TRANS-ECCLESIAL EUCHARIST? AN EXPLORATION OF SOME CRITIQUES OF EUCHARISTIC ECCLESIOLOGY AND THE OUTLINING OF POTENTIA NEW PATHS

• Main Author: Theodor Avramov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and Culture of Romanian People (ASTRA), Năsăud Department, Salva Circle 2019-07-01
• Series: Astra Salvensis
• Subjects: Eucharistic ecclesiology; Zizioulas; monosacramentality; personhood; limits of the church
• Online Access: https://astrasalvensis.eu/blog/mdocs-posts/28-theodor-avramov-trans-ecclesial-eucharist-an-exploration-of-some-critiques-of-eucharistic-ecclesiology-and-the-outlining-of-potential-new-paths/

Eucharistic ecclesiology has emerged during the 20th century as the ecclesiology of the Orthodox Church. Its roots can be traced back to the generation of Russian émigré theologians, but its current state has been mainly influenced by the work of Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Zizioulas). During the more than fifty years that have passed since his initial formulation of the idea, it has also managed to accumulate quite a number of supporters, as well as critics. In this text, I will not try only to systematize some of the critiques, but also to suggest that the key is not understanding the Church, but the Eucharist, while trying to avoid the objectification that the Sacrament of Sacraments has been subjected to. I do this while using the ecumenical work on ecclesiology and its reception by the Orthodox as a guideline.