Our journey toward true freedom

This article by the Greek philosopher and theologian Christos Yannaras, professor emeritus at the University of Political Sciences in Athens, addresses the notion of freedom considered from an Orthodox theological perspective. Drawing on philosophical and spiritual reflection, it distinguishes the common conception of freedom, reduced to individual autonomy, from its authentic meaning as understood by the ecclesial tradition. The central idea is that true freedom consists not in self-affirmation, but in the renunciation of the ego, which is the condition for an openness to divine grace and to relationship with others. The theological contribution of the article lies in its emphasis on the ecclesial dimension of ascesis: the personal effort of man, a fundamentally relational being, is not fulfilled in solitude, but takes place within the common life of the Church as a communal event.