Learning Eastern Theology

[smad0142]

I am really trying to delve more seriously into Eastern theology. I would appreciate a list of good theologians to look into, but I would like lists that include very Eastern sources and very Catholic sources; please do not take offense at that dichotomy and let me explain ! What I mean by Eastern are sources that lean more towards the Orthodox understanding of things, like Fr. Schmemann and what I mean by Catholic are sources that would tend more towards Eastern theology that has been influenced by communion with Rome but not to the point of being latinized, e.g. the new Ukrainian Catechism coming out asserts the infallibility of the Pope and I believe also his universal jurisdication but at the same time approaches many other issues in a typically Eastern fashion. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut!!

 

[ConstantineTG]

There are not a lot of Catholic sources, sadly. One of the things I lamented when I was EC. There are books by Fr. Taft and Fr. Loya, but not much beyond that. Most ECs do read up Orthodox books as a source for their spirituality and tradition.

 

[smad0142]

Constantine of those two Priest, Frs. Taft and Loya, using the categories I provided above could you describe the general trend of their works? Thanks!!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Constantine of those two Priest, Frs. Taft and Loya, using the categories I provided above could you describe the general trend of their works? Thanks!!

I haven’t really read much. Fr. Robert Taft is respected though for his knowledge in Liturgy and even Orthodox priests refer to him for his research and knowledge on Byzantine Liturgical history.

Another caveat is that some of their published books were years ago, and are hard to find or are very expensive if you can find one. But they are still active and you can find articles they wrote littered around the internet. Or try a library.

 

[CharlesdeFoucld]

I am really trying to delve more seriously into Eastern theology. I would appreciate a list of good theologians to look into, but I would like lists that include very Eastern sources and very Catholic sources; please do not take offense at that dichotomy and let me explain ! What I mean by Eastern are sources that lean more towards the Orthodox understanding of things, like Fr. Schmemann and what I mean by Catholic are sources that would tend more towards Eastern theology that has been influenced by communion with Rome but not to the point of being latinized, e.g. the new Ukrainian Catechism coming out asserts the infallibility of the Pope and I believe also his universal jurisdication but at the same time approaches many other issues in a typically Eastern fashion. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut!!

This is not at all what you’re asking for, but just in case it might be useful to someone…

Here are two Latin theologians who engage Eastern thought in creative and irenic ways:

Aidan Nichols, OP
Theology in the Russian Diaspora. Church, Fathers, Eucharist in Nikolai Afanas’ev, 1893-1966 (Cambridge 1989)

Rome and the Eastern Churches. A Study in Schism (Edinburgh 1991; revised edition San Francisco, 2010)

Byzantine Gospel. Maximus the Confessor in Modern Scholarship (Edinburgh 1993)

Light from the East. Authors and Themes in Orthodox Theology (London 1995)

*Wisdom from Above. A Primer in the Theology of Father Sergei Bulgakov *(Leominster 2005)

Irenee Hausherr, SJ
The Name of Jesus

Penthos: The Doctrine of Compunction in the Christian East

Spiritual Direction in the Early Christian East

Hausherr wrote a lot more, but I don’t think most of it was ever translated from French to English.

I too would be interested in discovering Eastern Catholic theologians.

 

[babochka]

For a fairly basic beginning, you might try the three part “Light for Life” series.

Part 1: The Mystery Believed
Part 2: The Mystery Celebrated
Part 3: The Mystery Lived

They can be purchased here:

byzantineseminarypress.com/categories/Books/?sort=featured&page=2

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

There is actually a good amount of material out there by Eastern Catholics, so long as you know where to look.

Anything by (Melkite) Archbishop Joseph Raya is AMAZING and worth reading. I know of a good number of Eastern Catholics turned Orthodox who still gain a great deal of insight from reading the writings of Archbishop Raya.

The writings of Russian Catholic (turned Orthodox pretty much on his deathbed) Jesuit priest, Fr. George Maloney S.J., are also very good and very much worth reading.

Irenee Hauser, as mentioned in an above post, is also a worthy read.

“A Monk of the Eastern Church,” aka Archimandrite Lev Gillet, is also worth reading. It is noteworthy that he turned Orthodox long before his death, but never considered his translation into Orthodoxy as a rejection of Catholicism. In fact, he remained close friends with a number of Eastern Catholic hierarchs throughout the remainder of his life - including Met. Andrew Sheptytsky.

The Venerable Catherine Doherty is also a good read, although her works do tend to be somewhat Latinized (not too badly though).

Melkite Bishop Nicholas Samra also has a few works out that are definitely worth reading, as does the late Melkite Archbishops Joseph Tawil and Elias Zoghby.

Ruthenian priest Fr. Jack Custer has also written a number of books on the Scriptures from a Byzantine perspective. They are very Eastern and definitely worth reading.

Finally I would recommend the writings of Roman Catholic scholar, Fr. Tomas Spidlik, who was claimed by the Romanian Orthodox as “one of their own” for his extensive work in the area of Eastern Christian spirituality.

That should be a good place to start with both Catholic and Orthodox writings on the East.

I would recommend avoiding anything by Adrien Fortesque. From what I understand he didn’t think to highly of the East (Catholic or Orthodox).

 

[Vico]

I am really trying to delve more seriously into Eastern theology. I would appreciate a list of good theologians to look into, but I would like lists that include very Eastern sources and very Catholic sources; please do not take offense at that dichotomy and let me explain ! What I mean by Eastern are sources that lean more towards the Orthodox understanding of things, like Fr. Schmemann and what I mean by Catholic are sources that would tend more towards Eastern theology that has been influenced by communion with Rome but not to the point of being latinized, e.g. the new Ukrainian Catechism coming out asserts the infallibility of the Pope and I believe also his universal jurisdication but at the same time approaches many other issues in a typically Eastern fashion. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut!!

Some that I like:

• Light for Live (3 Vol. Series) – God With Us Books
• The Icon: Window on the Kingdom by Michel Quenot
• The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir Lossky
• Introduction to Liturgical Theology, Alexander Schmemann
• Comparative Sacramental Discipline in the CCEO and CIC, edited by Francis J. Marini (Canon Law Society of America)

On the Unity of Christ St. Cyril of Alexandria
tertullian.org/fathers/index.htm#That_Christ_is_One

The *Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (online) Philip Schaff
Cyril of Jerusalem
ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.html

Origen
earlychristianwritings.com/origen.html

Other Schmemann Books:
*

• Of Water and the Spirit: A Liturgical Study of Baptism by Alexander Schmemann
• The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom by Alexander Schmemann

 

[CharlesdeFoucld]

There is actually a good amount of material out there by Eastern Catholics, so long as you know where to look.

Anything by (Melkite) Archbishop Joseph Raya is AMAZING and worth reading. I know of a good number of Eastern Catholics turned Orthodox who still gain a great deal of insight from reading the writings of Archbishop Raya.

The writings of Russian Catholic (turned Orthodox pretty much on his deathbed) Jesuit priest, Fr. George Maloney S.J., are also very good and very much worth reading.

Irenee Hauser, as mentioned in an above post, is also a worthy read.

“A Monk of the Eastern Church,” aka Archimandrite Lev Gillet, is also worth reading. It is noteworthy that he turned Orthodox long before his death, but never considered his translation into Orthodoxy as a rejection of Catholicism. In fact, he remained close friends with a number of Eastern Catholic hierarchs throughout the remainder of his life - including Met. Andrew Sheptytsky.

The Venerable Catherine Doherty is also a good read, although her works do tend to be somewhat Latinized (not too badly though).

Melkite Bishop Nicholas Samra also has a few works out that are definitely worth reading, as does the late Melkite Archbishops Joseph Tawil and Elias Zoghby.

Ruthenian priest Fr. Jack Custer has also written a number of books on the Scriptures from a Byzantine perspective. They are very Eastern and definitely worth reading.

Finally I would recommend the writings of Roman Catholic scholar, Fr. Tomas Spidlik, who was claimed by the Romanian Orthodox as “one of their own” for his extensive work in the area of Eastern Christian spirituality.

That should be a good place to start with both Catholic and Orthodox writings on the East.

I would recommend avoiding anything by Adrien Fortesque. From what I understand he didn’t think to highly of the East (Catholic or Orthodox).

This is a great post, thanks for this.

I’ve also heard a great deal about the Melkite Jean Corbon, who I understand had some influence on the formation of the liturgical sections of the ''92 Catechism of the Catholic Church, particularly his ‘The Wellspring of Worship’.

I also just ran into a Robert Taft article entitled: Eastern Catholic Theology: Slow Rebirth after a Long and Difficult Gestation

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

This is a great post, thanks for this.

I’ve also heard a great deal about the Melkite Jean Corbon, who I understand had some influence on the formation of the liturgical sections of the ''92 Catechism of the Catholic Church, particularly his ‘The Wellspring of Worship’.

I also just ran into a Robert Taft article entitled: Eastern Catholic Theology: Slow Rebirth after a Long and Difficult Gestation

Thanks for reminding me about Fr. Jean Corbon. He was a Dominican (as in Order of Preachers, not from the Dominican Republic) Melkite priest who pretty much single-handedly wrote the fourth part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on prayer and the spiritual life. From what I hear he actually wrote that in his basement in Beirut while the city was being bombed. A great illustration for us that silence and prayer can be found even in the midst of the most horrible noise.

Fr. Taft, as others have mentioned, is also worth reading. Everything that I’ve read by him, every audio and video recording that I’ve listened to (and edited), and every conversation that I’ve ever had with him has always been uplifting and full of enlightenment. Many people like to harp on him because of his brutal honesty, but personally I think his form of brutal honesty (that is still delivered charitably) is what the Church(es) currently needs, especially in the ecumenical dialogue and in matters liturgical.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

One Eastern Catholic author I forgot to mention, but who actually had a great deal of formative effect on me personally, is Fr. Cyril Korolevsky. In particular his essay Uniatism available from Eastern Christian Publications is worth reading and pondering. Although it is perhaps somewhat outdated now, it still contains many points and criticisms that remain legitimate to this day.

 

[smad0142]

There is actually a good amount of material out there by Eastern Catholics, so long as you know where to look.

Anything by (Melkite) Archbishop Joseph Raya is AMAZING and worth reading. I know of a good number of Eastern Catholics turned Orthodox who still gain a great deal of insight from reading the writings of Archbishop Raya.

The writings of Russian Catholic (turned Orthodox pretty much on his deathbed) Jesuit priest, Fr. George Maloney S.J., are also very good and very much worth reading.

Irenee Hauser, as mentioned in an above post, is also a worthy read.

“A Monk of the Eastern Church,” aka Archimandrite Lev Gillet, is also worth reading. It is noteworthy that he turned Orthodox long before his death, but never considered his translation into Orthodoxy as a rejection of Catholicism. In fact, he remained close friends with a number of Eastern Catholic hierarchs throughout the remainder of his life - including Met. Andrew Sheptytsky.

The Venerable Catherine Doherty is also a good read, although her works do tend to be somewhat Latinized (not too badly though).

Melkite Bishop Nicholas Samra also has a few works out that are definitely worth reading, as does the late Melkite Archbishops Joseph Tawil and Elias Zoghby.

Ruthenian priest Fr. Jack Custer has also written a number of books on the Scriptures from a Byzantine perspective. They are very Eastern and definitely worth reading.

Finally I would recommend the writings of Roman Catholic scholar, Fr. Tomas Spidlik, who was claimed by the Romanian Orthodox as “one of their own” for his extensive work in the area of Eastern Christian spirituality.

That should be a good place to start with both Catholic and Orthodox writings on the East.

I would recommend avoiding anything by Adrien Fortesque. From what I understand he didn’t think to highly of the East (Catholic or Orthodox).

Is Archbishop Raya latizined in any way though? I have his Byzantine Daily Missal and it includes Adoration, the Rosary, and Stations of the Cross (IIRC) and of course his Byzantine Daily Worship definitely contains a section on Adoration. Thanks!

 

[neokarny]

*Wisdom from Above. A Primer in the Theology of Father Sergei Bulgakov *(Leominster 2005)[/INDENT]

If someone is trying to learn Eastern theology, I would not recommend studying Fr. Sergei Bulgakov’s teachings. He is a controversial figure with Sophiological beliefs that were condemned by a Russian Orthodox synod, so he’s not the ideal figure to learn about until you’re well-versed or have a reason to study that era of Russian philosophy/theology.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Is Archbishop Raya latizined in any way though? I have his Byzantine Daily Missal and it includes Adoration, the Rosary, and Stations of the Cross (IIRC) and of course his Byzantine Daily Worship definitely contains a section on Adoration. Thanks!

To a very small extent Archbishop Raya did have some latinization, but it is only to a VERY small extent. While I’m not so familiar with his Byzantine Daily Missal, I have heard that it is the most latinized - and also the earliest - of his works. His Byzantine Daily Worship does in fact contain a section on Eucharistic Adoration and also includes the Eastern/Byzantine version of the feast of Corpus Christi, but these were common practices among Byzantine Catholics of his day. Among the Melkites (in the U.S. at least) Eucharistic Adoration has been completely dropped (thank goodness), and Corpus Christi certainly doesn’t play a prominent role on their liturgical calendar… if it’s celebrated at all.

But all-in-all Archbishop Raya is about as Eastern/Byzantine as they come and in general most Orthodox would be hard-pressed to find much to disagree with in his writings. Even his Byzantine Daily Worship was endorsed by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras.

 

[smad0142]

I really appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut; thank you!

Phillip I have one more question for you:

In the first post on this thread, forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=23454, there is an excerpt of one of Archbishop Raya’s writings on the Papacy. Is this excerpt from the book mentioned in the post, The Face of God, or is this excerpt from another book of his, and if so do you know which one? Thanks!!

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I really appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut; thank you!

Phillip I have one more question for you:

In the first post on this thread, forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=23454, there is an excerpt of one of Archbishop Raya’s writings on the Papacy. Is this excerpt from the book mentioned in the post, The Face of God, or is this excerpt from another book of his, and if so do you know which one? Thanks!!

The excerpt is from Face of God (one of my all-time favorites by Archbishop Raya). For the most part it consists of Patriarch Maximos IV’s intervention on the subject at Vatican II.