Original scientific paper

Sacraments in the orthodox church theology

Ante Mateljan orcid.org/0000-0001-6481-364X ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split

Abstract

In his approach to the theology of sacraments in the
Orthodox Church, the author starts from the ecumenical points
of view expressed in the documents of the Catholic Church, which
express openness and demand for a deeper mutual theological
understanding. Contemporary sacramentology of the Orthodox
Church has to be understood from the very beginning, starting
from the liturgical acts and theological reflections of the patriarch
time. Thus, the author gives a brief insight into the sacramentology
of Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagitus and John of Damascus. He also
presents the meaning of Nicholas Kabasilas’ mystical theology,
of Michael Paleologus’ Profession of Faith and of the “symbolic
books” (Letters of ecumenical patriarch Jeremiah II, Peter Mogila’s
Profession of Faith, and of patriarch Dositej’s Profession of Faith). In
a systematic presentation he starts from the issue of the definition
of holy mysteries, through the number of them, their structure,
necessity and efficacy, to the issue of divider. In that part the
author presents the opinion of contemporary Orthodox theologians
(d. Staniloe, J. Meyendorf, P. Evdokimov, I. Zizioulas), not leaving
aside the Serbian Othodox theologians (J. Popovic, V. Rakic). In
the end, the author poses the question of a possible reform of the
Orthodox sacramental liturgical practice. The work analyses the
area of general sacramentology, as an introduction to specific
issues of particular “holy mysteries”.

Keywords

Orthodox theology; sacraments; holy mysteries

Hrčak ID:

93012

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93012

Publication date:

15.3.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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