The monastic vocation
Theological approaches
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article by Panayotis Nellas offers a theological study of the foundations of monastic vocation in the Orthodox tradition. Adopting a systematic and patristic approach, the author structures his reflection around two complementary poles: the divine call and the human response. He shows that monastic vocation constitutes a full and conscious actualization of baptismal grace, and not a departure from the Church, but a deeper integration into its mystery. The principal theological contribution lies in the articulation between Christology, pneumatology, and ascesis: monastic renunciation — of pleasure, of diversion, of life according to the flesh — has meaning only as real participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. Nellas thus situates monasticism at the heart of the Church, as a place of eschatological anticipation, and formulates an implicit critique of contemporary tendencies that minimize the role of the Holy Spirit in favor of a spirituality of human fulfillment.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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