Editorial RES 3/2017

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article presents an evaluation of Martin Luther’s reformatory theology from the point of view of orthodox theology. To this day there are only a few orthodox theologians who have undertaken systematic analyzes of Luther’s theology. Although their attitude to Lutheran theology was critical, they underlined that Martin Luther did not want to form a new denomination. They viewed Martin Luther’s Reformation not as a renewal of ecclesial life, but as an innovation within Christianity. The ecumenical dialogues have brought about a change in the understanding of Lutheran theology, in the sense that there are some orthodox theologians who have worked out convergent Lutheran doctrines with orthodox theology.</abstract>

Martin Luther’s Reformation Reflected in the Orthodox Theology

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In his honest desire to reform the Catholic Church, Martin Luther looked up sometimes to Eastern Christianity and its Ancient Fathers. Especially in the context of his debates with Catholic theologians, Luther tried to accomplish a theological norm through quotes and arguments from the spiritual thesaurus of the Eastern Church. In spite of the fact that Luther‘s references to the Eastern Church show a certain ambiguity and are not as extensive as one would wish today, these are of particular importance and carry undeniable weight for the Reformation period and the Reformers’ knowledge of Eastern Christianity. Luther’s mentions of the Eastern Church constitute until today the basic points of modern ecumenism between Protestantism and Orthodoxy.</abstract>

Some of Martin Luther‘s Written References to the Eastern Church

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Considering the ethical, anthropological and theological perspectives on the institution of a secular leader, as they are presented in Martin Luther’s writing “Das Magnificat verdeutschet und ausgelegt”, (1521) this paper aims to emphasize his contribution to the contemporary political anthropology and European culture. Presenting Mary’s canticle as a vademecum of educating secular leaders, Luther highlights the need of spiritual substantiation of the education of the secular leader and identifies <italic>mens cordis</italic> as the active and reactive center of the human being, from which all counsels and all reigns must be derived. While still preserving parts of mysticism, mystical and ascetic sources for the Christian education of rulers, thus a fragment of the universal Christian tradition, as they were developed and contextualized in Western Europe, this work by Luther could be a significant impulse for the renewal of the dialogue between Lutheran tradition and Orthodoxy.</abstract>

Martin Luther’s Interpretation on Magnificat. Vademecum of Christian Education for Rulers

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Remembering the events which happened 50 years ago, this paper will attempt to point out the specific way in which the Romanian Orthodox Church reported on the 450th anniversary of the Reformation. By going through the pages of Orthodox ecclesiastical periodicals that reported on this particular moment, a growing focus on the Ecumenical Movement and the dialogue partners of other denominations can be noted, marking a beneficial openness to knowledge and understanding of other Churches.</abstract>

An Almost Forgotten Jubilee – The 450th Anniversary of the Reformation through the Pages of Romanian Orthodox Press

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This paper aims to successively present approaches to German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s thinking in the Romanian research area and to retain a series of milestones of his ample theological vision that could be relevant to the culture of an Orthodox preacher. I believe that the example of Bonhoeffer’s life and work are positive challenging models for the pastoral Orthodox thinking, due to his homiletic vision of life, somehow comparable with the vision of some theologians, who gave good Christian testimony during the difficult times of Romanian and European history. I dare to assert that Bonhoeffer’s thoroughness to elucidate the terminology of Christian preaching and to deal with specific topics of theology of reality that is active and directed to the service of a neighbor, as well as his manner of eschatologically embracing the Christian life, creates paths for the education of dialogue with Orthodoxy.</abstract>

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – the Realism of Preaching. Milestones for an Orthodox Preacher’s Proclaiming Culture

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Five hundred years ago, in troubling theological and spiritual developments of the Roman Church, Martin Luther critically approached its teaching about the soteriological value of works. The result of his inquiry was the famous <italic>sola fide</italic> doctrine. However he did not ignore the issue of works and tried repeatedly to explain their relationship with the faith. But, unfortunately, he did not consider the important contributions of the Epistle of St James and of St John’s Revelation. In the introduction to the Apocalypse he expressed the possibility that he was missing “more than one thing in this book”. His intuition was right. The book of Revelation conceals many mysteries, but first of all that of salvation. It speaks a lot about Christ and His salvific work, but also about the works of the faithful. In fact, the mystery of salvation is closely related to works. They play a crucial role in the preparation of the wedding of the Lamb with His bride. The accomplishment of God’s plan depends on them. The judgment will be done according to the works. Therefore, a lot of onceignored things stand before us. Have they the potential to bring more light on the much-disputed relationship between faith and works?</abstract>

The Works and the Mystery of Salvation in the Book of Revelation. A New Contribution to an Old Polemic

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">On the occasion of the commemoration of 500 years since the Reformation, this article, entitled “Reformation and Orthodoxy”, calls attention to the personality of Johannes Honterus (1497-1549), the Lutheran reformer of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Transylvania, and reviews his relationship to Orthodoxy, a relationship which may be referred to as “Early Ecumenism”. Johannes Honterus, one of the most important personalities of the Transylvanian Saxons, was an outstanding scholar who had studied in Vienna, Krakow, Regensburg and Basel. He became the founder of the first school and the first publishing house in Brasov (Kronstadt), and – as Senior Pastor – was the reformer of his native town and eventually all of Transylvania (1547). Honterus had close contacts to Christian-Orthodox Romanians from surrounding areas, and in his publishing house not only Latin, Greek and German textbooks were published, as well as the two most important works about the Reformation in Brasov and the whole of Transylvania, but also – about 1540 –, among others, the so called Christian-Orthodox „Edition of Nilus“, with extracts from the Greek Patristic Literature by Evaragius Ponticus, Gregory of Nazianz and Thalassus. His dialogue with Orthodox visitors to his town inspired his work for the Lutheran Reformation among the Transylvanian Saxons. From 1556 to 1583, Honterus had in his publishing house the most important Orthodox publisher of the 16th century, Deacon Coresi. This “early ecumenism” became the basis for the well-known tradition of religious tolerance in Transylvania.</abstract>

The Reformer Johannes Honterus and Orthodoxy: “Early Ecumenism”

What Future for Europe?

Book Reviews

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Review of Ecumenical Studies

 Publishing House and Owner: Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania  The Ecumenical Journal Sibiu (RES) is the academic journal of the Ecumenical Research Centre of Sibiu and serves both national and international ecumenical research, enjoying an international scientific support. The journal is issued three times per year, each issue dealing with a specific topic.  The initiative behind the founding of the RES journal is related to the ecumenical tradition of the city whose name it bears. In 2007, Sibiu was the cultural capital of Europe and home of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly. These events were not accidental, as Transylvania is characterized by a long tradition of tolerance between the various Christian denominations. There is no other region in Europe where Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Catholicism have shared for centuries the same political and geographical area.  RES aims to reflect international and Romanian theological academic work. The studies, articles and reviews published in it fall within the field of theology, but also include a multidisciplinary perspective: philosophy, history, ethics, social sciences etc. . Born in Sibiu, a symbol of multiethnic coexistence, interreligious tolerance and the confluence of several cultures, our journal aims to become a mouthpiece for research and global and local ecumenical projects. The Romanian and international authors are encouraged to express their own cultural and theological tradition in their continual quest for the dialogue with other cultural traditions and denominations. People shall thus understand that true identity develops only in dialogue, ecumenical dialogue playing a role in self-knowledge: when I meet the other, I understand better who I am myself. Removing false images, ecumenism does not lead to confusion and dilution of identity, but on the contrary - in this passage, through dialogue I go back to myself, changed by this encounter, enriched and strengthened in what I am. Thus, joint responsibility of all Christians shall manifest and strengthen regardless of the area they live in. Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Review of Ecumenical Studies

Volume 9 (2017): Issue 3 (December 2017)

Editorial RES 3/2017

Martin Luther’s Reformation Reflected in the Orthodox Theology

Some of Martin Luther‘s Written References to the Eastern Church

Martin Luther’s Interpretation on Magnificat. Vademecum of Christian Education for Rulers

An Almost Forgotten Jubilee – The 450th Anniversary of the Reformation through the Pages of Romanian Orthodox Press

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – the Realism of Preaching. Milestones for an Orthodox Preacher’s Proclaiming Culture

The Works and the Mystery of Salvation in the Book of Revelation. A New Contribution to an Old Polemic

The Reformer Johannes Honterus and Orthodoxy: “Early Ecumenism”

What Future for Europe?

Book Reviews

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