FATHER STANILOAE WROTE THAT “THE PERSON WHO PRAYS ALSO CASTS BRIDGES TOWARDS HIS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS”. WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?

Abstract

This paper examines the theology of prayer in the thought of Dumitru Stăniloae, a prominent Romanian Orthodox theologian. Emphasizing an apophatic yet experiential approach, Stăniloae posits prayer as the primary means of communion with the personal God, integrating mind and heart in the pursuit of theosis. Prayer, animated by the Holy Spirit, enables the human person to transcend natural limitations and participate in divine life. Furthermore, the paper highlights the relational dimension of prayer, where forgiveness and love toward others become essential conditions for genuine communion with God.
Thus, prayer is both a transformative encounter with the divine and an ethical imperative that binds love for God with love for neighbor, constituting the foundation of Christian spiritual and communal life.