Ortodokse og orientalsk-ortodokse kirker

Lev Tolstoj levede som ung, feteret forfatter et glamourøst liv i den russiske overklasse. Han blev kendt over hele Europa for sine fortællinger og siden de store romaner Krig og fred og Anna Karenina. Men midt i livet fandt han i tiltagende grad sig selv og sin omgangskreds åndløs og forfængelig. Alle påstod at arbejde i kunstens og sandhedens tjeneste, men ingen søgte etiske og eksistentielle svar på livet. Tankerne kastede Tolstoj ud i depression og krise, der førte til omfattende studier af naturvidenskab, filosofi og religion. Samtidig begyndte hans fortællinger at kredse om det simple, uspolerede liv blandt de russiske bønder. Her fandt han en tro og livsindstilling, som kunne forene praktisk arbejde med kristendommens etik. "Bekendelser" er en gribende selvbiografi af en af verdenslitteraturens største stemmer og et hovedværk i Tolstojs religiøse forfatterskab. Nøgternt fortæller han om sin eksistentielle krise og åndelige udvikling frem mod en forpligtende tro på Gud og det gode i mennesket. Bogen udkommer nu for første gang på dansk og introduceres af redaktør og ruslandskender Anna Libak. Lev Tolstoj (1828-1910) var født ind i den russiske overklasse, som han indgående beskrev i sine romaner og fortællinger. Han gjorde karriere i militæret og deltog bl.a. i Krimkrigen 1853-56. Siden helligede han sig det ambitiøse arbejde med at omdanne sit gods til idealistisk mønsterbrug. Hans omfattende sociale engagement i den sidste halvdel af livet gjorde ham til et etisk forbillede verden over, også længe efter hans død.

En mand og hans kajak. 3500 km ned ad de russiske floder. Et fysisk, religionshistorisk og åndeligt eventyr. Det hedder sig, at kristendommen kom til Danmark sydfra i form af missionærer, men teolog ThomasFrank har en anden teori. Han vil efterprøve sin overbevisning om, at vikingerne tog både religion og nye udtryksformer med sig hjem fra deres togter til Rusland og Byzans, det nuværende Istanbul. Motivet fra Jellingestenen ligner fx fuldstændig kalkmalerier i Novgorod. Inspireret af Thor Heyerdahl og Kon-Tiki-ekspeditionen besluttede han sig for at gøre vikingerne rejsen efter fra Sankt Petersborg og de 3500 km til Istanbul. I efteråret 2017 begav han sig af sted – helt alene. Kajakken blev valgt, fordi den minder mest om den bådtype,vikingerne efter alt at dømme benyttede på deres rejse fra Østersøen ned ad de russiske floder. "Min vej mod vikingernes Byzans" beskriver en mand, der er midt i livet, og som i to måneder dagligt kæmper for at overleve i den russiske vildmark. Rejsen har et religionshistorisk formål, men undervejs får den en både fysisk, mental og åndelig dimension. Thomas Frank følger de tydelige spor efter vikingerne og når Istanbul med enerkendelse: Man skal turde sætte sig op imod den officielle historieskrivning. Thomas Frank (født 1969) er teolog, ph.d., og ansat som domprovst ved Viborg Domkirke. Dyrker ekstremsport.

YOUCAT er en katolsk ungdomskatekismus, der behandler alle emner inden for katolsk tro: Troen, sakramenterne, livet i troen (moralen) og bønnen. Teksten er opstillet i 527 spørgsmål og svar suppleret med uddybninger, definitioner, inspirerende citater og billeder.

Paul John Frandsens bog gør for første gang en række skriftlige kilder til historien om kristendommen og munkevæsenet i det tidlige Ægypten tilgængelige på dansk. Det gælder ikke mindst uddrag af den ægyptiske munk Shenutes (350-450 e.Kr.) omfangsrige forfatterskab, der i dag står som grundlaget for den koptiske nationallitteratur.Fremstillingen afdækker den formative periode i kristendommen, som viser sig ved flere dogmatiske stridigheder om Kristi natur, og her er kirkemødet i 451 et afgørende skæringspunkt, hvor striden gik på om Kristus var gud eller menneske. De to munke Pachom (292-347) og Shenute skabte det ægyptiske munkevæsen. Som ledere af hver sin gruppe af klostre udformede de omfattende regelsæt for klosterlivet og blev på denne måde udgangspunkt for klosterbevægelsen i Vesten. Munkevæsenet havde også en anden side, hvor mennesker i højere grad levede som eneboere. Bogen behandler begge grupper af munkes liv i guds tjeneste, herunder også den økonomiske side af dette liv. Munkevæsenet og den ægyptiske kristendoms historie er vigtige for at forstå kopternes situation i det moderne Ægyptens politiske, historiske og religiøse udvikling. Kopterne selv, og den vestlige verden, mangler indsigt og forståelse for kristendommen i de første århundreder, det råder bogen her bod her. Bogens forfatter er ægyptologen Paul John Frandsen (f. 1943), der er lektor emeritus ved Københavns Universitet.

Tro, håb og kærlighed er tre grundpiller i det kristne liv. At øve sig i at leve dem er en daglig opgave for enhver kristen. Samtidig er det "store ord", som kan være svære at forstå og bruge - ikke mindst i en tid, hvor de ofte misbruges og forfladiges. I denne bog reflekterer Joseph Ratzinger over den sande betydning af tro, håb og kærlighed. Han gør det med stor klarhed og et vågent, kulturkritisk øje. Her er både en hjælp til forståelsen, stof til eftertanke og inspiration til livet. Joseph Ratzinger blev født 1927 i Marktl am Inn i Bayern. Efter kortvarig krigstjeneste som værnepligtig studerede han teologi og blev præsteviet 1951. Fra 1958 til 1977 var han professor i teologi i Freising, Bonn, Münster, Tübingen og Regensburg. Under det Andet Vatikankoncil 1962-65 var han rådgiver for kardinal Joseph Frings af Köln. Fra 1977 til 1982 fungerede han som ærkebiskop af Freising og München, blev kardinal i 1977, præfekt for Troslærekongregationen i 1982 og valgt til pave som Benedikt XVI den 19. april 2005.

NAISSANCE NOUVELLE DANS LE BAPTÊME, nous recevons le Saint-Esprit qui demeure en nous et ¿uvre en nous pour que nous puissions atteindre la perfection spirituelle. Bien que la Bible nous dise ce que nous devons faire pour atteindre une telle perfection et mériter la vie éternelle, elle ne nous dit pas comment.Le désert égyptien est devenu une université dans cette quête de la perfection. Les Pères du Désert ont fait une science de cette quête, que nous appelons maintenant la spiritualité. Dans cette université, des recherches ont été menées et des expériences ont été publiées par de nombreux chercheurs venus chercher la sagesse de ces Pères du Désert.Le père Athanase Iskander a emprunté des méthodes et des techniques à ces Saints Pères et a donné des instructions avisées sur la manière de les appliquer concrètement aux luttes auxquelles sont confrontés les jeunes orthodoxes vivant au vingt et unième siècle.

Andrew Louth introduces us to twenty key Orthodox thinkers from the last two centuries. The poets and thinkers included range from Romania, Serbia, Greece, England and France, and also include exiles from Communist Russia. The book concludes with an illuminating chapter on Metropolitan Kallistos and the theological vision of the Philokalia.

Книга погружает в мир тех, кто решил идти за Христом. Эти рассказы далеки от общепринятых представлений о монашеской жизни.

A major contribution to ecumenical reflection on the doctrine of God. The past century has seen renewed interest in the doctrine of God. While theological traditions disagree, their shared commitment to Nicene orthodoxy provides a common language for thinking and speaking about God. This dialogue has deepened our understanding of this shared way of thinking about God, but little has been done across ecumenical lines to explore God's hiddenness in revelation. In Hidden and Revealed, Dmytro Bintsarovskyi explores the hiddenness and revelation of God in two separate theological streams--Reformed and Orthodox. Bintsarovskyi shows that an understanding of both traditions reflects a deep structure of shared language, history, and commitments, while nevertheless reflecting real differences. With Herman Bavinck and John Meyendorff as his guides, Bintsarovskyi advances ecumenical dialogue on a doctrine central to our knowledge of God.

In this concise volume, Bishop Irenei renews his exploration of the patristic genre of centuries - 100 short paragraphs that can be read individually but are connected by a common theme. Here, His Grace offers five centuries that impart eternal truths expressed by the Holy Fathers on Love, on the Church, and more.

In G.K. Chesterton's celebrated work, "Orthodoxy," readers embark on an intellectual odyssey navigating the realms between skepticism and belief. Through personal narratives and philosophical paradoxes, Chesterton artfully constructs a compelling argument for orthodox principles.Within these pages, Chesterton skillfully dissects intricate philosophical and theological inquiries, distilling their complexities into accessible insights. His eloquence and wit serve as guiding companions through the labyrinthine landscapes of faith and uncertainty.This enduring classic challenges readers to ponder the foundational truths shaping our existence. With a tapestry woven from humor and incisive analysis, Chesterton dismantles societal norms and prevailing assumptions, urging contemplation on the profound significance of orthodoxy in an ever-turbulent world."Orthodoxy" stands as a beacon of enduring wisdom and lucidity, inspiring successive generations with its impassioned plea to embrace coherence, beauty, and steadfast conviction. This vibrant treatise on faith and reason enlightens and captivates, revealing the depth of Chesterton's brilliance as he illuminates the very essence of humanity.Within these pages, Chesterton beckons readers on an exhilarating intellectual quest, inviting exploration into the intricate interplay of reason, belief, and the profound meanings intrinsic to life's journey.This esteemed literary opus, a testament to Chesterton's mastery, eloquently demonstrates the value of embracing age-old beliefs. It is a journey through the corridors of thought, reminding us that embracing faith, even amidst divergence from prevailing ideologies, can infuse life with profound meaning and purpose.

Regarded as one of the greatest theological works of antiquity, Saint Athanasius' treatise "On the Incarnation of the Word" rightfully deserves its status as a pillar of Christendom. First authored in the 4th century A.D., this book systematically expounds orthodox Christian conviction regarding the full divinity and humanity united in Jesus Christ.Emerging from an era of immense controversy surrounding the divine-human nature of the Son of God, Athanasius provided a robust defense for the doctrinal conclusions championed at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople. This included affirmation of Christ as sharing the Divine Word's uncreated existence outside of time and space itself. Additionally, the text unpacks the profound implications of the Word willingly constraining omnipotence within the confines of human flesh and biology to achieve salvation for mankind.Through the Incarnation, Athanasius underscores that the Word retains His divine nature while taking on the fullness of human nature as well - two natures co-existing in the singular person of Jesus without dilution. It is only through Him in His complete incarnation that the pathway opens for renewed communion between the Eternal God and temporal, mortal humanity. The transcendent Lord entered immanence that we might receive adoption into His transcendence across dispensations still to come.In the subsequent thousand years since its writing, Athanasius' Christological tour de force continued shaping theological conversation and church doctrine East and West. Successive church councils and writings revisited its themes again and again. Both Protestant and Catholic thinkers rediscovered this short but powerful book across eras, finding its specific vocabulary and refined logic essential in articulating orthodoxy during outbreaks of revival, renewal and even heresy throughout Christian history. For this proven authority and timelessness, "On the Incarnation" retains immovable status as one of merely a handful of texts essentially prerequisite to grasp for all desiring even basic fluency in classical Christian theology. Any serious student of Patristic thought requires Athanasius as companion on their journey toward loving the Godhead and church more profoundly.

Foreword by the PublisherIn the Christian tradition the Patericon is a collection of short stories which contains the description of the lives, spiritual practices and, sometimes, teachings of the Christian practitioners, monks or ascetics. Their experiences on the Path to finding God in their hearts has been a great help to thousands of practitioners who have followed the spiritual Path, strengthening their spirit, protecting them from dangers and helping them to see the next step on the Path. Patericons were also a favourite reading for those worldly people who were concerned with the question of their posthumous fate, and who tried to remember God amidst their worldly pursuits. Each Patericon describes the life and practices of a certain monastic community e.g. Synai Patericon, Egyptian Patericon or, later, the Kievski and Volocolamski Patericons.The Solovetzki Patericon was published anonymously in 1873 in St. Petersburg. It tells us of the monks and hermits who lived and practised on the Solovetzki Isles in the White Sea, in the deep North of Russia. Solovetzki monasteries and hermitages, with regard to their spiritual achievements and influence on the Russian Orthodox Church, can be compared to the influence that the monasteries of the Athos mountain had on the Greek Orthodox Church. One of the examples is Saint Eleazar of Anzer, who founded the Trinity Hermitage of Anzer. He was the spiritual mentor of the future patriarch Nicon, who later reformed the entire Russian Orthodox Church. A special feature of Solovetzki Patericon is that it also contains a description of the life of the monks and practitioners who humbly practised the Christian path all their lives and still did not achieve sanctity. These stories help to understand the depth of monastic life even more.The reader will find interesting stories about the events in the lives of the monks which led them to spiritual illumination, or pointed out the path to further development of the soul. Marijcke Tooneman

This book addresses Christendom's eastern frontier, the principality of Moldavia: its political, economic, and cultural history from its formation in 1359 to the early sixteenth century.

Книга Песня Церкви - драгоценный кладезь мудрости и сокровищница опыта духовников и старцев нашего времени.

Aleksandr Men¿ (1935¿1990) gilt als einer der bedeutendsten orthodoxen russischsprachigen Theologen des 20. Jahrhunderts, jedoch wurde sein Konzept einer theologischen Erlösungslehre bisher nicht systematisch untersucht. Bei der Entwicklung seiner theologischen Ideen beteiligt sich Men¿ einerseits an den orthodoxen Debatten um eine Auslegung der Erlösungstat Jesu Christi. Andererseits lässt sich aber in seinem Werk auch eine intensive Auseinandersetzung mit der westlichen (vor allem der protestantischen) Exegese nachweisen. Die Autorin nutzt einen innovativen methodischen Ansatz, der in der bisherigen Forschung zu seiner Person und seinem theologischen Denken wenig beachtet wurde. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Systematisierung von Men¿s Beschäftigung mit den Fragen und Themen, die die orthodoxe Theologie am Ende des 19. und zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts geprägt haben. Damit wird Men¿s kritisches Gespräch mit den theologischen Entwürfen in Ost und West rekonstruiert und das eigenständige Konzept seiner orthodoxen Erlösungslehre innerhalb einer gesamteuropäischen christlichen Theologie verdeutlicht.

Orthodox churches in Ukraine and Russia share a common ecclesiastical tradition but differ in their views on practicing and interpreting it. To bolster their own views, different Orthodox churches emphasize different aspects of history, and >forget< others, not favorable for their interpretations. These intentional memorizing also influence on the churches' reflection of their position and role in society at large.Interpretations of ecclesiastical tradition also influence the Orthodox churches' reactions to the other churches in Ukraine. Abroad, ecclesiastical organizations, especially ecumenical bodies are also influenced by the Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and have influence on the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodoxy, when recognizing or leaving without recognition the multiplicity of the Orthodox faith in Ukraine and Russia.

The question is raised by some that if the Orthodox Church is truly the true Church of Jesus Christ, why not join it? However, what is the history of Orthodoxy and its theology? Does the Orthodox Church claim to be "infallible" or not? What is its moral theology on Contraception (natural and artificial)? What does the Church teach concerning the procession of the Holy Ghost? Does the Holy Ghost proceed from the Father and the Son or from the Father only? What do the Greek Orthodox Fathers of the ancient Church teach about the person of Saint Peter the Apostle? Was Peter given a place of honor or Jurisdiction over the Whole Church of Christ? These and many more subjects in this work shall be covered. Moreover, without the charism of Infallibility can anyone be secure that he is in the true Church let alone following Christ and His Commandments?Read inside to find the answers...