Jean Breck

This article is a personal testimony by Father John Breck, professor emeritus at the Saint Sergius Institute in Paris, dedicated to the figure of Father Boris Bobrinskoy, Orthodox theologian and spiritual father. Written in the form of a memorial evocation, it traces more than fifty years of relationship between the two men, from their first meeting in Neuchâtel in the late 1960s to the final years of Father Boris's life at Bussy-en-Othe. The author describes the decisive role played by Bobrinskoy in the conversion of his family to Orthodox Christianity, in his priestly ordination, and in his vocation as a teacher of theology. The principal contribution of this testimony lies in the light it sheds on the pastoral and spiritual dimension of Bobrinskoy, whose influence was exercised as much through personal accompaniment as through a theology deeply rooted in liturgical and ecclesial life.

This article is a personal testimony by Father John Breck, professor emeritus at the Saint Sergius Institute in Paris, dedicated to the figure of Father Boris Bobrinskoy, Orthodox theologian and spiritual father. Written in the form of a memorial evocation, it traces more than fifty years of relationship between the two men, from their first meeting in Neuchâtel in the late 1960s to the final years of Father Boris's life at Bussy-en-Othe. The author describes the decisive role played by Bobrinskoy in the conversion of his family to Orthodox Christianity, in his priestly ordination, and in his vocation as a teacher of theology. The principal contribution of this testimony lies in the light it sheds on the pastoral and spiritual dimension of Bobrinskoy, whose influence was exercised as much through personal accompaniment as through a theology deeply rooted in liturgical and ecclesial life.

Cet article de Jean Breck aborde la théologie chrétienne du mariage à la lumière des débats contemporains sur le genre et la sexualité. Relevant d'une réflexion théologique et anthropologique, il examine les fondements scripturaires et patristiques de l'union conjugale dans la tradition orthodoxe. L'idée centrale est que le mariage chrétien, conçu comme union monogame et hétérosexuelle entre un homme et une femme, constitue une image de l'union mystique du Christ et de l'Église, et ne saurait être redéfini sous l'influence de théories culturelles contemporaines. L'auteur analyse les implications anthropologiques de la théorie du genre, qu'il juge dépourvue de fondement scientifique solide, et interroge la cohérence de l'union homosexuelle avec l'anthropologie chrétienne. L'apport de l'article réside dans l'articulation rigoureuse entre tradition théologique orthodoxe et enjeux éthiques actuels, notamment la question de la responsabilité éducative des adultes face à la fragilisation de l'institution matrimoniale.

This article by John Breck addresses the Christian theology of marriage in light of contemporary debates on gender and sexuality. Drawing on theological and anthropological reflection, it examines the scriptural and patristic foundations of conjugal union in the Orthodox tradition. The central idea is that Christian marriage, conceived as a monogamous and heterosexual union between a man and a woman, constitutes an image of the mystical union of Christ and the Church, and cannot be redefined under the influence of contemporary cultural theories. The author analyzes the anthropological implications of gender theory, which he considers to lack solid scientific grounding, and questions the coherence of homosexual union with Christian anthropology. The contribution of the article lies in its rigorous articulation between the Orthodox theological tradition and current ethical issues, particularly the question of the educational responsibility of adults in the face of the weakening of the institution of marriage.