Title: On the Interpretation of the Theory of Perpetual Progress (<i>epektasis</i>). Taking into Account the Testimony of Eastern Monastic Tradition
Abstract: This essay proposes a critical assessment of modern interpretations of Gregory of Nyssa’s theory of perpetual progress, by examining the way in which his theory appears to have been echoed in some significant authors from Greek monastic tradition. It starts from the fact that a number of these interpretations have been articulated in reaction to Jean Daniélou’s monograph Platonisme et théologie mystique (1944), by criticising his mystical understanding of perpetual progress as being erroneous and anachronistic. In the first part, it is argued that Daniélou’s interpretation largely finds support in Nyssen’s texts, and, in addition, it fits well with the general drift of his thought. The second part considers a number of texts taken from three important authors belonging to Eastern monastic tradition: (Pseudo-)Macarius, Symeon the New Theologian and John Climacus. While admitting that not all of the historical analogies chosen by Daniélou were the most obvious ones, it is pointed out, however, that these authors express in clearly mystical terms a theory very similar to Gregory’s. So, from the perspective of Greek monastic tradition, it appears that the interpretation of Nyssen’s epektasis advocated by the French scholar could hardly be regarded as anachronistic.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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