Christophe D’Aloisio

This article addresses the relationship between the Church and freedom from an ecclesiological and soteriological perspective. Originating from an academic presentation, it offers a structured reflection in two complementary parts. The author first examines the theological foundations of freedom in Christ, grounding his analysis in the Orthodox soteriological tradition. He then explores how the Church has historically integrated certain contributions from secular thought in order to fulfill its mission in the world, and whether it remains relevant to continue this approach today. The main contribution of the article lies in the articulation between a distinctly Christian conception of freedom and a critical openness to intellectual resources outside the Tradition, thereby offering reference points for thinking about the relationship of the Orthodox Church to modernity and its values.

This article examines the Moscow Council of 1917-1918 through the lens of the ecclesiology of Nicolas Afanassieff (1893-1966), a Russian Orthodox theologian whose work centers on the eucharistic and conciliar nature of the Church. The study adopts a critical theological analysis approach, extending and systematizing the scattered judgments Afanassieff made about this event. The main argument is that the Moscow Council, despite its undeniable spiritual resurgence, presents significant ecclesiological tensions: recourse to the principle of representation as a substitute for episcopal failure, confusion between the autocephalous Church and the local Church in the ancient sense, and the restoration of a patriarchal function marked by a monarchist vision of primacy. The contribution of the article lies in the systematic dialogue it establishes between Afanassieff's communion ecclesiology and the conciliar decisions and method of 1917-1918, thereby offering a coherent theological framework for evaluating this major council of Russian Orthodoxy.

This article by Christophe D'Aloisio focuses on the historical and theological foundations of eucharistic celebration in the early Church, as brought to light by the theologian Nicolas Afanassieff. The study adopts a simultaneously historical, theological, and spiritual approach, examining the conditions and significance of eucharistic practice in the first Christian centuries. The central idea is that original eucharistic communion is characterized by a radically communal dimension, irreducible to any form of religious individualism. The contribution of the article lies in highlighting Afanassieff's thought as a resource for rethinking contemporary eucharistic theology, recalling that participation in the Eucharist engages the entire ecclesial body, according to a logic of universality and gathering that is constitutive of the Church's identity.

This article examines the relationship between obedience and freedom from the perspective of Orthodox theology of salvation. Through a systematic theological study, Father Christophe D'Aloisio situates these two notions within the broader framework of deification, as developed by the Church Fathers. The central idea is that Christ, by perfectly conforming his will to that of the Father, constitutes both the model and the path of authentic freedom for human beings. Obedience is not presented as a constraint, but as the very condition of true freedom, that of the heirs of the Kingdom. The contribution of the article lies in the rigorous articulation between Christology and anthropology, showing how ecclesial life enables Christians to participate concretely in this dynamic of conformity to the divine will.

This article by Father Christophe d'Aloisio offers a theological synthesis on the significance of the presbyteral ministry in the Orthodox Church. Belonging to the field of ecclesiological study, it examines the semantic ambiguity of the term "priest" in French, which encompasses both the sacerdotal dimension common to all the baptized and the specific function of the presbyter presiding over the Eucharist on behalf of the bishop. Drawing on the ecclesiological heritage of the Russian diaspora in Western Europe in the twentieth century, notably on the thought of Father Nicolas Afanassieff, the author develops a concelebrant conception of ordained ministry, in which the officiants always act in connection with the entire people of God. The article offers an original reflection on the role of the presbyteral college within the local Church, envisaged as a body capable of strengthening conciliarity and assisting the bishop in his governance, including during episcopal elections.