Spunti di ecclesiologia nel pensiero di Dumitru Stăniloae

Abstract

Stăniloae’s ecclesiological approach is a part of the broader perspective of Eastern theology, known as theosis, that is, the participation of humanity renewed in Christ in divine life. The theandric constitution of the Church results from the meeting of the divine-trinitarian foundation with the natural-human one. This means that the Church has an „objective-divine” and a „subjective-human” aspect. The Church is the body of Christ not only because Christ has made his home in her, but also because through her he continues his threefold ministry of High Priest, Prophet and King. In exercising these three munera, Christ does not look at the Church as a passive „object”, but as a partner who responds freely to his call. The royal priesthood of the faithful therefore consists in participation in the three munera of Christ. The mission of sacred ministers consists above all in „objectively” mediating the presence of Christ the Mediator with the Father and in making present for all people, of every place and every time, the sacrifice of Christ, making them participate in it. The ministerial priesthood highlights the theandric reality of the Church and the value of the human person for the salvation of others. This formal responsibility of sacred ministers, which is exercised in a spirit of communion between them and the ecclesial people, is manifested in the celebration of the sacraments, the proclamation of the word and the pastoral guidance of the faithful. The presence of the ministerial priesthood in the Church, according to Stăniloae, represents a confirmation of the real Incarnation of the Son of God and of his quality as Mediator of humanity before God.

Keywords

• Orthodox ecclesiology
• the three munera of Christ in the Church
• the common priesthood of the faithful
• the ministerial priesthood
• visible character of the Church