scholarly journals The Artistic Symbolism of the Chapel’s Lost Interior of the Greek-Catholic Theological Academy in Lviv

2019 ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
Roksolana Avdykovych
Keyword(s):  
Church Leaders ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Interior Decoration ◽  
Artistic Style ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Interior Spaces ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Church

This paper looks at the artistic design of the chapel of the Greek Catholic Seminary in Lviv that was created after the earlier church was destructed in the military events of 1918. Articles in press written after the ceremony of the consecration, the records of greeting speeches of the church leaders who attended the ceremony, and the essays of art critics provide an important insight into the iconographical programme of the chapel and its functioning as the scared space. Rare photographs of iconostasis and photo-fixations of different stages of the interior decoration supplement the narrative sources. Fragments of the iconostasis are stored in the funds of the National Museum in Lviv. These are the works of Petro Kholodnyi the Elder that managed to survive through the destruction of ‘risky’ artworks of 1952. The wall paintings were bleached during the Soviet period, and currently, they cannot be seen, which complicates the research. In this essay, I seek to reveal the initial intentions of the chapel’s patrons and to highlight how the restored interior serves their educational and ideological purposes. I shall discuss the use of symbols of early Christian or Ukrainian origin through the methodological lenses of Yu. Lotman’s theory on construction of interior spaces, semiospheres and their boundaries, A. Lidov’s concept of hierotopy. I shall address the use of particular symbols and signs and their role and provide explanatory texts from the Bible in order to trace their origin. Particular attention shall be paid to the patron’s understanding and articulation of the main purposes of sacral art and to the impact their understanding might have had on the artistic style. Thus, I shall focus on the use of the elements of Byzantine style in decoration of the chapel, for this style was of primary importance for church leaders and artists involved.

scholarly journals “Varii errores qui ab origine mundi emerserunt”. The semantic scope of the term “heresy” in Philastrius’ of Brescia Diversarum hereseon liber

Vox Patrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 315-325
Author(s):  
Mariusz Szram
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Rule Of Faith ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
Semantic Scope

The bishop of Brescia, Philastrius, author of the first Latin catalogue of he­resies, written between 380 and 388, presented in his treaty an extremely large number of heterodox movements: 28 within Judaism and 128 in early Christianity. This comes as a result of a wide understanding of the term heresis. For Philastrius this term was synonymous with the term error, recognized as any deviation from the universal truth in the history of the world, inspired by Satan as “the father of lies”, ocurring primarily in Judaism and Christianity. Among the early Christian views defined by the bishop of Brescia as heresy five groups can be distinguished. The first group includes mainly the erroneous views on fundamental theological questions contained in the rule of faith, such as the concept of a creator God and saviour Jesus Christ. The second set of he­resies, closely related with the previous one, contains the erroneous doctrines of anthropology, such as questioning the resurrection of the human body or the view of the materiality of the human soul. The third group includes the views related to the misinterpretation of Scripture, especially exaggerated literal interpretations of the texts of the Old Testament, as well as the cosmological views which do not agree with descriptions contained within the Bible. The fourth group contains the moral issues related to the based on laxism or rigorism way of life, as well as to the attitude of lack of deference to the laws of the Church, but non-threatening the primary truths of the Christian faith. The fifth group of heresies includes the movements defined by the authors of the late patristic period as a schizm, while the term schisma is not at all used by the bishop of Brescia in his work. The semantic scope of the term heresis in Philastrius’ treaty went beyond the noncompliance with the regula fidei. According to the bishop of Brescia each offense – whether in doctrinal teaching or practice of life, as well as with regard to the understanding of the text of Scripture – is a heresy because it offends God and the Church. Therefore, in Philastrius opinion one should not differentiate between superior and minor error, but equally condemn them as attitudes directed against God as the Father of Truth.

scholarly journals An attack on the Cross: Spiritual leaders’ accounts of fear and resilience during COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mammusa Rosinah Lekoa ◽  
Sibusiso Louis Ntuli
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Spiritual Leaders ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
The Face ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Church

This paper provides accounts on the impact that COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown(s) had on the Church and its leaders in the South African context. The study explores challenges that the leaders faced and how they dealt with them to remain standing despite their fears. The context is COVID-19 pandemic, which brought mass deaths, fear, confusion and frustration to congregations globally. Church leaders faced a challenge to show resilience amid fear because they too were directly affected. Governments introduced regulations that imposed lockdowns to control the spread of the virus. Limiting contact by restricting distance amongst citizens. The church was one sector that could not operate. Although some sectors were never declared essential services like churches, this left vulnerable communities without support in the face of fear. Spiritual leaders had to demonstrate resilience to support the congregants. The key question the researchers seek to understand is to what extent did the church remain resilient during COVID-19 pandemic? And how did the church leaders deal with fear despite anointing and expectations from the congregants and communities? A qualitative approach was used in this study. COVID-19 has shown that Church leaders are humans and they are also fearful, however their faith in God has assisted them to show resilience even at this difficult time. The study also asserts that governments should consult different groupings of faith-based organisations, not only those that are under organised bodies before embarking on restrictions for pandemic control. Communities encompass many churches and leaders require support to assist them from church members.

scholarly journals A critical analysis of tithe and seed sowing on contemporary Christianity in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys N. Akabike ◽  
Peace N. Ngwoke ◽  
Onyekachi G. Chukwuma
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Poverty Rate ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
Seed Sowing ◽  
Sowing Seed ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
Venture Business ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Church

The issues of tithes and seed sowing have taken a central focus in contemporary Christianity in Nigeria among the preachers. Many a time, it is assumed that tithes and seed sowing are requirements for salvation, prosperity and total well-being of the members. Making many to believe that Christianity is a money-venture business one can succeed if he knows how to hoodwink the gullible. Many have been deceived that by parting with a substantial amount of money in the name of sowing seed, their problems would be solved. Unfortunately, the person’s problem may remain the same or even be compounded. This paper evaluates the activities, attitude and their inordinate ambitions. It examines the impact of tithe and seed sowing on Christianity in Nigeria. The research method adopted for this work is the qualitative phenomenological method. The paper observed that the value of tithe and seed sowing has changed from what is prescribed in the bible to what is preached on the pulpits. The study recommends among other things, that these preachers should preach the gospel with decorum and as it were in the bible so that its influence on Nigerians will bring about a reduction in crime, corruption and other immoral activities in Nigeria.Contribution: The article is focused on the issues of tithes and seed sowing. It underscores the fact that the message of tithe and seed sowing has become a means of siphoning members and enriching the preachers. It further reveals its negative and positive impacts such as, the promotion of corruption and fraud in the church and society, contribution to the decline of morality in the church and the society, increasing crime rate and increasing poverty rate in Nigeria among others.

scholarly journals Herezje wczesnochrześcijańskie – zagadnienia wprowadzające

Vox Patrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 7-20
Author(s):  
Bogdan Czyżewski
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Times ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Church

In the times of the Church Fathers the notion of heresy was related to the false doctrine what became the cause of derogations from the unity of the Church. It was a false tenet about God, hence the Fathers of the Church tried to define not only mistakes created within the Church, but also to develop orthodox doctrine. Due to the vastness of the this subject authors and texts defining heresies were se­lected. Firstly, attention was drawn on the Greek term a†resij contained in pagan literature and the writings of the New Testament, which allowed to see what was the impact, especially the biblical definition of heresy, on the understanding of the early Christian writers, especially before the first Council of Nice in 325. It was also necessary to ask about the origin of heresy and its characteristics. Fathers af­firmed unequivocally that their creation were associated mainly with making the wrong choices. The result of this were incorrect relations of heretics to the truth and to the Church, wrong image of God and abiding in stubbornness. Fathers also attempted to define more precisely the scope of meaning of schism and heresy, which are concepts often used as synonyms.

scholarly journals THE PILGRIMAGE OF WEALTHY PIOUS CHRISTIAN WOMEN FROM ROME TO THE HOLY LAND IN THE FOURTH TO SIXTH CENTURIES AD

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-65
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Holy Land ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Christian Women ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Holy Places ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Church

This study examines the pilgrimage of Christian women ascetics in the early Christian period from the fourth to sixth centuries AD, focusing on wealthy Roman women who were influenced by the Church Fathers, such as Jerome and left their world, freedom, family and social class. They sold their properties in order to come to the Holy Land (the Land of the Bible) to visit the holy places and the desert hermits and to build monasteries, hospitals, hospices, orphanages and accomodations for old people through the Holy Land. The pilgrimage of women ascetics was a characteristic feature of the period. In spite of the difficult journey, these ascetic women came to fulfill their religious and spiritual needs. These women have been remembered throughout the ages for their faith, piety, tenderness, purity and devotion and have served as role models for women after them. This study examines the concept of pilgrimage in Christianity and the pilgrimage of the women ascetics and their religious and social accomplishments in the Holy Land.

The Mountain and the Flower: The Power and Potential of Nature in the World of Victorian Evangelicalism

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Smith
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Oxford Movement ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
High Church ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Church ◽  
Church Tradition

In the middle decades of the nineteenth century a new wind could be felt rustling in the branches of the Church of England. The transforming effect of the Oxford Movement on the High Church tradition is the most prominent example of this phenomenon but also well established in the literature are the transformations in contemporary Anglican Evangelicalism. David Bebbington in particular has stressed the impact of Romanticism as a cultural mood within the movement, tracing its effects in a heightened supernaturalism, a preoccupation with the Second Advent and with holiness which converged at Keswick, and also an emphasis on the discernment of spiritual significance in nature. But how did this emphasis play out in the lives of Evangelicals in the second half of the century and how might it have served their mission to society? This paper seeks to address the evangelical understanding of both the power and potential of nature through the example of one prominent Anglican clergyman, William Pennefather, and one little-known evangelical initiative, the Bible Flower Mission.

New directions in early Christian hermeneutics and distanciation

Theology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 424-431
Author(s):  
Benjamin Sargent
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
New Directions ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Church

Distanciation is arguably the most important hermeneutical issue concerning the interpretation of the Bible in the Church today. After describing some recent contributions to the problem of distanciation, this article seeks to explore distanciation theologically with the help of hermeneutical insights from research into the earliest Christian interpretation of the Bible: the use of Scripture in the New Testament.

scholarly journals The Influence Of The Leadership And Character Of A Pastor On The Spiritual Growth Of The Congregation At The GPdI Alfa Omega Church.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-18
Author(s):  
Setya Hari Purnomo ◽  
Daniel Ari Wibowo
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Human Being ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
Christian Leader ◽  
The Church

Leadership is a task given by Jesus Christ to Christians through His Church. Leaders are needed by every human being to achieve happiness and prosperity in all fields. Thus the Church has an important role in improving leadership for the spiritual growth of God's congregation because through qualified leaders people can understand correctly how to actually follow God. With this quality leader, people can understand who and for what God created them. Seeing the existence of a congregation that always needs guidance in spiritual growth, and that requires someone who can accompany The congregation is a leader or shepherd who is often referred to as the Pastor of the congregation. And not many Christian ministers or often referred to as Congregational Pastors have these criteria. So that they cannot be an example in the lives of the people they lead. So there are criteria set out in the Bible to become a Christian leader with quality and character. A leader is someone who deserves to be a role model for others because the leader has good character and becomes a leader blessing for the church he leads.

scholarly journals Clapping In Seventh-Day Adventist Worship

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Max H. Wauran
Keyword(s):  
Church Leaders ◽  
Seventh Day Adventist ◽  
Controversial Issue ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Christian Worship ◽  
The Right ◽  
Supporting Materials ◽  
The Church

Clapping is considered as a media of praise and thanks in Christian worship. Some give space to this practice while other reject it. This article tried to identify the biblical foundation of these ideas, and was carried out through the following phases: formulating the problem, preparing the title, and searching the related supporting materials in the library research and electronic facilities. The research focused on three main aspects: the clapping in the Bible, the Christian and practice of clapping in worship services, and clapping in Seventh-day Adventist Church.  It is found that there is no Bible text and theological evidence which support the practice of clapping in the place of worship, in other words clapping in the church services is unbiblical, and for this reason clapping in Seventh-day Adventists worship services is not necessary. Instead of clapping, the use of amen is suggested in responding the message or musical presentation. Since clapping has become controversial issue in Adventist worship services, the church leaders need to instruct and guide the church members to the right understanding of clapping.   Keywords: clapping; applaus; worship; praise

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