The study of Greek, an awakening of theological consciousness

This article by Sophie Clément-Stavrou, professor of ancient Greek and patristics at the Institut Saint-Serge, examines the role of the Greek language in the formation and deepening of Christian theological consciousness. Drawing on a pedagogical and theological approach, the study shows how Greek, the language of the poets and philosophers of Antiquity, was progressively appropriated by the Church Fathers to express the mysteries of the faith, particularly the divine nature of Christ and ecclesial life. The author argues that mastery of the evangelical and patristic vocabulary in its original language constitutes a privileged access to the thought of the Fathers. On the theological level, the article highlights the living continuity between the Hellenic heritage and the Orthodox ecclesial Tradition, underscoring the hermeneutical and spiritual value of the study of ancient Greek.