Papers by nikolaos asproulis
δημιουργία ιστορία έσχατα στη σύγχρονη ορθόδοξη θeολογική eρμηνeυτική από το γeώργιο φλωρόφσκυ στον ιωάννη ζηζούλια
Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο (ΕΑΠ). Σχολή Ανθρωπιστικών Σπουδών, 2016
Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu, 2021
The document titled For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Ortho dox Church, aut... more The document titled For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Ortho dox Church, authored by a special commission of Orthodox scholars appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is a document that can be definitely understood as a political manifesto of Eastern Orthodoxy for the 21st century, namely for this period of history and not for a by-gone historical setting or a Christian utopia (either the Byzantine Empire or Holy Russia), a period of time with urgent problems and challenges that call for our attention. Therefore, bringing to the fore the personalist anthropological view inherent in the document itself, an attempt has been made in the text to critically reflect and highlight certain relevant aspects of the document (a positive reception of liberal democracy, human rights language, solidarity to the poor, etc.). The goal is to show how theologically important this document is for the Church witness to our pluralistic world.
Fundamentalism or Tradition
Faith in Democracy: Justice, Politics and Transcendence
This book explores the spiritual potential of faith and mysticism in answer to the dangers of a m... more This book explores the spiritual potential of faith and mysticism in answer to the dangers of a mythologised state and the sacro-sanctification of (liberal) democracy and its rule of law; in other words, the transformation of these into political religions. Along this line, it also explores the importance of spirituality for political legitimacy, international democratic cooperation, politics, and law. There being no general agreed-upon definition of ‘spirituality’, authors examine what may be seen as ‘spiritual’ dimensions of the political. These dimensions have in common a focus on a vanishing point of rationality and rational justification. This vanishing point may become manifest, for example, in a primordial requisite of becoming an integrated person; in the phenomenon of prophecy or political wisdom; in the remaining shards of formerly all-pervasive religious institutions; in the resilience of citizens of ‘non-’ or ‘un- democratic’ states; etc. The authors of this book are more or less suspicious of the Modern theories of the social contract allegedly justifying democracy. It may turn out, however, that the dimension of ‘faith’ which comes up as an alternative is not so easy to handle as a ‘rational argument’. This might be the irreducible yet indispensable predicament of democracy.
“Orthodoxy or Death”: Religious Fundamentalism during the Twentieth and Twenty- first Centuries
Fundamentalism or Tradition, 2020
This essay first contextualizes the question of the relationship between the religious and secula... more This essay first contextualizes the question of the relationship between the religious and secular aspects of contemporary Greece that lies behind of any discussion of fundamentalism. It is important to note that the Greek case looks quite different from other Western societies. Despite the (external) change or progress in various aspects of institutions or daily life, religiosity remains high in Greece, and the religio-political identity of Greek Orthodoxy has allowed the Church to maintain a voice in the public square. This study then provides a brief overview of the main aspects of religious fundamentalism (e.g., reactivity, selectivity, inerrancy, moral Manicheanism) in contemporary Greece, and it concludes by describing the basic contours of an Orthodox secular theology—focusing on the incarnation, eschatology, unity of truth, and the modern existential concern—that offer a response to the current state of this Orthodox fundamentalism.
Östliche Orthodoxie und (Post-)Moderne: Eine unbehagliche Beziehung
Nikos Nissiotis, the “theology of the ’60s,” and personhood
Personhood in the Byzantine Christian Tradition, 2018
FUNDAMENTALISM OR TRADITION: CHRISTIANITY AFTER SECULARISM. Edited by AristotlePapanikolaou and George E.Demacopoulos. New York, NY: Fordham University Press, 2020. Pp. 275. Paper, $30.00
Religious Studies Review, 2020
Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies, 2019
The optimal control problem is investigated for oscillation processes, described by integrodiffer... more The optimal control problem is investigated for oscillation processes, described by integrodifferential equations with the Fredholm operator when functions of external and boundary sources nonlinearly depend on components of optimal vector controls. Optimality conditions having specific properties in the case of vector controls were found. A sufficient condition is established for unique solvability of the nonlinear optimization problem and its complete solution is constructed in the form of optimal control, an optimal process, and a minimum value of the functional.
Nikolaos Loudovikos, Church in the Making: An Apophatic Ecclesiology of Consubstantiality, trans. Norman Russell (Yonkers, NY: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2016), pp. 296. $29.00
Scottish Journal of Theology, 2018
The Ecumenical Review, 2017
After the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 and the following centuries of Ottoman occupation,... more After the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 and the following centuries of Ottoman occupation, especially in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, a series of unpredictable and difficult factors prevented Eastern Orthodoxy from engaging in a creative dialogue with the emerging Reformation of Martin Luther (1517), an event that decisively changed the course of Western history by triggering a chain of events at all levels of life. In spite of this, Luther and other Lutheran leaders initiated a continuing relationship and frank dialogue with various Orthodox churches, especially the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This encounter culminated in an official bilateral dialogue during the second half of the 20th century. In addition to the intensive formal efforts made by both traditions to find their way toward Christian unity, the long process of direct and indirect dialogue between theologians of both traditions points to a fundamental common doctrinal background shared by both church families.
The Ecumenical Review, 2017
Practices of the Self and Spiritual Practices: Michel Foucault and the Eastern Christian Discourse.By Sergey S. Horujy. Edited with an introduction by Kristina Stoeckl. Translated by Boris Jakim
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2016
Georges Florovsky and the Russian Religious Renaissance. By PAUL L. GAVRILYUK
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2014
More Than Communion : Imagining an Eschatological Ecclesiology, 2015
Communion ecclesiology has become the dominant paradigm in recent ecumenical dialogue concerning ... more Communion ecclesiology has become the dominant paradigm in recent ecumenical dialogue concerning the Church, as exemplified in the World Council of Churches' Faith and Order Commission's convergence text The Church: Towards a Common Vision (wcc, 2013). The culmination of a long process of theological reflection stimulated by the publication of the landmark Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (wcc, 1982) and sustained through multilateral and bilateral dialogues at a world level, The Church represents probably the most comprehensive articulation of communion ecclesiology to date. Here the concept of koinonia denotes the fundamental character of God, the Church and creation such that the Church is essentially a communion in the Triune God. In theory at least, communion ecclesiology maintains equilibrium between the unity and diversity of the Church, and between the universal Church and the local churches. When viewed through the lens of koinonia, even the nature and structure of the ministry and sacraments (a longstanding topic of theological controversy) becomes an area of deepening ecumenical agreement. Nevertheless, communion ecclesiology is not a specific theology of the Church but rather a broad genre in which common themes and concepts sometimes serve to obscure underlying differences concerning theological method and norms which reflect and generate deep divisions among the separated churches. In a dense theological study, Scott MacDougall surveys the development of communion ecclesiologies in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and ecumenical traditions before focusing specifically on the work of John Zizioulas and John Milbank as representative of the dominant forms. MacDougall detects eschatological deficiencies in their respective approaches, which (in simple terms) place too much emphasis on the 'already' to the neglect of the 'not yet' in the structure of eschatology, thereby reducing the Church of the future to a projection based on the Church of the present gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist. Such an overly-realised eschatology leads to a problematic relationship between the Church and the world. According to MacDougall, Zizioulas' ecclesiology is so focused on the Eucharist as an icon of heavenly communion that the Church is essentially located beyond the present world, whereas Milbank's ecclesiology situates the Church over against the world as a bulwark of divine harmony against a chaotic postmodern, secular world.
V ery often we witness conflicts all over the world. In every place, human life seems characteriz... more V ery often we witness conflicts all over the world. In every place, human life seems characterized by the absence of any traces of forgiveness, peace or reconciliation. Religion in general-and the Orthodox Church in particular-do not constitute an exception either. In our times people are afraid of losing their identities and thus often fail to tolerate the "other," including the variety of ideas and cultures. The so-called "return of religion" into the public sphere is often accompanied by a religious legitimation of violence. 1 From the time of the Crusades until the postmodern era, many wars, sociopolitical problems, and ethnic conflicts have emerged from religious presuppositions in the Balkans, Rwanda, Iraq, and elsewhere. Hence, by keeping a narrow connection with the "dark side" of the state's complicity to violence-through political power, political backing, and financial assistance-Christian churches and confessions were co-opted for purposes alien to their mission. In this desperate situation, Christian theology-Orthodox included-is invited to reflect on how its presence in the public sphere engages the above situation. As an institution, the Greek Orthodox Church has to reflect on the problem of religious nationalism in order to identify antidotes to this painful situation that still divides Orthodox Christianity on building more consensus on issues of re-evangelism, forgiveness and the theology of reconciliation.
Latvijas Universitātes Teoloģijas fakultātes teoloģisks, reliģijpētniecisks un kultūrvēsturisks i... more Latvijas Universitātes Teoloģijas fakultātes teoloģisks, reliģijpētniecisks un kultūrvēsturisks izdevums Nr. 65 Latvijas Universitātes Teoloģijas fakultāte LU Akadēmiskais apgāds Rīga, 2015 CEĻŠ Redakcijas kolēģija (Editoral Board):
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Papers by nikolaos asproulis