An orthodox approach to John of the Cross

This article examines the figure of John of the Cross (1542-1591) from an Orthodox perspective, questioning the possibility of recognizing authentic holiness beyond confessional boundaries. Taking the form of a comparative study, it first traces the lineages between Carmelite mysticism and Eastern patristic sources — Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory of Nyssa, John Climacus — to show that the spirituality of John of the Cross is partially rooted in the common Christian tradition. The author then confronts the major stages of the Sanjuanist journey — notably the doctrine of the "nights" — with the categories of Orthodox ascesis and contemplation, drawing on Silouan of Athos, Seraphim of Sarov, and Symeon the New Theologian. He concludes that the divergences in vocabulary and sensibility conceal a profound convergence in the experience of union with God, thus opening fruitful prospects for interconfessional dialogue.