<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The imagery of light plays a key role in Basil of Caesarea’s narrative of God and salvation. Curiously, the communal aspects of this imagery have received little attention in scholarship. A systematic analysis of “<italic>De Spiritu Sancto</italic>” reveals that in Basil’s understanding, participation in divine light functions as a parallel concept to Church membership. To begin with, the corporate nature of participation in divine light is evident from the ecclesial rites of initiation whereby this participation is bestowed. Furthermore, Basil uses the imagery of light to underscore the corporate nature of both the mystical union between God and the baptized, and the outward expressions of the believers’ lives in the divine light: worship and public witness. In addition to shedding new light on the Basilian notion of Church membership, the study o#ers a fresh outlook into the ecumenical dialogue between the Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church bodies on the theology of initiation.</p></abstract>

The imagery of light plays a key role in Basil of Caesarea’s narrative of God and salvation. Curiously, the communal aspects of this imagery have received little attention in scholarship. A systematic analysis of “De Spiritu Sancto” reveals that in Basil’s understanding, participation in divine light functions as a parallel concept to Church membership. To begin with, the corporate nature of participation in divine light is evident from the ecclesial rites of initiation whereby this participation is bestowed. Furthermore, Basil uses the imagery of light to underscore the corporate nature of both the mystical union between God and the baptized, and the outward expressions of the believers’ lives in the divine light: worship and public witness. In addition to shedding new light on the Basilian notion of Church membership, the study o#ers a fresh outlook into the ecumenical dialogue between the Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church bodies on the theology of initiation.

Participation in Divine Light and Church Membership in <italic>De Spiritu Sancto</italic> of Basil of Caesarea

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

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Participation in Divine Light and Church Membership in  of Basil of Caesarea

The imagery of light plays a key role in Basil of Caesarea’s narrative of God and salvation. Curiously, the communal aspects of this imagery have received...

Participation in Divine Light and Church Membership in De Spiritu Sancto of Basil of Caesarea

Published Online: Aug 28, 2020

Page range: 266 - 294

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2020-0018

Keywords
Light, illumination, Church membership, ecclesiology, Patristic, Basil of Caesarea

© 2020 Harri Huovinen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Participation in Divine Light and Church Membership in De Spiritu Sancto of Basil of Caesarea

Published Online: Aug 28, 2020

Page range: 266 - 294

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2020-0018

KeywordsLight, illumination, Church membership, ecclesiology, Patristic, Basil of Caesarea

© 2020 Harri Huovinen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Light, illumination, Church membership, ecclesiology, Patristic, Basil of Caesarea