Download - Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
1/8
PHRONEMAAn Annual Review Published by the Faculty of StAn drew's
Greek Orthodox Theological College
Volume 26, Number 2,2011Monograph Issue
Proceedings of the StAndrew's Patristic Symposium 2010St Gregory the Theologian or the Poetry of Theology
CONTENTS
Editorial v
Gregory the Theologian - A Spiritual Portrait
Archbishop Stylianos (Harkianakis) 1
Self-Knowledge and Knowledge of God according to St Gregory the
Theologian
Georgios Mantzarides 11
Seeking Out the Antecedents of the Maximian Theory of Everything:
St Gregory the Theologian's Oration 38
Doru Costache 27
Scripture in the Works of St Gregory the Theologian
Margaret Beirne 47
St Gregory the Theologian's Metanarrative of History
Mario Baghos 63
"What Then? Is the Spirit God? Certainly!" St Gregory's Teaching on
the Holy Spirit as the Basis of the World's Salvation
Philip Kariatlis 81
Volume26b.indd 1 3/08/2011 3:19:35 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
2/8
Guest Editors for this Monograph Issue:Doru Costache and Philip Kariatlis
The articles published in this monograph issue of PHRONEMA have
been peer reviewed by an international board of referees.
Board of International Referees for this Monograph Issue:
Revd Dr Bogdan Bucur (Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA, USA)
Dr Adam G. Cooper (John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family,
Melbourne VIC, Australia)
Professor Adrian Marinescu (Ludwig Maximilians Universitat, Munchen,
Germany)
Revd Professor John Anthony McGuckin (Columbia University and
Union Theological Seminary, New York, USA)
Dr Bronwen Neil (Australian Catholic University, Brisbane QLD,
Australia)
Dr Anna Silvas, FAHA (University of New England, Armidale NSW,
Australia).
Volume26b.indd 2 3/08/2011 3:19:35 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
3/8
Icon painted by Deacon Leonidas Ioannou
11 1
Volume26b.indd 3 3/08/2011 3:19:36 PM I
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
4/8
OUTCOCPPOVOUIlEV,K at O U TC Oe; X OIlE V, W G T E 0 1tC Oe;Ilf:v E XE l m um 1 tp Oe;
aM 11A a G X EG E cD e; E K a t T U ~E CO e;,m hfj 1l0V D T fj TP1U 81 G uyxcopdv E 18f:vm , K at ole;
ii v T j Tpu; a 1 tOK aAU\jfDKEK a8ap ll f:v0 le ;,fj viiv, fj U GTEPO V' alJTot 8E uiov K at TT]Va lJTT] VE18Evm cpumv 8EOT11TOe ;,v a p X Q > ,KatYEVVllUE1,Katnpoo1iQ>YVCOP1SOIlEV11V,
cDe;v iP TiP E V T jlllV, K a t M y U }, K a t 1 tV E U lla Tl ( O G O V E 1 K U Gm TO le ;a 1G 8 11 TOle ;TUV011TU,
K a t TO le ;1 l1KpO le ;T U I lEY1Gm, E1 tE l8T]1 l118E ll la E1KcOVcp8wEl 1 tpOe ;TT]VaATj8E lav ),
a lJ TT ]v E a m fj G U IlB alv ou G av, a Et T T ]Va lJ TT ]v, < l EtT E A Ela v, a 1tO lO V,a1toGov, axpovov,
aKTlGTOV, a1tEplAl11tTOV,OU1tOTEAEl1touGav Eamfje ;, OUTEAEl \j fouGav '
Thus we think and thus we hold. The result is that, how these things are
to one another in relationship and order, w e concede that only the Trinity itself
know s, and those purified ones to w hom the Trinity reveals it either now or later;but we do know there is one and the sam e nature of divinity, m ade known by
being eternal, begotten and proceeding, like m ind, w ord and spirit in us (as far
as one can com pare spiritual things w ith perceptible, and the very great w ith
the sm all, since no likeness approaches the truth); a nature that com es together
itself in itself, always the sam e, always com plete, unm ade, m easureless, tim eless,
uncreated, ungraspable, never lacking any part of itself, nor will it ever.
-S t Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 23.11 (De Pace 3).
English translation by JohnA. L. Lee
L'lo~a Ikrrpi K at Y iiP Kat AyiU }Ilvsoucn,
Av a p X Q > Ka t YEVVllUE1 TE Ka tnpoo1iQ>, I1aTEpa 1tPO GKU VW TOV
Y E vv TjG av m , Yio v 8 0~ asco T O V Y EV V 11 8E vm , U IlV W T O G U V EK A U Il1 tO V,Irrtpl T E K at
YiiP Ilvsiiuc }\Y10V.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
One without beginning, one born, one proceeding, I worship theFather the begetter, I glorify the Son begotten, I praise the Holy Spirit, shining
forth with the Father and the Son.
-Funeral Service, St Andrew 's Orthodox Press, Sydney, 2011.
T h e B ea titu de s*
*In translating a hymn from the Beatitudes in the Funeral Service, it was discovered that
this rather difficult phrase in the troparion was taken directly from St Gregorys
Oration 23.
This excerpt is included here as testimony to the importance of the Theologian s writings tothe liturgical tradition of the Church (J A. L. Lee.).
I V
Volume26b.indd 4 3/08/2011 3:19:36 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
5/8
EDITORIAL
S t Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College organised itssecond annual patristic symposium, between 1 September and 6October 2010. This new 'celebration for the heart and mind' wasdedicated to the personality and ecclesial significance of St Gregory the
Theologian (d. 389/90), the fourth century archbishop of Constantinople
and ecumenical teacher. The theme of the event was "St Gregory the
Theologian or the Poetry of Theology," which allowed for a wide range
of views on the crucial contributions made by the Cappadocian Father.
The papers offered throughout the six nights addressed the saint'sachievements in a cross-disciplinary manner, in light of the expertise and
interests of the presenters.
Along with the eight presentations by members of the Faculty
and a number of our graduates, St Andrew's Patristic Symposium 2010
hosted three keynote papers delivered by His Eminence Archbishop
Stylianos (the Dean of our College), Dr Anna Silvas (Fellow of the
Australian Academy of the Humanities; University of New England,Armidale NSW), and Emeritus Professor Georgios Mantzarides
(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece). The keynote papers of
His Eminence and Professor Mantzarides begin this monograph edition
of Phronema, setting the personal, spiritual and traditional contributions
of the great theologian and poet.
In the presentation entitled 'Gregory the Theologian - A Spiritual
Portrait' His Eminence depicts in lively tones the multilateral formation,theological convictions and personal propensities of St Gregory, mainly
from the viewpoint of his famous autobiographical poem, "On His Own
Life." Archbishop Stylianos proposes that without an awareness of like
aspects it is difficult to set straight the record of St Gregory, mainly with
reference to his short and tumultuous career as a hierarch of the Church.
More precisely, the paper highlights that the saint's seeming incapacity
for administrative and political matters should be interpreted in the
light of his contemplative character. In turn, in his paper 'Knowledge
of the Human Person and God according to St Gregory the Theologian,'
v
Volume26b.indd 5 3/08/2011 3:19:36 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
6/8
Professor Mantzarides explores the challenging topic of 'divine
knowledge' and its ramifications. Framing St Gregory's teaching within
the parameters of the wider scriptural and patristic tradition, the paperpoints out the existential, participatory and trans formative character of
knowledge, primarily in the poetical works of this ecumenical teacher.
The two keynote papers included in this volume, published here
as presented, are followed by four articles submitted by members of our
Faculty. It is hoped that at least some of the other yet unpublished papers
presented at the Symposium will be included in our future collective
volume for 2012, dedicated to the Cappadocians.
Doru Costache (senior lecturer in Patristic studies and co-convenor
of the event) presents the article 'Seeking Out the Antecedents of the
Maximian Theory of Everything: St Gregory the Theologian's Oration
38.' Interested in St Maximus the Confessor's worldview, Costache
looks for the possible influences exerted upon it. The article begins by
presenting the highlights of Difficulty 41, pointing out St Maximus' effort
to articulate a holistic vision of reality therein, a vision fundamentallytheological and characterised by Christological and soteriological
overtones. Then, the article discusses the relevant scholarly literature,
undertaking to dismantle the established opinion according to which the
unique sources of the Confessor's worldview are St Gregory of Nyssa
and Nemesius ofEmesa. In turn, Costache argues that without excluding
other influences there is no solid reason to ignore the contribution of St
Gregory the Theologian in this regard, and more precisely the impact
of his Oration 38, with its strong doxological underpinnings, upon StMaximus.
Margaret Beirne (senior lecturer in Biblical studies) presents
an article on 'Scripture in the Works of St Gregory the Theologian.'
Although analysing the use of the Scriptures in a number of Gregorian
orations and poems, the article challenges implicitly the current opinion
referring to St Gregory as a churchman primarily concerned with his
literary legacy rather than a genuine shepherd and theologian. Indeed,alongside St Gregory's famous literary skills the article points out his
V I
Volume26b.indd 6 3/08/2011 3:19:37 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
7/8
pastoral sensitivities and the relevance of his discourse to everyday
life, for instance in the analysis of his interpretation of Matthew 19: 1-
12. The article likewise undertakes a very useful review of St Gregory'sunderstanding of Scripture as foundational for doctrinal debates, and
analyses his hermeneutical approach to the Bible, illustrated by the
interweaving of scriptural phraseology in the author's own poetical
discourse. Beirne's emphasis on St Gregory's unique list of the scriptural
canon, presented by way of poetry, is noteworthy.
'Working towards an Existential Metanarrative of History in the
Writings of St Gregory the Theologian' is the article submitted by theyoungest member of our Faculty, Mario Baghos (associate teacher in
Church History). The article undertakes an exciting analysis of two texts
by St Gregory, namely, the Fifth Theological Oration and Oration 38,
from the viewpoint of their relevance to a theological metanarrative of
history. The author is interested in the dissolution of the metanarrative
in contemporary historiography, together with the associated nihilism
that pervades much of today's historical writing. By way of a thorough
analysis and interpretation of the relevant passages from the two orations,
Baghos unveils St Gregory's encompassing vision of history, which far
from being reducible to random events in fact unfolds within a grand
scheme centred upon Christ. The article argues that this theological
metanarrative is as legitimate as any other interpretation employed by
contemporary historians, given that its use or neglect depends on the
personal convictions of historiographers.
The article by Philip Kariatlis (lecturer in Systematic theology
and co-convenor of the event) is entitled "'What then? Is the Spirit
God? Certainly!" St Gregory's Teaching on the Holy Spirit as the
Basis of the World's Deification,' and explores the pneumatological
thinking of St Gregory as displayed in his Fifth Theological Oration.
Setting the polemical context in which this thinking emerged, the
article organises the otherwise random material of the Oration - mainly
driven by rhetorical exigencies - under a few headings, thus making the
argument easily digestible. After addressing St Gregory's ruminations
on the equality of the Spirit with the other Trinitarian persons, Kariatlis
VB
Volume26b.indd 7 3/08/2011 3:19:37 PM
-
8/6/2019 Phronema 26:2 (2011) - Contents & Editorial
8/8
moves to discuss the hypostatic particularities of the Spirit, to end by
highlighting the soteriological framework within which St Gregory's
reflections developed. By pointing out this soteriological dimension, theauthor indirectly invites a revision of the established opinion referring to
the Theologian's supposedly 'intellectualist' propensities.
We conclude by expressing our deep respect and appreciation for
the tremendous work, so graciously and competently undertaken, by the
referees of this edition of the journal. We thank (in alphabetical order):
Revd Dr Bogdan Bucur (Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA, USA),
Dr Adam G. Cooper (John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family,Melbourne VIC, Australia), Professor Adrian Marinescu (Ludwig
Maximilians Universitat, Munchen, Germany), Revd Professor John
Anthony McGuckin (Columbia University and Union Theological
Seminary, New York, USA), Dr Bronwen Neil (Australian Catholic
University, Brisbane QLD, Australia), and Dr Anna Silvas, FAHA
(University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia). We are
likewise grateful to Deacon Leonidas Ioannou, a recent graduate of the
College, who painted an icon of St Gregory for our Symposium and
kindly permitted its reproduction herein. Last, but not least, we extend
our gratitude to Associate Professor John A.L. Lee (St Andrew's and
Macquarie), who translated for this monograph edition a paragraph from
St Gregory's Oration 23.11 and a liturgical hymn that incorporates parts
of it, as a tribute to the legacy of the great theologian and poet.
Doru Costache & Philip KariatlisSt Andrew s Greek Orthodox Theological College
A Member Institute of the Sydney College of DivinitySydney, Australia
V111