THE MIND OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

The mind of the Orthodox Church

Preface to the second edition in English

Introduction

1. Origin and revelation of the Church

1. Etymology of the word Ekklesia (Church)

2. Origin and revelation of the Church

a) The beginning of the Church

b) The Church in the Old Testament

c) The Church in the New Testament

d) The perpetuity of the Church

3. Conclusions

2. ‘Definition’ and characteristics of the Church

1. The Church as a mystery

2. ‘Definition’ of the Church

3. The characteristics of the Church

a) One

b) Holy

c) Catholic

d) Apostolic

3. Orthodoxy according to the holy Fathers

1. The term ‘Orthodoxy’

2. Orthodoxy according to the holy Fathers

a) The truth according to St Gregory Palamas

b) The right faith according to St Maximus the Confessor

c) Church, Orthodoxy and Divine Eucharist according to St Irenaeus

d) The unity of the Church according to St Nicholas Cabasilas

4. The Church and the Divine Eucharist according to St Maximus the Confessor

1. Introduction to the Mystagogy

2. The Church according to St Maximus the Confessor

3. The Divine Eucharist according to St Maximus

a) Divine Eucharist and divine Economy

b) Divine Eucharist and the soul’s perfection by knowledge

4. Recapitulation and exhortations

5. Conclusions

5. The mind of the Orthodox Church

1. Analysis of the term ‘mind of the Orthodox Church’

2. Characteristics of the mind of the Orthodox Church

a) Christological

b) Trinitarian

c) Ecclesiological

d) Inward

e) Deification

f) Personal and social

g) Prayerful

6. The catholic way of life

1. The fall and resurrection of man

2. Making salvation one’s own

3. The catholic way of life

a) Theologians and non-theologians

b) Neptic and social theology

c) Praxis (action) and theoria (vision of God)

d) Sacramental and ascetic life

e) Apophatic (negative) and cataphatic (positive) theology

f) Monks and married people

g) Monasteries and parishes

h) Monks and Missionaries

i) Clergy and laypeople

7. Orthodoxy and legalism

1. Antinomianism and legalism

2. Difference between Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy

3. The value of the law and the sacred Canons

4. Confession and penances

8. Secularism in the Church, theology and pastoral care

1. The double meaning of the word kosmos

2. Secularism in the life of the Church

a) Secularism in the Church

b) Secularism in theology

c) Secularism in pastoral care

9. The Synodikon of Orthodoxy

1. Church and Councils

2. The two Ecumenical Councils

3. Anathemas and acclamations

4. Some characteristic points

a) The condemnation of philosophy

b) The theology of the uncreated Light

c) Hesychasm

d) The divinely inspired theologies of the saints and the devout mind of the Church

Glossary