St Justin Popović and the “Patristic Turn”

Abstract

Abstract Saint Justin Popovićis well known as a key protagonist of the patristic revival in Serbian theology of the twentieth century. This paper explores the way that this revival took place in his theology by analysing his patristic works, basic features of his patristic hermeneutics and discussing possible influences which enabled him to participate in what was, at the time, the emerging theological trend. His two key patristic works on St Macarius of Egypt and St Isaak the Syrian are analysed as they provide valuable information on Fr Justin’s approach to the patristic texts. Focus is also laid on his dogmatic works which reveal his understanding of the role of the patristic legacy in Orthodox theology, as well as on his exegetical works in which patristic authors are often and substantially engaged with. Three basic features of Fr Justin’s patristic hermeneutics are discussed: (1) his synthetic approach, founded on his understanding of catholicity (sobornost); (2) his emphasis on spiritual experience; and (3) his focus on the obtaining of sainthood as the ultimate goal of the patristic investigations. Three key streams of Russian religious thought, it is claimed, had a crucial impact on Fr Justin’s theological reasoning in general, and on his understanding of the patristic revival, in particular. Besides the theological influences, as evidenced in Russian philokalic tradition and theological figures among which Metropolitan Khrapovitsky plays a major role, the substantial contribution of Russian religious philosophy is also emphasized. In conclusion, it is argued that although Fr Justin’s turn to the patristic tradition exhibits some of the qualities of the neo-patristic synthesis, it lacks the programmatic character as evidenced in the case of Georges Florovsky’s theology. I show that Fr Justin participates in the “patristic turn”, a phenomenon which may be perceived as analogous to the “linguistic turn” that happened in the 20th century philosophy, and not necessarily in neo-patristic theology as such.