Lars Thunberg

This article by Lars Thunberg examines the contribution of Paul Evdokimov (1901-1970) to twentieth-century ecumenical theology, based on a close reading of his published works and unpublished manuscripts. The study adopts an analytical and thematic approach, organized around the central concepts of Evdokimov's thought. The main idea is that Evdokimov developed an original ecumenical vision articulated around the "mystery of disunion," conceived as the paradoxical face of the mystery of ecclesial unity. This vision, deeply epicletic and eschatological, distinguishes an interior ecumenism — grounded in conversion, prayer, and internalized monastic spirituality — from an exterior ecumenism engaging the Churches as concrete communities. The theological contribution of the article lies in highlighting the singularity of Evdokimov as a lay Orthodox theologian, capable of presenting the Eastern Tradition as a demanding alternative to interconfessional dialogue, while integrating themes such as the *filioque*, mariology, feminism, and iconography into a coherent ecumenical synthesis.