The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev) who is the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow is a closest associate of Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. He is also a Doctor of theology and philosophy, and at the same time a renowned composer and fine musician. His path as a composer as he says himself was unusual and unique. As a child he revealed a great gift...
In the period of globalization, numerous armed conflicts and wars we often appeal to freedom and human rights. When we talk of freedom in the time we live in we usually mean it to be a possibility of free choice among various things. In contemporary common understanding freedom means choice. Such a definition is far insufficient to an Orthodox Christian. Freedom is something more than a simple difference...
One of the characteristics of the Byzantine liturgy is the last prayer called “The Prayer Behind the Ambo”. According to the Venetian edition of the Liturgikon, it is recited by the faithful in front of the pulpit or the ambo (hence the name), or before the icon of Christ on the iconostasis according to the Jerusalem edition. This prayer is a remnant of an old ceremony where the priest came out to...
Aim of this paper is to show how the Orthodox Church calculates date of Easter. On the basis of historical evidence it indicates the assumptions of the Paschalia system from the second century to the modern days. Paper explains differences between Julian, Gregorian and revised Julian calendars and shows how to calculate the date of Easter in present days. The text also discusses the problems of imperfection...
Christian anthropology, corresponding to the dignity of man, tries to respond to the challenges that contemporary world asks to the modern world. That world often demands redefinition of the man in the name of justification of his weaknesses. In the center of Christian anthropology is the teaching of human salvation. However, it requires a good knowledge of the nature of his illness and decline. Sin...
The appearance of Slavonic literature is related to the history of early medieval Europe. Speaking of the early literature, as well as translations of liturgical texts, we must mention the oldest centers of literature, whose division has been made in terms of the mission of St. Cyril and Methodius. In the so-called Moravian period this were Mikulčicei Sady near Old Mesta, and Pannonia Mosapurk, the...
Sovereignty is a fundamental attribute of the state. Sovereignty is when the authority is independent and does not depend on any other authority in international relations. The state is equal to other subjects of international law. The sovereignty of the state is directly related to international interdependence. The condition for use by state sovereignty is the ability to develop and implement its...
We live in times that are particularly sensitive to issues such as freedom and are differentiated by strong aspirations for personal and societal freedom. One speaks of political-societal freedom, freedom of religion, artistic freedom and freedom to choose one’s own lifestyle. It would be possible to make a long list of the various kinds or manifestations of freedom, which modern individuals indentify...
The term “anthropology” is from the Greek (gr. aνθρωπος), “man”. It is the academic study of humanity. It deals with all that is characteristic of the human experience, from physiology and the evolutionary origins to the social and cultural organization of human societies as well as individual and collective forms of human experience. The idea of modernism concerns the phenomena which appeared in...
The origin of Orthodox brotherhoods is connected with the role of laymen in the Orthodox Church. In the Great Duchy of Lithuania land owners took patronage over village parishes, while in towns this role was assumed by burghers, who were organised into brotherhoods since the end of the 16th century. The participation of laymen in caring over the church was a result of the tradition of conciliarity...
Aim of this paper is to show development of Christian liturgical tradition in 4th century, on the base of “Constitutions of the Holy Apostles”. On the basis of this manuscript we can observe the development of the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church. This paper shows all church services described in manuscript, which leads to short analysis of liturgy, evening worship and morning service. Paper...
There is a very strong presence of the saints in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, One of two main places of their presence (besides the anaphora) is proskomidia. This part of the Liturgy had been absent in this main Christian service for first centuries. The first signs of appearance of the proskomidia in the Liturgy had a place in VIII–IX centuries, but in XII–XIII centuries only it became a separate...
I this paper some aspects of “globalization” in its relation to the Orthodox Church have been outlined and studied with a special consideration of the Orthodox Church in Greece. A history of the phenomena of “globalization” in history of humankind as associated with institutions of political, economical and social character has been presented. Through spiritual teaching of the Orthodox Church and...
Subject of the paper is a standpoint of ecumenical patriarch Jeremiah II Tranos on the change of calendar introduced by Vatican. Patriarch Jeremiah’s attitude in relations with the Roman Catholic Church has been similar to the earlier one concerning Protestants who had attempted to attract Orthodox faithful through their far-flung activities. Nevertheless the patriarch has managed to maintain friendly...
Subject of this paper is the notion of “democracy” in understanding and practice of the Orthodox Church. Beginning with genesis of the term and its application in ancient Greece author of the paper presents similarities and differences between concepts of “democracy” and “conciliarity”. “Democracy” is a form of government in which people are the source of political authority which is executed by elected...
The role of the Holy Spirit is much more in the centre of spirituality of the Eastern Church than is the case in the Western Church. Nevertheless, to say that Orthodox thought has finally and fully developed systematic theology of the Holy Spirit, would be excessive. The science of the Holy Spirit is based primarily on the experience of the community (liturgy) and on individual experience (personal...
There are several references to the first stages of human life in the Old Testament Scriptures. Some of them are formulations of both descriptions of the creation of man in the Book of Genesis, fragments of Psalms, historical books and wisdom literature. These fragments do not create a coherent conception, which illustrates the development of prenatal humanity. They rather point to God’s involvement...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.