SEEING FROM THE FUTURE:THE REVERSE PERSPECTIVE AND ESCHATOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN JOHN ZIZIOULAS’ THEOLOGY

Abstract

The article explores the concept of the reverse perspective, also known as inverted perspective, in Orthodox theology, analyzing its
theological and anthropological dimensions through the lens of John Zizioulas’ Eucharistic eschatology. By exploring the reverse perspective with Zizioulas’ theological framework, the study demonstrates how his future-oriented hermeneutics redefines the notion of causality. It positions the eschaton as the existential foundation for comprehending creation, historicity, and the Anthropos. Through the perspective of eucharistic eschatology, Zizioulas renders the Eucharist as the locus where historical and eschatological realities encounter, enabling a transformative reorientation of human existence. The article examines how this theological approach shapes Orthodox anthropology, particularly Zizioulas’ emphasis on relational personhood and kenosis as central to the human being. It also addresses the limitations of Zizioulas’ ecclesiocentric anthropology, particularly its grounding of
personhood in sacramental life, which leaves little space for engaging religious pluralism and socio-historical complexity. Despite these limitations, the article highlights the broader significance of Zizioulas’ theological legacy, linking the reverse perspective with practical and theological implications for contemporary Orthodox theology. By bridging theological inquiry with anthropological reflection, the article provides a nuanced understanding of how the inverted perspective and eucharistic eschatology reshape the perception of human existence in relation to the divine and the other.