TEOLOGIE PATRISTICĂ ŞI NEOPATRISTICĂ? PERIOADELE PATROLOGIEI ÎN VIAŢA BISERICII

Abstract

Many debates take place around the concepts of patristic theology and neopatristic theology, and also concerning the neopatristic or new patristic synthesis syntagms, all of them having as a substratum the issue of accepting or not limits for the patristic period. To avoid the netting of a lay science, Patrology has a permanent theological character and has no limits in history, just as the Holy Tradition of the Church is without limits. This fact is due to the situation that the Holy Fathers are not just authentic bearers of the Holy Tradition, but also its creators, in the sense of dynamic continuers of the spiritual and dogmatic heritage of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Accepting a terminus point for the patristic period would trigger many consequences, such as doubting the work and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, ranking, in a manner, however, not met in the Church life, the illumination by the Holy Spirit of the Holy Fathers from different epochs etc. The Church has not understood, however, the work of God as a limited reality, but as a dynamic one, present in its living and spiritually healthy limbs. The meeting with the Holy Church Fathers, present in all its epochs, is transforming and empowering, so that patristic theology represents in the Church a unitary and indivisible fact.