JOURNAL "DIALOGUE"

INSTITUTIONAL AND CHARISMATIC ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH

Gocha Barnovi — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article discusses the institutional and charismatic aspects of the Church. The existence of the institutional and charismatic aspects of the Church, based on the principle of the unity of Christology and Pneumatology. This is some kind of theological unity, which is necessary for their coexistence. An institution is always born in time and space and therefore is a subject of these dimensions. On the contrary, charism does not depend on time or space. There is a tight interconnection between these two aspects; In the Eastern Church there was never any kind of sharp disagreement between them. Therefore, both institution and charism coexist in the Church and there is a balance between them. The representatives of the institution are clerics who have institutionalized charism, but at the same time, there are charismatic people with their own, non-institutionalized charism. Both aspects have ecclesiological significance, which directly affects the life of believers. The purpose of both institutional and charismatic manifestations (mysteries, Church services, dogmas or definitions) is one – the protection the unity of the Church

RELATIONS BETWEEN GEORGIA AND ROMAN CHURCH AFTER THE GREAT SCHISM

Beka Chichinadze — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the article mainly discuss lesser-known sources, therefore, the reader will see a more varied, interesting and unexpected information. First of all, I will discuss the Latin religious beliefs of the great teacher of the Georgian Church – George Mtatsmindeli because some researchers try to hide this. We will not talk much here about the well-known fact that George himself proclaimed the Church of Rome to be the most faithful defender of the apostolic doctrines before the Byzantine emperor.While the Greeks and Latins were arguing about the descent of the Holy Spirit, George translated into Georgian – “The Symbol of Athanasius”, where the Holy Spirit was considered to come from the Son, i.e. the Latin pneumatological formula was described – “The Holy Spirit from the Father and from the Son”. If this doctrine of the Catholic Church was a heresy for George, obviously he would have. After all we can conclude the following: During the unity and strength of the Georgian state, when the Georgian Fathers translated many theological literatures, had numerous theological centers (the Maghalashvili Gospel inscription speaks of seven such schools in one diocese), the Georgian Church had its own position on the Church of Rome, but after the political and cultural fall, Influenced first by Greek and especially Russian anti-Catholic propaganda, Georgia rejected the historic choice of its best clergy of the Church – unity with the Catholic Church. At the beginning of its relations with Georgia, Russia started struggle with the Catholic missionaries in Georgia, the Russian ambassador – Zakharev, started anti-Catholic propaganda, and after the conquest of Georgia, Russia expelled the Catholic missionaries from Georgia, because Russia’s goal was and is the ecclesiastical isolation of Georgia

IS IT JUSTIFIED TO ACCUSE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF ANTI-SEMITISM FROM A HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW?

Teimuraz Buadze — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Some historians blame the Christian Church for the origin of anti-Semitism. This accusation is unjustified from a historical point
of view, a lot of well-documented historical facts and circumstances speak against it. Christian moral and eschatological teaching create unfavorable conditions for the formation of anti-Semitism.

ORTHODOXY IN THE MODERN BALKANS AND ITS POLITICAL ASPECTS

Guram Lursmanashvili — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There are many aspects related to the Balkans of the 20th-21st centuries, which can be discussed in a global context. The aim of this
paper is to analyze the local Orthodox Churches of Balkans and the relationship between the Church and the state there.
In the twentieth century, the interests of a number of political leaders, forces and ideologies intersected on the Balkans. For example, The Balkan Peninsula was a very important strategic place in the Soviet Union, therefore, it actively tried to spread its influence on the political processes developed there, which directly affected the local Orthodox churches. On the other hand, In the 20th century, a number of countries of the Balkans were ruled by dictatorial and authoritarian regimes, whose leaders had significant power (Enver Khoja, Josip Broz Tito, Todor Zhivkov, Slobodan Milosevic, Nicolae Ceausescu, etc.), which also left its mark on the local Orthodox churches. This paper discusses what kind of relations were among the Orthodox clergy and the state in Balkans, to what extent the security services interfered in the Church’s activities and how all this was reflected in the present day.

ST. IRENAEUS OF LYON AND GNOSTICISM

Monika Gabunia — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Gnosticism was very powerful and popular heresy in the early stage of the development of the Christian Church. They claimed to
have a true and undisputable knowledge, and therefore fight against them was difficult and great challenge for the Church. St. Irenaeus of Lyon was among the defenders of Christianity and criticized Gnostics. This article overviews Gnosticism, its basic ideas, also St. Irenaeus’ arguments against it, written in “Adversus Omnes Haereses”

APOLOGY FOR ORIGEN: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ORIGEN

Ivane Shoshiashvili — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this article, based on the specific facts and arguments, I have tried to criticize all the misconceptions about Origen and his works
which are widely circulated in ecclesiastical society. It is indeed a paradox when Origen is accused that he taught others some ideas,
which actually he was opposed. Therefore, I think that this person should be rehabilitated inevitable