Basile Thermos

This article examines the relationships between psychopathology, psychotherapy and Orthodox theology, seeking to define the boundaries and complementarities between these two fields. Father Basil Thermos, a priest and psychiatrist, adopts an interdisciplinary approach that articulates the contributions of modern psychiatry with the anthropological categories of the patristic tradition. The central idea is that psychological health and spiritual life, while distinct, are not opposed but are part of a coherent vision of the human person. The article thus proposes a theological framework for identifying what psychotherapy can accomplish, what falls instead within the domain of spiritual direction, and how the two can coexist without confusion or reduction of one to the other. The main contribution lies in the development of an Orthodox conceptual framework for thinking about psychological suffering and its treatment.

This article examines the tension between institution and charism within Orthodox spirituality, taking as its starting point the limitations of certain contemporary ecclesiological orientations. The author adopts a critical theological approach, questioning the respective place of institutional authority, particularly episcopal authority, and charismatic gifts in the life of the Church. The central argument holds that the overvaluation of institutional structure at the expense of the charismatic dimension impoverishes an authentic understanding of ecclesial and spiritual life. The contribution of the article lies in a balanced rereading of the relationship between institutional order and the freedom of the Spirit, inviting readers to move beyond reductive oppositions in order to conceive an ecclesiology that fully integrates both dimensions. This reflection contributes to the contemporary Orthodox theological debate on the foundations and organization of ecclesial life.