Animals in Orthodox thought II
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article by Olivier Clément examines the place of the animal world in the theological tradition of Eastern Christianity. Drawing on a synthetic study, it is structured around three axes: the cosmic dimension of the fall and redemption, the patristic conception of the animal, and the relationship to the animal world in Orthodox asceticism and mysticism. The central idea is that the animal, endowed with a soul and an inchoate form of personality, participates in the cosmic drama of salvation and calls humanity to a relationship of respect and compassion. The theological contribution of the article lies in its bringing into dialogue the Greek and Syriac Fathers, modern theologians such as Berdyaev and Soloviev, and spiritual figures such as Saint Isaac the Syrian and Saint Seraphim of Sarov, in order to establish an Orthodox ethic of animal creation.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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