Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology
The question of the realisation of primacy in the ancient Church has been mainly studied from the point of view of the ecclesiological and politico-ecclesiastical foundations of this phenomenon. In this paper, the author approaches the problem of primacy from a different point of view and focuses on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Russian |
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St. Tikhon's Orthodox University
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi |
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| Online Access: | https://periodical.pstgu.ru/ru/pdf/article/7414 |
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| author | Georgy Zakharov |
| author_facet | Georgy Zakharov |
| author_sort | Georgy Zakharov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The question of the realisation of primacy in the ancient Church has been mainly studied from the point of view of the ecclesiological and politico-ecclesiastical foundations of this phenomenon. In this paper, the author approaches the problem of primacy from a different point of view and focuses on its functional content. In the author’s interpretation, primacy is an important instrument for the conversion of the diachronic unity of the Church, that is to say, of the permanent identity between the historical Church and the primitive apostolic community, into synchronic unity, realised in the communion of the members of the Church, with one another, and with Christ. The analysis of the patristic and conciliar texts of the Early Christian period gives us the possibility to distinguish fi ve functions of the ecclesiastical primacy with their own limits of implementation and theological justifi cation: 1. sacramental and pastoral ministry in the local Church; 2. preservation and diff usion of the apostolic tradition; 3. demarcation of the Catholic Church from the schismatic communities; 4. regional episcopal consolidation; 5. universal solicitude (integral function). Although the Byzantine ecclesiological tradition did not accept the Roman monocentric model, the idea of universal solicitude is developed within the framework of the pentarchic model of the Church. This research as a whole shows that the idea of apostolicity was not the only one of the possible ideological justifi cations for the primacy. It was its necessary foundation, because the synchronic unity of the Church is unthinkable without diachronic one. This conclusion encourages to pay particular attention to apostolicity in contemporary ecclesiological discussions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:19:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-954011ed541946b09af006137acdc0cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1991-6434 2409-4811 |
| language | Russian |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:19:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | St. Tikhon's Orthodox University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi |
| spelling | doaj.art-954011ed541946b09af006137acdc0cd2023-03-08T10:41:26ZrusSt. Tikhon's Orthodox UniversityVestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi1991-64342409-48112021-12-0198982846http://dx.doi.org/10.15382/sturII202198.28-467Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typologyGeorgy Zakharov0St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University; 23b, Novokuznetskaya st., Moscow 115184, Russian FederationThe question of the realisation of primacy in the ancient Church has been mainly studied from the point of view of the ecclesiological and politico-ecclesiastical foundations of this phenomenon. In this paper, the author approaches the problem of primacy from a different point of view and focuses on its functional content. In the author’s interpretation, primacy is an important instrument for the conversion of the diachronic unity of the Church, that is to say, of the permanent identity between the historical Church and the primitive apostolic community, into synchronic unity, realised in the communion of the members of the Church, with one another, and with Christ. The analysis of the patristic and conciliar texts of the Early Christian period gives us the possibility to distinguish fi ve functions of the ecclesiastical primacy with their own limits of implementation and theological justifi cation: 1. sacramental and pastoral ministry in the local Church; 2. preservation and diff usion of the apostolic tradition; 3. demarcation of the Catholic Church from the schismatic communities; 4. regional episcopal consolidation; 5. universal solicitude (integral function). Although the Byzantine ecclesiological tradition did not accept the Roman monocentric model, the idea of universal solicitude is developed within the framework of the pentarchic model of the Church. This research as a whole shows that the idea of apostolicity was not the only one of the possible ideological justifi cations for the primacy. It was its necessary foundation, because the synchronic unity of the Church is unthinkable without diachronic one. This conclusion encourages to pay particular attention to apostolicity in contemporary ecclesiological discussions.https://periodical.pstgu.ru/ru/pdf/article/7414early christianity primacy roman church pentarchy apostolic succession ecclesiology church organizationраннее христианство примат/первенство римская церковь пентархия апостольское преемство экклезиология церковная организация |
| spellingShingle | Georgy Zakharov Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi early christianity primacy roman church pentarchy apostolic succession ecclesiology church organization раннее христианство примат/первенство римская церковь пентархия апостольское преемство экклезиология церковная организация |
| title | Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology |
| title_full | Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology |
| title_fullStr | Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology |
| title_short | Primacy in the Ancient Church (from the 2nd to the mid-5th century): a study in typology |
| title_sort | primacy in the ancient church from the 2nd to the mid 5th century a study in typology |
| topic | early christianity primacy roman church pentarchy apostolic succession ecclesiology church organization раннее христианство примат/первенство римская церковь пентархия апостольское преемство экклезиология церковная организация |
| url | https://periodical.pstgu.ru/ru/pdf/article/7414 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgyzakharov primacyintheancientchurchfromthe2ndtothemid5thcenturyastudyintypology |