Nicolas Lossky

Nicolas Lossky, French Orthodox theologian and major figure in ecumenical dialogue in the twentieth century, offers in this text a personal account of his involvement in the ecumenical movement. Written between 2012 and the final days of his life, this previously unpublished document constitutes an autobiographical narrative tracing the stages and the stakes of his participation in the bodies of interconfessional dialogue, notably from the perspective of the Orthodox Church in France. The central idea is that of a critical and lucid reflection on the advances, the limitations, and the tensions inherent in the contemporary ecumenical movement. On the theological and historical level, this testimony provides a firsthand perspective on the way in which a Western Orthodox Christian experienced and thought about the encounter between Christian traditions, thus offering a valuable source for the history of ecumenism within French-speaking Orthodoxy.

This article by Nicolas Lossky focuses on the Council of Florence (1438-1439), convened with the aim of establishing a union between the Churches of East and West. Written in the context of a colloquium commemorating the 550th anniversary of this council, the study analyzes the theological climate that prevailed there, with particular attention to the debates surrounding the Filioque. The author shows that the exchanges between Latin and Greek theologians were deeply marked by mutual misunderstandings, rooted in divergent doctrinal presuppositions and conceptual frameworks. The main contribution of the article lies in its historical contextualization of these tensions: by reconstructing the intellectual conditions of the fifteenth-century dialogue, Lossky opens the way for a reflection on the contemporary theological advances that the question of the Filioque makes conceivable today in the perspective of ecumenical rapprochement.

Nicolas Lossky examines the question of humanism from the perspective of Orthodox Christian theology, in response to the tensions arising from the confrontation of contemporary Orthodoxy with certain modern values, particularly the notion of human rights. Through a fundamental theological reflection, the author questions the reluctance observed within certain Orthodox circles toward these values and seeks to move beyond surface-level oppositions. The central idea is that of a "theocentric humanism," characteristic of the Orthodox tradition, which places God at the foundation of human dignity. The contribution of this article lies in its attempt to build a constructive dialogue between Orthodox thought and Western rationality, by identifying possible points of convergence rather than insisting on doctrinal or cultural incompatibilities.

This article by Nicolas Lossky focuses on Christian marriage considered both as a sacrament of the Church and as a reality lived out on a daily basis. Drawing on a pastoral and theological approach, it seeks to articulate the sacramental dimension of marriage with the concrete demands of conjugal and family life. The central idea is that marriage constitutes, for Christian spouses, a path of anticipated experience of the Kingdom of God, accessible from earthly existence onward. The contribution of the article lies in the way it translates an Orthodox ecclesiology of marriage into accessible terms rooted in contemporaneity, illustrated by examples drawn from ordinary life. In doing so, Lossky contributes to renewing reflection on Orthodox sacramental theology by showing how the sacrament of marriage engages the totality of human existence within an eschatological perspective.

This article by Nicolas Lossky examines the notion of fidelity to the Orthodox faith from an ecumenical and pneumatological perspective. Belonging to the realm of theological reflection, it questions what it means to remain faithful to the patristic heritage while engaging in authentic dialogue with other Christians. The central idea is that the reception of the faith of the Fathers cannot be purely repetitive or static: it implies a living dynamic, made possible by the action of the Holy Spirit, which calls believers to a synergic collaboration. The theological contribution of this text lies in the articulation between doctrinal rigor and openness to dialogue, showing that Orthodox fidelity is not synonymous with immobility, but presupposes a responsible creativity in the transmission and witness of the faith to the contemporary world.