Notable theologians of the Orthodox?

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Dear Orthodox brethren (or those Catholics who are knowledgeable of the subject),

Who are some of the great theologians of the East? Who is the “Thomas Aquinas of the Orthodox Church” or the “Augustine of Hippo of the East”? I’m interested in reading what they have to say, and comparing it to the theological/philosophical positions of the Catholic Church.

Dominus vobiscum.

Scott

P.S.: Also, what would you consider the most prevailing philosophy of the Orthodox Church? For example, the Catholic Church has had a great emphasis on Thomism – the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas (see Pope Leo XIII encyclical Aeterni Patris). Is there such a prevalent view in the East?
 
Traditionally, only three are given the title of “theologian” in Eastern Orthodoxy:
John the Evangelist (1-100), Gregory the Theologian, also known as Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), and Symeon the new theologian (949-1022). Others who might be of interest who do not bear the title of “theologian” but are nonetheless quite accomplished theologians are Athanasius of Alexandria, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom (there are really too many from the period around the 4th and 5th centuries to name), Maximus the Confessor, Gregory Palamas (and many more). One could also look at Vladimir Lossky if seeking a more modern theologian.

As for the answer to which is the most prevalent philosophy, I’m not so sure if I can answer that. I can say that the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus) are held in high regard. Gregory Palamas is also held in high regard as well since he is the figure behind the essence-energies distinction. But if there is something similar in influence to Thomism, I cannot really answer with any clarity. Perhaps somebody else might be able to give a better answer.
 
I would say that the theological tradition in the East that plays a comparable role to the Augustinian/Thomist tradition in the West is that running from the Cappadocian Fathers (among whom St. Gregory of Nyssa was the most creative, though not the most revered among Orthodox traditionally) through Maximus the Confessor and Symeon the New Theologian to Gregory Palamas. For me, Palamas is the major alternative to Aquinas.

Obviously much of this tradition was pre-schism, and the Cappadocians and Maximus are claimed equally by Catholics and Orthodox. Symeon was also pre-schism, though by his time the two traditions had largely grown apart. Palamas is the only one of these who might have thought of himself as “Orthodox” over against the West, but I believe that even he is claimed by Eastern Catholics as a saint and Doctor, and as far as I know a Catholic could be a Palamite.

Palamas’s theology has been revived and further developed by modern Orthodox theologians such as Vladimir Lossky. Lossky is highly polemical toward the West. Other great Orthodox theologians, like George Florovsky and Alexander Schmemann, are more ecumenical.

Edwin
 
you might find this a useful rescouce

ccel.org/fathers.html

the books are free to download as a pdf.
The_Scott said:
Dear Orthodox brethren (or those Catholics who are knowledgeable of the subject),

Who are some of the great theologians of the East? Who is the “Thomas Aquinas of the Orthodox Church” or the “Augustine of Hippo of the East”? I’m interested in reading what they have to say, and comparing it to the theological/philosophical positions of the Catholic Church.

Dominus vobiscum.

Scott

P.S.: Also, what would you consider the most prevailing philosophy of the Orthodox Church? For example, the Catholic Church has had a great emphasis on Thomism – the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas (see Pope Leo XIII encyclical Aeterni Patris). Is there such a prevalent view in the East?
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Contarini said:
I would say that the theological tradition in the East that plays a comparable role to the Augustinian/Thomist tradition in the West is that running from the Cappadocian Fathers (among whom St. Gregory of Nyssa was the most creative, though not the most revered among Orthodox traditionally) through Maximus the Confessor and Symeon the New Theologian to Gregory Palamas. For me, Palamas is the major alternative to Aquinas.

Obviously much of this tradition was pre-schism, and the Cappadocians and Maximus are claimed equally by Catholics and Orthodox. Symeon was also pre-schism, though by his time the two traditions had largely grown apart. Palamas is the only one of these who might have thought of himself as “Orthodox” over against the West, but I believe that even he is claimed by Eastern Catholics as a saint and Doctor, and as far as I know a Catholic could be a Palamite.

Palamas’s theology has been revived and further developed by modern Orthodox theologians such as Vladimir Lossky. Lossky is highly polemical toward the West. Other great Orthodox theologians, like George Florovsky and Alexander Schmemann, are more ecumenical.

Edwin
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Ah, Schmemann. I’m currently reading his For the Life of the World. I would recommend it for anybody trying to understand sacramental theology a little bit better (from an Eastern perspective that is).
 
Hey guys! Sorry I never responded to this thread - for some reason I didn’t subscribe to it (or maybe I accidentally cancelled it).

I should have clarified, and I apologize I didn’t: but I was mainly looking for post-Schism (1000s) theologians for the Orthodox. Otherwise, if, say, there was a notable theologian in the 500s, then both Catholics and Orthodox can claim them as their own. 😉

Sorry for the confusion. 🙂
 
The_Scott said:
Hey guys! Sorry I never responded to this thread - for some reason I didn’t subscribe to it (or maybe I accidentally cancelled it).

I should have clarified, and I apologize I didn’t: but I was mainly looking for post-Schism (1000s) theologians for the Orthodox. Otherwise, if, say, there was a notable theologian in the 500s, then both Catholics and Orthodox can claim them as their own. 😉

Sorry for the confusion. 🙂
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You will realize here that Eastern Christians emphasize more on the faith handed down to us by our Church Fathers, those who lived early in the history of the Church. So there won’t be a lot post schism because it is already the second millennium of the Church.
 
Definitely Gregory Palamas and Symeon the New Theologian - Gregory is a hard read though. Symeon’s writings are beautiful.
Other thinkers I would recommend if you wish to understand Eastern Orthodox theology better are Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, Gregory of Sinai, Theophan the Recluse…etc. Seraphim of Sarov’s writings are also exceptional. I would assume that Photius and Mark of Ephesus’ writings would also be of great import if you are trying to understand the schism itself.
But as far as systematic theologians in the East, post-schism, go…I can’t think of any on the same level of systematic theology as Aquinas or Scotus. I think it is due to the inherent fundamental difference of approach to theology in the East as compared to the West.
 
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