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Home , Palamism, Philokalia

Traditional values The Orthodox-Christian context for modernisation

Orthodox values Consequences Modern values Community/ - Human rights of the Individualism collectivism individual - Relevance of family networks in society - , Rationalism „ Academic theology and silence“ has little relevance (Palamas) - No enlightenment - No rationalization of the conduct of life Traditionalism Refusal of reforms Modernism (looking towards the (looking towards the defining past) future, the new)

Anti-Westernism Refusal of Globalization modernization Orthodox Traditionalism The attitude to refer back to the patristic tradition and to feel connected with it.  Sacred tradition = ‘s revelation  Apostolic tradition = authentic human interpretation of Scripture (this tradition ends 787/843 CE.)  Today: Living process of interpretation of Scripture that finds its direction through fathers. Orthodox Traditionalism Historical roots  8./9.c. Need for religious identity in the crisis of the  Conservation of identity after the fall of the Byzantine Empire (idealization of historical past) Theological roots  Orthodox Church believes to own exclusively the perfect truth of the unchangeable revelation of God. Anti-Westernism

 1054 Schism between East and West  1204 Crusaders conquer Constantinople  14th/15th c. Conflict about hesychasm & Western influence in theology  18th c. Enlightenment changes the West vs. „“ strengthens hesychasm  19th c. Movement of the Slavophiles in Russia criticizes rationalisation, secularisation and urbanisation  20th c. Cultural conflicts between Modernism and Anti-Westernism in all Orthodox countries Political theologies in

1. Symphonia  Traditional system of „political Orthodoxy“ (H.G. Beck) in late antiquity, Byzantine era, Russia  Mutual support between and Church  Church identifies itself with the State, but has subordinated position (State intervenes in internal affairs of the Church)  Based on Caesaropapism: Caesar as „deputy of Christ on earth“ (Iustinian)

Political theologies in Orthodoxy

2. Orthodox based nationalism  National identity based on Orthodox autocephalous church  ethnic culture = Orthodox church  e.g. Serbia, Greece  Patriotism vs. Nationalism  Troubling for religious, ethnic & sexual minorities  Cf. e.g. Poland, Croatia

Political theologies in Orthodoxy

3. Political Hesychasm  Gregorios Palamas (1296-1359) - key figure of Orthodox theology  Doctrine: (essence) vs. Energeia (energy) of the  Spiritual and ascetic practice as core of Orthodox identity (prayer of heart, breathing technique)  Reference point of theological revivals (e.g. Neo- in 20c.: Florovsky, Lossky, Meyendorff, Romanides, Yannaras) Political theologies in Orthodoxy Political Hesychasm  Late Byzantine era (14c.) as reference point  Based on international monastic exchange (e.g. )  Today: Claims to be the authentic Orthodox identity („neo-traditionalism“)  Transnational, panorthodox culture - against nationalism & paganism & Western influence  Background for the social doctrine of the ROC and the Neo-Orthodoxy in Greece („Romesyne“) Political theologies in Orthodoxy

4. Politicized  Non-traditional forms of Orthodoxy turned into „Political Religion“  Political ideologies, right wing & anti- West (Anastasia V. Mitrofanova (2005))  Ideological longing for dominance of Russia Polical theologies in Orthodoxy Politicized Russian Orthodoxy 1. Orthodox Fundamentalism 2. Contemporary Pan-Slavism 3. Neo-Eurasianism 4. Orthodox Communism 5. Russian Nationalism: Quasi- Orthodoxy & Neo-Paganism

Political theologies in Orthodoxy

5. Civil disobedience?  Experience of oppression under communism  Social doctrine of ROC (2000) Alternative traditions in the history of Orthodox theology Hegemonic Orthodox Alternative traditions theology

Patristic (4.-8.c) First Testament (Greek fathers: Gospels (Historical Jesus) Cappadocians, Apophatic Fathers of 2./3. century theology (Dionysios) Latin Fathers Monastic spirituality) Rabbinic tradition Byzantine Theology (9.-15c.) Humanistic theology (9.-15.c) (Monasticism & Hesychasm - Ideal of paideia (e.g. values of & Palamism) friendship & critique) - Critical-philological study - Platon, Neo-Platonism & Aristotle Alternative traditions in the history of Orthodox theology Hegemonic Orthodox Alternative traditions theology Ottoman Empire (16-18c.) Diverse schools of „“ Palamism (17. c) (Aristotle) „Philokalia“ (18.c) - Learning from Western theology - Ecumenical openness - Catholicizing direction (Kiew) - Protestantizing direction (Bible translation) - Historical school (Russia) (1850- 1917) - Sergei Bulgakov (Social Theology) Neo-Palamism (20.c.) - Academic theology Neo-patristic synthesis - Eucharist Ekklesiology (Afanasiev) - Social Theology