Category: Open Access Article

  • Aspects of the presence of the Aristotelian Logic in Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. The “middle places” according to Boethius and Holobolus

    by Terezis Athanasios: In this article, we discuss a particular aspect of the presence of the Aristotelian Logic –mainly based on the treatise Topics– in the Christianity of the West as well as in the Christianity of the East, with Boethius and Manuel Holobolus as representatives. As a reference text, we have Boethius’ treatise De topicis differentiis, which was translated into Greek, with certain adaptations and individual comments, by Manuel Holobolus.

    Open Access Article

     

  • Parallels between Maximus the Confessor and Vladimir Soloviev (1853-1900)

    by Paraskevi Zacahria: The philosophical thought of Vladimir Soloviev (1853-1900) does not appear to significantly abstain from the wholeness of humanity and the deification of human being that Maximus synthesises. In Maximus’ writings Christology is strongly bounded to love, under the soteriological meaning of Christ’s Incarnation. In Soloviev’s philosophical thought love plays the role of the cosmic power which, by transcending the historical process, leads the humanity to the deification.  This paper aims at the exegesis of the three-fold nature of love (love for one’s brothers, and self-love) in Maximus’ works, while discussing the points of convergence with Soloviev’s ontology of love in Smysl lyubvi (The Meaning of Love) (1892-1894).

    Open Access Article

     

  • Neoplatonic and Gnostic Resonances in the Martyrdom of Cyprian of Athenais Eudocia

    by Dendrinos Markos and Griva Anna: Aelia Eudocia Augusta (formerly Athenais), wife of the emperor Theodosius II, lives at the borderline between the ancient and the Christian world and writes one of the most distinctive poetic texts of Byzantine literature. In the Martyrdom of Cyprian, written in Homeric language, the Saint's past, when he was a magician and initiated into a multitude of Greek mysteries, is presented in an original and remarkable way. Within this text, the resonance of philosophical ideas originating from  Neoplatonism and Gnosticism is of particular interest.

    Open Access Article

     

  • Georges Pletho Gemistus: Reforming Byzantium at the edge of the cliff A short introduction to Pletho’s political thinking

    by Christias Panagiotis: Pletho’s turn to the ancient Gods and Plato signifies actually a turn to the future of the national State. A well-defended country is a well-organized one. In order to be well-organized, the government and administration should be founded on the general national interest, for only national ideology brings the necessary stability and moral force to the long battle for Greek national survival. No wonder that scholars such as Sathas and Zakythinos consider him to be the first of the moderns, putting in the centre of his universe his mystical ideal of στρατιῶται (soldiers).

    Open Access Article

     

  • The fascination of the West and the ambivalence of the Byzantines towards it through the case of Demetrios Kydones  

    By Tripoula Ioanna: This paper focuses on the case of the politician and scholar Demetrios Kydones as typical of the fascination that the West exerted on the Byzantines, but also of the ambivalence towards it. First, there is a brief overview of the events of his life, which encouraged his contact with the Latins. A more detailed reference was made to his translation, writing, and teaching. In our view, his provocative positions were the reason he had not received the recognition he deserved to this day.

    Open Access Article