Spring 2013 Issue of LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies

I've just finished the first review of edits to the upcoming spring issue of LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies.  We are pleased to feature three substantial articles, several shorter essays, and of course the usual array of books featured on here.

Articles:
Nicholas Denysenko (whom I interviewed here about his new book) has an article “Fractured Orthodoxy in Ukraine and Politics: the Impact of Patriarch Kirill's 'Russian World.'” Here is the abstract for the article:

This article analyzes the intersection of “church” and “state” in Ukraine and the many complexities of a situation involving a multiplicity of both ecclesial and political actors: in the latter category, both Russia and Ukraine itself, in the context of a globalized world; in the former category the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate; the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (in both pre- and post-war iterations); the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church; and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate. Adding to the complexity of these relations among these churches and between these states is a new theopolitical ideology being sponsored by the current Patriarch Kiril of Moscow under the heading of a “Russian world,” which is supposed to unite at least East-Slavic Orthodoxy (if not other Orthodox Churches) and their host countries against the perceived threats of “Western” globalization. This “Russian world” is analyzed here for what it says, what reactions it has evoked among the four major churches in Ukraine; and for it might portend for Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and well as relations between Moscow and Constantinople in the ongoing struggle for understanding of global primacy among Orthodox hierarchs

Walter Sisto has an article "On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit: Sergius Bulgakov and the Theotokos." Here is the article's abstract:

The pneumatology and Mariology of Sergius Bulgakov, widely believed to be the most important Russian theologian of the twentieth century, is here examined to discover the links between the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God, and the implications for the divinization of humanity, especially as we share in the sufferings of Mary and Christ, and “so complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” These connections are developed in Bulgakov’s controversial sophiology whose development and implications for both Trinitarian theology and ecumenical methodology are discussed.

Robert Slesinski has an article also on Bulgakov: The Role and Meaning of Miracles and Relics in the Christological Thought of Sergius Bulgakov." Here is the abstract:

Bulgakov’s Christology (particularly in his recently translated The Lamb of God) is here examined for what it says about miracles and relics, including the relics of the bodies of saints and the body of Christ himself, both of which are treated by Bulgakov not as mere “corpses” but as still life-bearing bodies capable of resurrection. In addition, the category of miracle in Bulgakov is larger than healings or other manifestations of divine power: the very creation of the world is itself a miracle, and considered by Bulgakov in a teleological fashion in the context of Divine Providence. In this context, miracles are seen by Bulgakov not as violations of some material-spiritual boundary but as the singular outworking of divine purpose in the world. Miracles are given not to overwhelm or coerce people into belief, but entirely as invitations to follow Christ and share in the glorification of the Father. All this is tied into a unique and challenging discussion about the dyophysite nature of Christ and the relation in Him of His two natures, especially in their encountering death.

We are also publishing several shorter pieces in our Notes/Essays/Lectures category, and here we include:

Stephen Muse:

Muse is a marriage and family therapist (whom I interviewed here about his recent book) authors "Transfiguring Voluptuous Choice: An Eastern Orthodox Approach to Marriage as Spiritual Path." The article is a lyrical meditation on the mystery of marriage in light of Scripture, the Fathers (especially St. Irenaeus of Lyons), and contemporary experience.

Gregory Jensen:

Jensen authors "Reclaiming Psychology?" This review essay discusses a number of recent books in psychology and Orthodox spirituality, including Muse's When Hearts Become Flame as well as Alexis Trader, Ancient Christian Wisdom and Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy: A Meeting of Minds (2012).  Jensen's is a careful sifting of a good deal of psychology, from Freud onward, to see how various Christian authors, Catholics as well as Orthodox, have tried to make sense of it and, in professional clinical settings, make use of it where possible. In addition, he also looks at a number of recent attempts to integrate Christianity with psychology, and what remains in this project.

Seraphim Danckaert:

A doctoral student, Danckaert authors "The Body of the Living Christ: The Patristic Doctrine of the Church: Report on a Recent Symposium at Princeton University and Seminary." The report gives short a short précis of several speakers at the conference, including such well known names as Edith Humphrey (whom I interviewed here about her 2011 book, and whom I will interview again later this year about her most recent book); John Behr; and others. Danckaert skillfully situates each paper in the context of Florovsky's life and thought, about which you may read in more detail in Andrew Blane's biography Georges Florovsky: Russian Intellectual and Orthodox Churchman.

Book Reviews:
Nicholas Denysenko reviews the translation by Fritz West (whom I interviewed here about this book) of Anton Baumstark, On the Historical Development of the Liturgy.

Thomas Weinandy reviews Khaled Anatolios (whom I interviewed here, and whose book I discussed in some detail here), Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine.

Jack Turner reviews two new books, both dealing with Orthodoxy and science, one of which was featured here in an interview with the editors: Science and Eastern Orthodoxy: From the Greek Fathers to the Age of Globalization and Science and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Notre Dame's David Fagerberg reviews William Mills' latest book, Church, World, and Kingdom: The Eucharistic Foundation of Alexander Schmemann's Pastoral Theology.

Matthew Levering reviews Marcus Plested's superb new book (discussed here; interview with author here) Orthodox Readings of Aquinas.

Michael Plekon reviews Diana Butler Bass, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening.  Plekon also reviews Lilian Daniel's When "Spiritual but Not Religious" Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church.

David Bertaina (whom I interviewed here) reviews two books about Eastern Christians farther east than Byzantium: the Persian and Syriac traditions. The first Bertaina reviews is a Festschrift for the lovely and superb scholar Sidney Griffith (author of the enormously valuable study The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque: Christians and Muslims in the World of Islam), who was Bertaina's own Doktorvater: To Train His Soul in Books: Syriac Asceticism in Early Christianity.

Bertaina also reviews, not uncritically, a study by David Wilmshurst, The Martyred Church: a History of the Church of the East.

Given these vast riches (and more to come in a fall issue that is already full!), what prevents you from subscribing today?