QUESTION:
2/15/2010: In his book "Orthodoxy and Philosophy" Constantine Cavarnos, one of the great Orthodox thinkers of today, shows how some of the Church fathers were influenced by Greek philosophy (e.g. Justin Martyr, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, etc.). Did some of the teachings of the Orthodox Church come from Greek philosophy, particularly Platonism and Neoplatonism? |
ANSWER:
This is very unlikely, although Greek Orthodox Christians tend - being Greek and fond of Hellenism - to appreciate and emphasize the possible connections. Orthodox Christianity rejects most of the tenets of Platonism and Neo-Platonism, but it does not mean that certain valid insights are not retained. St Justin taught, rightly, that the seeds of Truth (Logos Spermatikos) have been scattered by the Holy Spirit at all times and in all places. This is why St Nicholas of Zica could even pray:
"The wise man of China admonishes my soul to be peaceful and still, and to wait for Tao to act within her. Glory be the memory of Lao-tse, the teacher and prophet of his people!
The wise man of India teaches my soul not to be afraid of suffering, but through the arduous and relentless drilling in purification and prayer to elevate herself to the One on high, who will come out to greet her and manifest to her His face and His power. Glorious be the memory of Krishna, the teacher and prophet of his people!
The royal son of India teaches my soul to empty herself completely of every seed and crop of the world, to abandon all the serpentine allurements of frail and shadowy matter, and then in vacuity, tranquillity, purity and bliss to await nirvana. Blessed be the memory of Buddha, the royal son and inexorable teacher of his people!
The thunderous wise man of Persia tells my soul that there is nothing in the world except light and darkness, and that the soul must break free from the darkness as the day does from the night. For the sons of light are conceived from the light, and the sons of darkness are conceived from darkness. Glorious be the memory of Zoroaster, the great prophet of his people!"
This is quite biblical (Amos 9, Malachi 1, Acts 17). |
