Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church according to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Volume 1

Publication Data: Levadia, Greece: Birth of the Theotokos Monastery, 2012
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 344
Dimensions (l × w × h): 24.0 cm × 16.8 cm × 1.8 cm
Additional Information: full-color illustrations
ISBN: 978‒960‒7070‒75‒3

   
Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
Translated by Sister Pelagia Selfe
Editor: Effie Mavromichali

Volume 1 of Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church according to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides

“The keys to empirical theology are man’s progress from being in God’s image to being in His likeness, from the state of being a servant to being a paid worker and a son, from purification to illumination and glorification, from selfish love to unselfish love. It is a theology of revelation, which is connected with man’s glorification and is subsequently formulated in dogmas and teaching for the cure and guidance of other members of the Church. The basis of Orthodox theology is as simple as that. [...]This first volume is to some extent introductory. Apart from the introduction and some indispensable biographical and autobiographical material on Fr. John Romanides, it presents his teaching on the relationship between dogma and ethics; on the experience of revelation; on the bearers of revelation, who are the Prophets, Apostles, Fathers and saints; and the living monuments of revelation, which are Holy Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, and Holy Tradition. The common factor linking all the chapters and specific sections is the experience of God’s purifying, illuminating and glorifying energy.”
—“Introduction to the Greek Edition”

CONTENTS

   Preface to the English Edition
   Introduction to the Greek Edition
   Note by the Author
   Biographical and Autobiographical Information on Fr. John Romanides
Part 1
Dogma and Ethics
   1. Dogma
      a) Definition of Dogma
      b) Dogma and Mystery
      c) Dogma as an Expression of Experience and a Guide to Experience
      d) The Anti-Heretical and Therapeutic Purpose of Dogma
      e) Dogma and Ecclesiastical Life
      f) The Development of Dogmas
      g) Dogmas and Philosophy
      h) The Therapeutic Nature of Dogma as a Basis for Dialogue with other Confessions
      i) How Dogma is Linked with Ethics and Ascetic Teaching
   2. Ethics
      a) Philosophical, Religious and Social Ethics
      b) Christian Ethics
      c) Orthodox Ethics as Ascetic Teaching
Part 2
The Experience of Revelation
   1. The Value of Experience
   2. Experience as the Basis of Orthodox Theology
   3. Revelation and Experience
   4. Experience and Kinds of Experience
   5. Genuine Experience
   6. Conveying Experience
Part 3
The Bearers of Revelation
   1. The Glorified
      a) Terminology
      b) Divine Vision – Theology of the Glorified
   2. The Unity of the Prophets, Apostles and Saints
   3. Prophets
      a) The Prophets of the Old and New Testaments
      b) The Prophetic Gift
   4. Apostles
      a) The Life and Work of the Apostles
      b) Apostolic Life, Tradition and Succession
   5. Fathers
      a) The Work of the Fathers
      b) The Divinely Inspired Theology of the Fathers
      c) The Patristic Period
   6. Saints
      a) Who is a Saint?
      b) The Empirical Power of Faith
Part 4
The Living Monuments of Revelation
   1. Ineffable-Uncreated Words and Created Words and Concepts
      a) Distinction between Ineffable Words and Created Words and Concepts
      b) The Revelation of God through Ineffable Words
      c) Conveying Ineffable-Uncreated Words by means of Created Words and Concepts
      d) From Created Words to Ineffable Words
   2. The ‘Heritage of Faith’
   3. Holy Scripture
      a) Holy Scripture and Revelation
      b) The Divine Inspiration of Holy Scripture
      c) Conservative and Liberal
      d) The Aim of Holy Scripture
      e) The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
   4. Old and New Testaments
      a) The Value of the Old Testament
      b) Links between the Old and New Testaments
      c) Difference between the Old and New Testaments
   5. Holy Tradition and Traditions
      a) The Orthodox Tradition
      b) The Essence of the Orthodox Tradition
      c) Passing on the Tradition
      d) Tradition and Traditions
      e) Interpreting Holy Tradition through the Sciences of Astronomy and Medicine
   Epilogue