Maciej Bielawski,
The Philokalical Vision of the World in the Theology of Dumitru Stăniloae,
Homini, Kraków 1997,
pp. 231.


This book is about Dumitru Stăniloae (1903-1993), “the greatest Orthodox theologian of today” (O. Clément) and presents his vision of the world and his theology of creation. It shows how Stăniloae, because of his  deep knowledge of the Fathers of the Church and the Philokalical writers of byzantine tradition, was able to think the world as “Cosmic Christ”. It was the first complete introduction to the theology of this fascinating Rumanian Orthodox thinker and the book was translated into Rumanian by I. Ică and published by the publishing house Deisis (Sibiu 1998).

Dumitru Stăniloae (1903-1993)

Table of contents

Introduction

1.     The life and work of Dumitru Stăniloae
Youth (1903-1927) – Greek influence (1927-1929) – Munich 1928 and Protestant theology – Events, studies and writings (1929-1938) – The Second World War and books about Blaga, Palamas and Jesus Christ – Activities in Rumania (1939-1944) – Communism (1945-1958) – Prison (1958-1963) – Next 30 years (1963-1993)

2.     Some considerations about the inspirations and method of Stăniloae’s theology
Orthodoxy – Rumania – Theology in the shadow of communism – The Bible – The Fathers and Philokalia – The Language

3.     The world in the light of God
The creation of the world – The motive and goal of creation – Transcendence of God and His revelation to the world – The movement of God towards creation

4.     Structures of the world
Finitude – Rationality – Unity – Movement in Time – Space

5.     World and man in God
Sobornicity – Anthropocentric aspects of creation – The world as a place of dialogue – Towards the final dimension)

Conclusion

Roumanian translation

Dumitru Stăniloae and His Philokalia

In this book, edited by Lucian Turcescu, Center for Roumenian Studies, Iasi - Oxford - Palm Beach - Portland, 2002, is my essey "Dumitru Stăniloae and His Philokali", pp. 25-51 (read it online).