Misplaced Pages

John Zizioulas: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 19:49, 15 February 2008 editCebactokpatop (talk | contribs)252 edits Undid revision 191690794 by Seminarist (talk) Your modifications are not as per those rules either← Previous edit Revision as of 20:56, 15 February 2008 edit undoSeminarist (talk | contribs)347 edits See talkNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Bishop John Zizioulas''' (born 10 January ]), titular ] ] bishop of ], member of the ] of ], member of the ] of the ]. He was a student of ]. John Zizioulas was a professor of theology at Glasgow University for 14 years and then later Visiting Professor at King's College London. He was a good friend and colleague of ] and the Research Institute in Systematic Theology. His major works are Being as Communion (1985, DLT) and the more recent Communion and Otherness (2006, T & T Clark). Also recently published was The Theology of John Zizioulas edited by Douglas Knight (2007, Ashgate). '''John Zizioulas''' (born ] ]) is the ] ] of ]. He is the Chairman of the ], and a noted ].


==Bibliography==
==Work of John Zizioulas==
His major works are Being as Communion (1985, DLT) and the more recent Communion and Otherness (2006, T & T Clark). A dogmatics is on its way. Also recently published was The Theology of John Zizioulas edited by Douglas Knight (2007, Ashgate).
⚫ He tried to contribute to the ] of the ], and some individuals think that his work is based on the work of ] and ] the Confessor. The primary focus of his work was an attempt to develop ] of personhood derived from an extensive investigation of Greek philosophy, patristic era writings and modern rationalist philosophy. He argues that full humanity is achieved only as person so that they may participate (koinonia) in the Trinitarian life of God. However, an essential component of the ] of ] is the ] to self-affirm the participation in relationship. He continues that man initially exists as a biological hypostasis, constrained as to the types of relationships one can have (biological) and to the eventual end of this type of being - death. He makes use of existentialist philosophers and novelists to show that the only type of ontological freedom in the biological hypostasis is the choice to commit suicide. According to his view, Baptism constitutes an ontological change in the human, making them an ecclesial ], or a ]. This rebirth 'from above' gives new ontological freedom as it is not constrained by the limits of biological existence. Such ecclesial being is eschatological, meaning it is a paradoxical 'now,' but 'not yet.' The completion of this rebirth from above is the day of resurrection when the body will no longer be subject to death.


==Academic Education and Career==
Bishop Zizioulas has claimed in one of his paper that the philosopher Descartes was an Augustinian monk.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rsesymposia.org/more.php?theitemid=56&catid=161 |title=THE THEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM |accessdate=2007-12-07 |last=Zizioulas |first=John |date=2006-07 |work=Symposium: Amazon River 2006 |publisher=Religion, Science & the Environment }} </ref>


Metropolitan John's education included a period of study under the noted Orthodox theologian ]. He received his doctorate in 1965 from the ]. Somewhat later, Zizioulas taught theology at the ] for a period. Following this, he moved to the ], where he held a personal chair in systematic theology for some fourteen years. In addition, Zizioulas has been a Visiting Professor at the Research Institute in Systematic Theology of ].
⚫ Zizioulas' theology had gained some acceptance amongst contemporary generation of ] and ] individuals claiming to be theologians, such as retired ] ] or bishop ]. Zizioulas' views, in regard to the ] ], have been promoted by ] ], and implemented in his own work.


==Theology==
==Traditional Orthodox view of the work of John Zizioulas==
Although the many are amazed with the works of the John Zizioulas, his thought is not widely accepted amongst the ]. Traditional Orthodox see his view of the personhood, ] and The Church as untraditional, and different from the view of the ], more specifically: ], ] and ] (]).


The theological work of Metropolitan John has focused upon the twin themes of ] and theological ]. The theology of Metropolitan John reflects the influence of Russian émigré theologians such as ], ] and his teacher ]. Zizioulas has also been significantly influenced by the ascetical theology of ], founder of the ] in ], ].
⚫ In his article titled , by ], writer seeks the differences between patristic theology and theology of the John Zizioulas.

===Ecclesiology===

Zizioulas' ecclesiology was first developed in his doctoral dissertation, subsequently published in English as . Here Metropolitan John develops critically the ] of ]. He accepts Afanassief's principal contention that the Church is to be understood in terms of the Eucharist. However, he criticises Afanassief's understanding as overly congregational and insufficiently episcopal in its emphasis. Finally, Zizioulas advocates an episcopocentric understanding of Church structure, understanding the Bishop primarily as the president of the ] and the Eucharistic community.

===Theological Ontology===

⚫ He has contributed to the ] of the ], based mostly on the work of ] and ] the Confessor. His seminal work, Being As Communion, was first published in 1985. The primary focus of his work was to develop a correct ] of personhood derived from an extensive investigation of Greek philosphy, patristic era writings and modern rationalist philosophy. He argues that full humanity is achieved only as person so that they may participate (koinonia) in the Trinitarian life of God. However, an essential component of the ] of ] is the ] to self-affirm the participation in relationship. He continues that man initially exists as a biological hypostasis, constrained as to the types of relationships one can have (biological) and to the eventual end of this type of being - death. He makes use of existentialist philosophers and novelists to show that the only type of ontological freedom in the biological hypostasis is the choice to commit suicide. Baptism constitutes an ontological change in the human, making them an ecclesial ], or a ]. This rebirth 'from above' gives new ontological freedom as it is not constrained by the limits of biological existence. Such ecclesial being is eschatological, meaning it is a paradoxical 'now,' but 'not yet.' The completion of this rebirth from above is the day of resurrection when the body will no longer be subject to death.

==Influence==

⚫ Zizioulas' theology has especially been accepted among younger generation of ] and ] theologians, such as retired ] ] or bishop ]. Zizioulas' views, in regard to the ] ] and its creative capacities, have been further developed by ] ] and implemented in understanding ] and ]. According to this ], ] and ], Zizioulas is "the most prominent ] theologian, whose thought goes hand in hand with theology of the (Early ]) ]."

=="Traditionalist" Orthodox Criticisms of Zizioulas==

The theology and episcopal activities of Metropolitan John have been heavily criticised within certain branches of Orthodox Christianity. Often such critics style there criticisms as stemming from a "traditionalist" Orthodox viewpoint. For one such example, in which it is claimed that Zizioulas' theology is overly ecumenistic and insufficiently Orthodox, see: Rodoljub Lazic' "Innovatory Theology of Metropolitan Zizioulas" (in Serbian), ATOS - Missionary Center, ] 2002.

==Theological Criticism and Defence==

⚫ In his article titled , ] contests the legitimacy of Zizioulas' use of material taken from the ].

⚫ ] in his article touches the work of Aristotle Papanikolaou, who points to differences between ] and John Zizioulas on the issue of divine ]. Lossky's work is in ] well established and widely accepted as contemporary synthesis of the patristic theology.

Alan Brown, "On the Criticism of 'Being as Communion' in Anglophone Orthodox Theology", in Douglas Knight (ed.) 'The Theology of John Zizioulas: Personhood and the Church' (Ashgate, 2006) defends Zizioulas against several of the polemical rejections of his theological ontology.


⚫ ] in his article touches the work of Aristotle Papanikolaou, who seeks the differences between ] and John Zizioulas on the issue of divine ]. Lossky's work is in ] well established and widely accepted as contemporary synthesis of the patristic theology.


Denial of the representation of the Orthodoxy by John Zizioulas can be found in the article published by the editorial staff of the magazine Italia Ortodossa, a magazine of Orthodox faithful in ]:


In the book "Innovatory Theology of Metropolitan Zizioulas", by Rodoljub Lazic (In ], ATOS - Missionary Center, ] 2002), writer seeks the differences in the work of the Zizioulas from traditional Orthodoxy. He claims that Zizioulas' ecumenistic orientation had influenced his work and theology.


==See Also == ==See Also ==

Revision as of 20:56, 15 February 2008

John Zizioulas (born 10 January 1931) is the Eastern Orthodox metropolitan of Pergamon. He is the Chairman of the Academy of Athens, and a noted theologian.

Bibliography

His major works are Being as Communion (1985, DLT) and the more recent Communion and Otherness (2006, T & T Clark). A dogmatics is on its way. Also recently published was The Theology of John Zizioulas edited by Douglas Knight (2007, Ashgate).

Academic Education and Career

Metropolitan John's education included a period of study under the noted Orthodox theologian Georges Florovsky. He received his doctorate in 1965 from the University of Athens. Somewhat later, Zizioulas taught theology at the University of Edinburgh for a period. Following this, he moved to the University of Glasgow, where he held a personal chair in systematic theology for some fourteen years. In addition, Zizioulas has been a Visiting Professor at the Research Institute in Systematic Theology of King's College London.

Theology

The theological work of Metropolitan John has focused upon the twin themes of ecclesiology and theological ontology. The theology of Metropolitan John reflects the influence of Russian émigré theologians such as Nikolai Afanassief, Vladimir Lossky and his teacher Georges Florovsky. Zizioulas has also been significantly influenced by the ascetical theology of Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), founder of the Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, England.

Ecclesiology

Zizioulas' ecclesiology was first developed in his doctoral dissertation, subsequently published in English as 'Eucharist, Bishop, Church'. Here Metropolitan John develops critically the eucharistic ecclesiology of Nikolai Afanassief. He accepts Afanassief's principal contention that the Church is to be understood in terms of the Eucharist. However, he criticises Afanassief's understanding as overly congregational and insufficiently episcopal in its emphasis. Finally, Zizioulas advocates an episcopocentric understanding of Church structure, understanding the Bishop primarily as the president of the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharistic community.

Theological Ontology

He has contributed to the theology of the person, based mostly on the work of St Irenaeus and St. Maximus the Confessor. His seminal work, Being As Communion, was first published in 1985. The primary focus of his work was to develop a correct ontology of personhood derived from an extensive investigation of Greek philosphy, patristic era writings and modern rationalist philosophy. He argues that full humanity is achieved only as person so that they may participate (koinonia) in the Trinitarian life of God. However, an essential component of the ontology of personhood is the freedom to self-affirm the participation in relationship. He continues that man initially exists as a biological hypostasis, constrained as to the types of relationships one can have (biological) and to the eventual end of this type of being - death. He makes use of existentialist philosophers and novelists to show that the only type of ontological freedom in the biological hypostasis is the choice to commit suicide. Baptism constitutes an ontological change in the human, making them an ecclesial hypostasis, or a person. This rebirth 'from above' gives new ontological freedom as it is not constrained by the limits of biological existence. Such ecclesial being is eschatological, meaning it is a paradoxical 'now,' but 'not yet.' The completion of this rebirth from above is the day of resurrection when the body will no longer be subject to death.

Influence

Zizioulas' theology has especially been accepted among younger generation of Greek and Serbian theologians, such as retired bishop Atanasije Jevtic or bishop Ignjatije Midic. Zizioulas' views, in regard to the human person and its creative capacities, have been further developed by Dr. Davor Dzalto and implemented in understanding contemporary art and culture. According to this philosopher, artist and art historian, Zizioulas is "the most prominent orthodox theologian, whose thought goes hand in hand with theology of the (Early Church) Fathers."

"Traditionalist" Orthodox Criticisms of Zizioulas

The theology and episcopal activities of Metropolitan John have been heavily criticised within certain branches of Orthodox Christianity. Often such critics style there criticisms as stemming from a "traditionalist" Orthodox viewpoint. For one such example, in which it is claimed that Zizioulas' theology is overly ecumenistic and insufficiently Orthodox, see: Rodoljub Lazic' "Innovatory Theology of Metropolitan Zizioulas" (in Serbian), ATOS - Missionary Center, Belgrade 2002.

Theological Criticism and Defence

In his article titled Person versus Individual and Other Modern Misreadings of Gregory of Nyssa, Lucian Turcescu contests the legitimacy of Zizioulas' use of material taken from the Cappadocian Fathers.

Peter J. Leithart in his article Divine Energies and Orthodox Soteriology touches the work of Aristotle Papanikolaou, who points to differences between Vladimir Lossky and John Zizioulas on the issue of divine energies. Lossky's work is in Orthodoxy well established and widely accepted as contemporary synthesis of the patristic theology.

Alan Brown, "On the Criticism of 'Being as Communion' in Anglophone Orthodox Theology", in Douglas Knight (ed.) 'The Theology of John Zizioulas: Personhood and the Church' (Ashgate, 2006) defends Zizioulas against several of the polemical rejections of his theological ontology.



See Also

Citations


External links

Category: