility of thinking more before choosing to get angry like Jonah or be merciful like God.
Keywords: Jonah, anger, paradigm, mercy, Nineveh, Jonah"™s sign, repentanc
Crucea ca axis al sfințeniei satului
Get PDFThe cross was allways the hallmark of Orthodox Christian holiness. It is the most widespread sacred object for Orthodox Christians. The cross marks the entire life of the Romanian peasant, even his death. The significance of the cross starts from the sacrifice of Christ and then spreads over the whole of humanity. The presence of the cross on the house of Romanians, on their chest, at the entrance and exit of the village, at the crossroads, in the tailoring of peasant shirts, all represent the reference to the spirit of the authentic Romanian. This stuty tryes to emphasize that the cross is an axis mundi for any authentic Romanian peasant, who carries within himself the spirituality of the Romanian people
CONSPIRACY THEORIES DURING CORONAVIRUS TIMES "“ THE SAPLINGS OF A NEW GNOSTICISM INSIDE THE CHURCH
Get PDFSince the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we have been bombarded with a constant stream of conspiracy theories and fake news regarding the coronavirus, vaccines, 5G radiation, microchips. Some of these theories have circulated only inside fringe communities on the internet, but most have been transmitted very intensely amongst the faithful, and some have made it up to the highest levels of the Church hierarchy. The question we would like to address in this article is why do Christians succumb and are so likely to transmit to others such statements, whose falsity is blatantly obvious to anybody with a very basic high-school physics education. It is our opinion that this pro-conspiracy attitude is the syndrome of a very incomplete catechization and of a resurgence of gnostic heretical thinking, encouraged by the new social media communication tools. We will begin with a brief review of Gnosticism, of what made it so popular at the beginning of the Christian era, and of what brought about its demise. We will then show that the same mechanism that was at work in the Gnostic thinking responsible for the propagation and acceptance of conspiracy theories.
Keywords: Gnosticism, Conspiracy Theorie
Max Oxbrow, Tim Grass, eds. The Mission of God. Studies in Orthodox and Evangelical Mission. Regnum Studies in Mission. Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015. 258 pp.
Get PDFMission has always been an important topic both for the Ecumenical dialogue and the Churches. Therefore, nowadays, the researches dedicated to it are intensively investigated and discussed in different contexts. An interesting and recent book from this area can also be considered the one entitled: The Mission of God. Studies in Orthodox and Evangelical Mission, edited by Max Oxbrow and Tim Grass, that brings together 22 studies in missiology signed by specialized people from different scientific areas
Tratatul Sf. Teofilact al Ohridei "În apărarea eunucilor". Considerații istorice și traductologice
Get PDFThe main focus of this paper is the analysis of Theophylact of Ochrid"™s work "In Defence of Eunuchs" and the general social and cultural background regarding the Byzantine perception of eunuchs and castration. The paper contains as well a Romanian translation of the work together with some aspects regarding the life of St. Theophylact of Ochrid and his brother Demetrios, the place and date of the elaboration of this work
Unitate și "reformă liturgică" în Biserica Ortodoxă Română
Get PDFThe need for a "˜liturgical renewal"™ in the Romanian Orthodox Church, although denied at insitutional level, is recognized by an increasing number of theologians and even belivers deeply interested and involved in the liturgical life of the Church. The reluctance in adapting to the new realities of life and to the contemporary liturgical research determines a "˜reductionist"™ approach and understanding of the Orthodox liturgy and its evolution, thus encouraging a rigid conservatism and the development of some inovations and erroneous liturgical practices, with negative pastoral and spiritual consequences. Waiting for an official position of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church concerning a series of current liturgical issues, the movement for "˜liturgical renewal"™ manifests itself in a spontaneus manner on the parish level, by implementing some "˜partial reforms"™. Thus, this paper contains a presentation of a few opinions belonging to some Romanian liturgists regarding "˜liturgical renewal"™ and a description of some reforms observed in the actual practice of the parishes affected by the principles of the renewal throughout the Romanian Patriarchate. Also, the author offers some examples of pseudo reforms encouraged by certain representatives of the higher clergy, intending to propose, in the same time, solutions to these issues
Rolul capital al inconștientului colectiv în conservarea identității naționale românești. Aspecte simbolice din Mitologie
Get PDFThe conservation of Romanian identity represents one of the main priorities that all Romanians have to manifest. Through the conservation of national identity and the capitalisation of specific values, the Romanian nation continues to be alive and to manifest his main cultural and spiritual characteristics. In this context it is necessary to find the most efficient ways of identity conservation, through researching mythological symbolism and his influence on national identity. The research can be extended both at psychological level and at spiritual level through the study of Romanian mythology. In that sense, the most powerful influence on the process of national identity conservation is held by the unconscious dimension of human mind. Considering the fact that unconscious, spiritual and psychological, contributes significantly to the achievement of a systematic process of national identity conservation, it is necessary to research the connexions between unconscious and mythological symbols. In this study, which has exploratory and introductive character, it is highlighted the importance that unconscious holds in conservation of the Romanian national identity through mythological symbols. Thus, the specific connexions between unconscious collective and mythological symbols are analysed and also the influence of collective unconscious through the use of symbols in national identity conservation. Moreover, the specific methods and research tools of connexions between collective unconscious and symbols are analysed. The research also includes the analysis of the myth named Meșterul Manole, as a national myth with deep meanings in Romanian culture and identity
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
Get PDFDumitru Staniloae 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 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 differentiation 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 "œheaven" to the "œearth" 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.
Keyswords: Dumitru Staniloae, Dionysius Areopagite, knowledge of God, attributes, finite man, infinite God, commensurate.
 
Sfințirea Mare a apelor "“ semn al regenerării cosmice prin Epifania Treimică
Get PDFIn the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, the great feast of the Epiphany has as main theological focus the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The liturgy of the feast and the hymns of the forefeast and of the afterfeast, starting from the text of the Gospel, develop the same theme. The Baptism of the Lord is understood and experienced in the Church as a salvific event, that encompasses not only the humankind but also the entire creation, and reveals the cosmic dimension of the mystery of salvation. The aim of this study is the structural analysis of the ritual of the Great Consecration of the Waters, followed by a concise presentation of the theological meanings of the water consecrated at the Epiphany
Vinerea Mare "“ Moarte spre Înviere
Get PDFGood Friday is one of the most important days of the year for Christianity. It is the day on which we honour the Passion and the death of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Why is this day so important for the process of redemption? Because from this moment on, the moment of our Saviour"™s death on the cross, the redemption of humankind becomes certainty. Jesus Christ"™s sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday is the most important step towards Resurrection. The praise of the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ begins on Ash Thursday, when our Saviour was captured. On this occasion, Ash Friday Service is held, or as it is commonly known, the Vigil of the Twelve Gospels