Filip Ivanovic
University of Montenegro, Institute of Advanced Studies, Faculty Member
- Center for Hellenic Studies, Montenegro, Philosophy, Faculty MemberKU Leuven, Faculty of Arts - Greek Studies, Post-Doc, and 4 moreadd
- Medieval Philosophy, Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine Iconography, Byzantine Philosophy, Philosophy, Christology, and 18 moreLate Antiquity, Orthodox Theology, Patristics, Byzantine Studies, Ancient Philosophy, Doctrine of God, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, Pseudo-Dionysius, Neoplatonism, Greek Patristics, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Neoplatonism and late antique philosophy, Plato, Philosophical Theology, Plato and Platonism, Byzantium, and Classicsedit
- Dr Filip Ivanović holds BA and MA degrees from the Department of Philosophy of the University of Bologna and a PhD fr... moreDr Filip Ivanović holds BA and MA degrees from the Department of Philosophy of the University of Bologna and a PhD from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Currently he is assistant research professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Montenegro.
He is also the founder and executive director of the Center for Hellenic Studies, and editor in chief of "Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies". In past years, he worked as a research fellow at the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem, guest lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, research fellow at the Department of Greek Studies of the University of Leuven, and assistant professor at the University of Donja Gorica. He spent research periods at the University of Aarhus and at Norwegian Institute in Athens (as a fellow of the Onassis Foundation).
Dr Ivanović is the author of "Desiring the Beautiful: The Erotic-Aesthetic Dimension of Deification in Dionysius the Areopagite and Maximus the Confessor" (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2019) and "Symbol and Icon: Dionysius the Areopagite and the Iconoclastic Crisis" (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2010), as well as of dozens of articles and papers published in edited volumes and academic journals.
His research interests include Greek and Byzantine philosophy, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and patristics.edit
This book: Examines the legacy of Pseudo-Dionysius and his impact on the development of Christian visual culture Explores the relation of the Dionysian philosophical system to the materiality and visualization of the world Crosses... more
This book:
Examines the legacy of Pseudo-Dionysius and his impact on the development of Christian visual culture
Explores the relation of the Dionysian philosophical system to the materiality and visualization of the world
Crosses perceived disciplinary boundaries in a constructive and fruitful way, bringing together theologians, art historians, and literary scholars
This book uses Pseudo-Dionysius and his mystic theology to explore attitudes and beliefs about images in the early medieval West and Byzantium. Composed in the early sixth century, the Corpus Dionysiacum, the collection of texts transmitted under the name of Dionysius the Areopagite, developed a number of themes which have a predominantly visual and spatial dimension. Pseudo-Dionysius’ contribution to the development of Christian visual culture, visual thinking and figural art-making are examined in this book to systematically investigate his long- lasting legacy and influence. The contributors embrace religious studies, philosophy, theology, art, and architectural history, to consider the depth of the interaction between the Corpus Dionysiacum and various aspects of contemporary Byzantine and western cultures, including ecclesiastical and lay power, politics, religion, and art.
Endorsements from the back cover:
“This highly sophisticated collection of essays reveals the intricacies and relevance of (Pseudo-) Dionysius’ thoughts for the church, understood both as a community of the faithful and a place of worship. Interdisciplinary but focused, these erudite essays confirm the semantic and visual complexities of Dionysius’ concepts.”
—Jelena Bogdanović, Associate Professor, Iowa State University, USA
“This important study of the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius demonstrates for the first time the visual thinking at the core of his theology and how it decisively shaped the art and architecture of Late Antiquity. By putting the visual dimension at the foreground, this compelling book builds a bridge that connects our present culture of the image to the past.”
—Bissera V. Pentcheva, Professor of Art History, Stanford University, USA
“This book is a welcome addition to the study of the Areopagite’s influence on Christian iconography and aesthetics. Across various media and discourses, Dionysius’s unique contribution to the Byzantine theology of the image is presented in a series of richly perceptive and constructive readings.”
—Fr Maximos Constas, Senior Research Scholar, Holy Cross School of Theology, USA
Examines the legacy of Pseudo-Dionysius and his impact on the development of Christian visual culture
Explores the relation of the Dionysian philosophical system to the materiality and visualization of the world
Crosses perceived disciplinary boundaries in a constructive and fruitful way, bringing together theologians, art historians, and literary scholars
This book uses Pseudo-Dionysius and his mystic theology to explore attitudes and beliefs about images in the early medieval West and Byzantium. Composed in the early sixth century, the Corpus Dionysiacum, the collection of texts transmitted under the name of Dionysius the Areopagite, developed a number of themes which have a predominantly visual and spatial dimension. Pseudo-Dionysius’ contribution to the development of Christian visual culture, visual thinking and figural art-making are examined in this book to systematically investigate his long- lasting legacy and influence. The contributors embrace religious studies, philosophy, theology, art, and architectural history, to consider the depth of the interaction between the Corpus Dionysiacum and various aspects of contemporary Byzantine and western cultures, including ecclesiastical and lay power, politics, religion, and art.
Endorsements from the back cover:
“This highly sophisticated collection of essays reveals the intricacies and relevance of (Pseudo-) Dionysius’ thoughts for the church, understood both as a community of the faithful and a place of worship. Interdisciplinary but focused, these erudite essays confirm the semantic and visual complexities of Dionysius’ concepts.”
—Jelena Bogdanović, Associate Professor, Iowa State University, USA
“This important study of the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius demonstrates for the first time the visual thinking at the core of his theology and how it decisively shaped the art and architecture of Late Antiquity. By putting the visual dimension at the foreground, this compelling book builds a bridge that connects our present culture of the image to the past.”
—Bissera V. Pentcheva, Professor of Art History, Stanford University, USA
“This book is a welcome addition to the study of the Areopagite’s influence on Christian iconography and aesthetics. Across various media and discourses, Dionysius’s unique contribution to the Byzantine theology of the image is presented in a series of richly perceptive and constructive readings.”
—Fr Maximos Constas, Senior Research Scholar, Holy Cross School of Theology, USA
Research Interests:
Desiring the Beautiful studies the concept of deification, theosis, in two of the most influential early Christian philosopher-theologians, who might be considered as theoretical consolidators of the idea of theosis, and argues that the... more
Desiring the Beautiful studies the concept of deification, theosis, in two of the most influential early Christian philosopher-theologians, who might be considered as theoretical consolidators of the idea of theosis, and argues that the proper understanding of their central soteriological concept must take into account its dimension of love and beauty.
The core of the book consists of six chapters, each dedicated to the three central concepts in two thinkers, and while they can be considered as distinct studies, they are, however, elements which lead to the synoptic vision of the erotic-aesthetic dimension of deification. The three themes have been treated systematically, followed by a synthesis and comparison of convergence and divergence between Dionysus and Maximus. The core of the task stands, of course, in the texts and their interpretation, so the method employed was unavoidably hermeneutical as well.
While Dionysius and Maximus are among the most studied Church fathers, the context in which love, beauty and deification relate has not been thoroughly examined so far, and thus Desiring the Beautiful complements existing studies by emphasizing this important aspect of deification as understood by its two chief advocates. Primarily intended for scholars of patristics and Byzantine philosophy, the book can serve as a substantial introduction to the overall thought of Dionysius and Maximus, so it will be of use also to readers interested in late antique and Byzantine studies, early Christian theology, and the relationship between Greek philosophy and Christianity.
The core of the book consists of six chapters, each dedicated to the three central concepts in two thinkers, and while they can be considered as distinct studies, they are, however, elements which lead to the synoptic vision of the erotic-aesthetic dimension of deification. The three themes have been treated systematically, followed by a synthesis and comparison of convergence and divergence between Dionysus and Maximus. The core of the task stands, of course, in the texts and their interpretation, so the method employed was unavoidably hermeneutical as well.
While Dionysius and Maximus are among the most studied Church fathers, the context in which love, beauty and deification relate has not been thoroughly examined so far, and thus Desiring the Beautiful complements existing studies by emphasizing this important aspect of deification as understood by its two chief advocates. Primarily intended for scholars of patristics and Byzantine philosophy, the book can serve as a substantial introduction to the overall thought of Dionysius and Maximus, so it will be of use also to readers interested in late antique and Byzantine studies, early Christian theology, and the relationship between Greek philosophy and Christianity.
Research Interests: Philosophy, Classics, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Theology, Patristics, and 11 moreEarly Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Church History, Pseudo-Dionysius, Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, Deification, and Greek Patristics
Perceptions of the Body and Sacred Space in Late Antiquity and Byzantium seeks to reveal Christian understanding of the body and sacred space in the medieval Mediterranean. Case studies examine encounters with the holy through the... more
Perceptions of the Body and Sacred Space in Late Antiquity and Byzantium seeks to reveal Christian understanding of the body and sacred space in the medieval Mediterranean. Case studies examine encounters with the holy through the perspective of the human body and sensory dimensions of sacred space, and discuss the dynamics of perception when experiencing what was constructed, represented, and understood as sacred. The comparative analysis investigates viewers' recognitions of the sacred in specific locations or segments of space with an emphasis on the experiential and conceptual relationships between sacred spaces and human bodies. This volume thus reassesses the empowering aspects of space, time, and human agency in religious contexts. By focusing on investigations of human endeavors towards experiential and visual expressions that shape perceptions of holiness, this study ultimately aims to present a better understanding of the corporeality of sacred art and architecture. The research points to how early Christians and Byzantines teleologically viewed the divine source of the sacred in terms of its ability to bring together - but never fully dissolve - the distinctions between the human and divine realms. The revealed mechanisms of iconic perception and noetic contemplation have the potential to shape knowledge of the meanings of the sacred as well as to improve our understanding of the liminality of the profane and the sacred.
reviewed in:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1751696X.2019.1649897
reviewed in:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1751696X.2019.1649897
Research Interests: Christianity, Cultural Studies, Aesthetics, Medieval Philosophy, Art History, and 40 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, History of Ideas, Medieval Studies, Anthropology of the Body, Early Christianity, Visual perception, Mediterranean Studies, Saints' Cults, Architectural History, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Body Image, History of Art, Byzantine Architecture, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Pseudo-Dionysius, Medieval Art, Christianity and Rome, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Byzantium, Medieval Mediterranean Art and Architecture, Orthodox Christianity, Dionysius the Areopagite, Sacred Art, History of architecture, Hierotopy, Beauty, Sacred Architecture, Late Antiquity and Byzantium (History and Art), Icons, Asia Minor, Medieval Rome, Byzantine art, History of Art and Architecture, Sacred Space, Early Christian baptisteries, Relics and Relic Veneration, Rome (early christian and late antique), and Relics and Reliquaries
"Dionysius the Areopagite between Orthodoxy and Heresy aims to explore the thought of one of the most controversial characters of Christian history, Dionysius the Areopagite, and put it in a correct context, between pagan (namely... more
"Dionysius the Areopagite between Orthodoxy and Heresy aims to explore the thought of one of the most controversial characters of Christian history, Dionysius the Areopagite, and put it in a correct context, between pagan (namely Neoplatonic) philosophy on the one side, and Christian theology, on the other. In significant part, the book examines Dionysius’ Neoplatonic sources, but it also offers insights into the original points of his philosophy and theology, thus showing how he managed to achieve a masterful integration of pagan thought and newly revealed faith.
The chapters of the book, taken together, try to offer a broad insight into the Areopagite’s thought, through examining not just his intellectual background and milieu, but also some of the crucial features of his work, such as notions of hierarchy, deification, apophatic and cataphatic theologies, icon, and others. This work is of a multidisciplinary character, since Dionysius’ thought has been studied from different points of view, so the contributions range from philosophy and theology to history and art history.
Dionysius the Areopagite between Orthodoxy and Heresy is intended for both specialists and non-specialists. Apart from being a collection of specific studies, it can also serve as an introduction to the Areopagite’s thought, and will be useful to all those interested in late antique and early Christian philosophy and theology, patristics, and cultural studies in general."
The chapters of the book, taken together, try to offer a broad insight into the Areopagite’s thought, through examining not just his intellectual background and milieu, but also some of the crucial features of his work, such as notions of hierarchy, deification, apophatic and cataphatic theologies, icon, and others. This work is of a multidisciplinary character, since Dionysius’ thought has been studied from different points of view, so the contributions range from philosophy and theology to history and art history.
Dionysius the Areopagite between Orthodoxy and Heresy is intended for both specialists and non-specialists. Apart from being a collection of specific studies, it can also serve as an introduction to the Areopagite’s thought, and will be useful to all those interested in late antique and early Christian philosophy and theology, patristics, and cultural studies in general."
Research Interests:
This book contributes to the study of the notions of symbol and icon by examining two phenomena that greatly contributed to their development: the thought of Dionysius the Areopagite and the iconoclastic controversy. Different historical... more
This book contributes to the study of the notions of symbol and icon by examining two phenomena that greatly contributed to their development: the thought of Dionysius the Areopagite and the iconoclastic controversy. Different historical and philosophical-theological contexts are examined within the framework of the influence that Dionysius exerted on main protagonists in the controversy and the theology of icon. The reader will find a discussion of the main points of Dionysius' doctrine, the features of the iconoclastic controversy, and an elaboration of the Areopagite's aesthetic and symbolic theory with special reference to the theology of icon. Throughout the work Ivanovic seeks to offer broad insight relevant to many different disciplines, such as theology, philosophy, history, and art. Dionysian theory of symbols and apophatic theology, his concepts of light, icon, and visible things as "images of the invisible things" were the basis of the further development of the Orthodox theology of the icon, which constitutes one of the fundamental values of Christian theology. The analysis offered in this book incites further study of the doctrinal dimension of Christian iconology, as well as of Christian and Neoplatonic mysticism, Byzantine aesthetics, and of theological and cultural studies.
Research Interests: Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Iconography, Patristics, Iconoclasm, and 11 moreEarly Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine Iconography, Ancient Philosophy, Pseudo-Dionysius, Dionyisus the Areopagite, Christian Iconography, Iconoclastic Controversy and Iconophilia, and John of Damascus
Con Filip Ivanovic la riflessione sulla spazialità dell’immagine viene approfondita attraverso la figura di Leon Battista Alberti, artista e scrittore rinascimentale particolarmente prolifico, noto per i suoi contributi riguardanti sia la... more
Con Filip Ivanovic la riflessione sulla spazialità dell’immagine viene approfondita attraverso la figura di Leon Battista Alberti, artista e scrittore rinascimentale particolarmente prolifico, noto per i suoi contributi riguardanti sia la teoria dell’arte che l’architettura. Come pensatore eclettico, Alberti basò il suo lavoro su una varietà di antiche correnti filosofiche, tra cui il platonismo e l’aristotelismo. La sua definizione di bellezza come armonia, cioè “accordo e armonia delle parti” è stata ampiamente discussa, soprattutto alla luce delle fonti antiche. Il saggio di Ivanovic mira a far luce sulla teoria estetica albertiana, sottolineandone la connessione con la filosofia neoplatonica, con particolare riferimento a Plotino e allo Pseudo-Dionigi Areopagita, grandi esponenti, rispettivamente, del neoplatonismo pagano e cristiano, e mostrando come tali metafisiche vengano tradotte da Alberti in termini artistici e pratici.
Research Interests:
“Body and Soul in Dionysius the Areopagite,” by Filip Ivanović, presents Dionysius’s theory of the body and soul relationship. As with Proclus, Dionysius denies that the body is intrinsically evil. Moreover, Dionysius rejects any... more
“Body and Soul in Dionysius the Areopagite,” by Filip Ivanović, presents Dionysius’s theory of the body and soul relationship. As with Proclus, Dionysius denies that the body is intrinsically evil. Moreover, Dionysius rejects any separation of the body from the soul. Rather, Dionysius turns to the example of the Incarnation of Christ. While the human person experiences passions and desires, the example of Christ who harmonized body and soul shows us that an individual can make right decisions and live a good life.
Research Interests:
The article situates itself within the debate on ecological issues by emphasizing the importance of philosophical and theological approach to the questions at stake, and focusing on the contributions of Byzantine thought, which has been... more
The article situates itself within the debate on ecological issues by emphasizing the importance of philosophical and theological approach to the questions at stake, and focusing on the contributions of Byzantine thought, which has been rather neglected in this context. With this in mind, the article offers a panoramic view of several Byzantine authors’ ideas on the environment and the relationship between human beings and the rest of the creation. By examining the thought of Maximus the Confessor, Dionysius the Areopagite, John Damascene, and John Chrysostom the author highlights their views on deification, unity of creation, and environmental/animal ethics in order to conclude that the mainstream Byzantine vision of nature was not its exploitation, but affirmation of the created world and crucial responsibility of human beings in it.
Research Interests:
Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies is an international peer-reviewed annual scholarly journal, devoted to the study of Hellenic culture and civilization from antiquity to the present, featuring high-quality research in all areas of... more
Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies is an international peer-reviewed annual scholarly journal, devoted to the study of Hellenic culture and civilization from antiquity to the present, featuring high-quality research in all areas of Hellenic studies: philosophy, religion, archaeology, history, law, literature, philology, art. Akropolis is published by the Center for Hellenic Studies, based in Podgorica,
Research Interests:
Filip Ivanovic gave a talk titled “Law, Order and Equality in Dionysius”. In this, he emphasized the deification, i.e., the highest possible assimilation to God, as the ultimate purpose of the Dionysian concept of hierarchy. The detailed... more
Filip Ivanovic gave a talk titled “Law, Order and Equality in Dionysius”. In this, he emphasized the deification, i.e., the highest possible assimilation to God, as the ultimate purpose of the Dionysian concept of hierarchy. The detailed description of the hierarchical ranks, together with the insistence on absolute respect for one’s position in the hierarchy, has led to the impression that the Areopagite’s world is a static structure with a fixed place for each being in it. It has been argued, based on the original texts, that such a structure reminds of Plato’s ideal state and its further Neoplatonic elaborations. On the other hand, Dionysius writes that salvation preserves the world and “expels all inequality from it”. Ivanovic investigated Dionysius’ understanding of law and order governing the world, and showed that their purpose is not to facilitate tyranny or inequality, but the opposite – equality and harmony.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Dionysius claims that the divine attributes ‘can be fashioned from material things to symbolise what is intelligible and intellectual’. As a matter of fact, sense perceptions are ‘echoes of wisdom’, because they manifest the intelligible.... more
Dionysius claims that the divine attributes ‘can be fashioned from material things to symbolise what is intelligible and intellectual’. As a matter of fact, sense perceptions are ‘echoes of wisdom’, because they manifest the intelligible. God’s majesty is intermingled in sensible things, which help the human mind to ascend to the ineffable divinity. Thus, sensible things are a concession to human nature, and serve as the mind’s vehicle in its ascent to God. Dionysius constructs an aesthetic soteriology, which centres around deification and union with God, that cannot be completed without the aid of sensible things. This chapter explores these ideas and puts them in the context of Dionysian thought, in addition to offering some insights into Dionysius’ influence on the doctrine of icons.
Research Interests:
The third volume of "Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies" is now available at: https://helenskestudije.me/ojs/index.php/jhs/issue/view/3
Research Interests:
The second volume of "Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies" is now available online at: http://helenskestudije.me/ojs/index.php/jhs/issue/view/2
Research Interests:
The aim of the paper is to give a condensed presentation of the view on philosophy by one of the most important Church fathers and Byzantine thinkers, Maximus the Confessor. According to him the true Christian philosophizes three things,... more
The aim of the paper is to give a condensed presentation of the view on philosophy by one of the most important Church fathers and Byzantine thinkers, Maximus the Confessor. According to him the true Christian philosophizes three things, which are the commandments, the dogmas and the faith, so that “the commandments separate the mind from passions, the dogmas introduce it to the knowledge of beings, and the faith introduces it to the contemplation of the Holy Trinity”. In this way he defines the threefold spiritual development, which revolves around three kinds of philosophy: practical philosophy, natural philosophy and theological philosophy. These correspond to the participation in being, well-being and eternal-being, and play a core role on the goal of the Christian life; assimilation to God, i.e., deification. In addition, here the philosophy is seen as training for death, which was already present in ancient philosophizing, and thus these views of philosophy represent a connection between the ancient philosophical considerations and Christian faith which is the tradition to which Maximus eminently belongs.
Research Interests:
This article deals with the aesthetics of Dionysius the Pseudo- Areopagite, a mysterious early Christian author, whose writings show a combination of Christian and philosophical, especially Neoplatonic, influences. Dionysius’ main... more
This article deals with the aesthetics of Dionysius the Pseudo- Areopagite, a mysterious early Christian author, whose writings show a combination of Christian and philosophical, especially Neoplatonic, influences. Dionysius’ main preoccupation is absolute and true beauty seen as the beauty which is in itself and by itself always beautiful, and which is the cause of all beauty in the world.
The beauty of the world, therefore, is a manifestation of the invisible divine beauty, and such aesthetics did not find its place in the philosophical and theological tradition only, but also in medieval architecture and iconography.
The beauty of the world, therefore, is a manifestation of the invisible divine beauty, and such aesthetics did not find its place in the philosophical and theological tradition only, but also in medieval architecture and iconography.
Research Interests:
Clement of Alexandria (150-215) is one of the first Christian thinkers to offer a detailed account of the relationship between Christian faith and Greek philosophy. As a philosophically educated man himself, Clement claimed that... more
Clement of Alexandria (150-215) is one of the first Christian thinkers to offer a detailed account of the relationship between Christian faith and Greek philosophy. As a philosophically educated man himself, Clement claimed that philosophy is necessary for reaching the complete knowledge of God, and that Greek philosophy, being of divine origin, was God’s gift to the Greeks, acting as a preparation for the Gospel. Since it concerns the comprehension and contemplation of truth, philosophy is a propaedeutic method for understanding and interpreting the principles of faith, as well as for the defense against deceptive and fallacious attacks on it. On the other hand, just as the body is healed by medicine, the soul, according to Clement, is healed by philosophy. Such “therapy” of the soul primarily concerns liberation from passions, attainment of the state of passionlessness (ἀπάθεια) and restoration of human person, which is in accordance not just with the purpose of Christian life, but also with the ancient, Platonic, idea of reaching Godlikeness through practicing philosophy as a training for death.
Research Interests:
Ivanović analyzes Dionysius’ thought in order to gain insight into his understanding of the body and matter, with a special emphasis on deification. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite reflected on beauty as a divine name, discussed the... more
Ivanović analyzes Dionysius’ thought in order to gain insight into his understanding of the body and matter, with a special emphasis on deification. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite reflected on beauty as a divine name, discussed the pairing of the Good and the Beautiful, elaborated on beauty in heaven and earth as a glimpse of divine beauty, and showed the importance of material symbols for one’s elevation to God. If humans are composite beings, made of both soul and body, and if they are created in the image and likeness of God, then the body cannot be ugly or evil.
Research Interests:
Center for Hellenic Studies, from Podgorica (Montenegro) is happy to announce the international conference on the topic "Hellenic Political Philosophy and Contemporary Europe", to be held in Herceg Novi (Montenegro), from 29 September to... more
Center for Hellenic Studies, from Podgorica (Montenegro) is happy to announce the international conference on the topic "Hellenic Political Philosophy and Contemporary Europe", to be held in Herceg Novi (Montenegro), from 29 September to 04 October 2019.
The Conference is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Montenegro, and is of an interdisciplinary character, addressing different social and political issues from perspectives of history, philosophy, economics, theology, history of ideas, anthropology, political theory and other disciplines. Such conception of the scholarly exchange does not fulfill only the purpose of an historical investigation, but will provide a systematic treatment of the topic, thus clarifying existing ideas and advancing new ones.
Abstract submission deadline is 1 March 2019. Please visit the website for more information: http://ichs.me
The Conference is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Montenegro, and is of an interdisciplinary character, addressing different social and political issues from perspectives of history, philosophy, economics, theology, history of ideas, anthropology, political theory and other disciplines. Such conception of the scholarly exchange does not fulfill only the purpose of an historical investigation, but will provide a systematic treatment of the topic, thus clarifying existing ideas and advancing new ones.
Abstract submission deadline is 1 March 2019. Please visit the website for more information: http://ichs.me
Research Interests: Ancient History, European Studies, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Classics, and 15 moreSocial Sciences, Political Theory, Political Science, Athenian Democracy, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, Classical philology, Democracy, Ancient Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Byzantine Philosophy, Classical Greek Philosophy, Hellenic Studies, and Classical Greece
The first volume of Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies is now available online at: http://helenskestudije.me/ojs/index.php/jhs/index
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Christianity, Anthropology, Philosophy, Classics, Medieval Philosophy, and 18 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, Theology, Philosophical Anthropology, Patristics, History of Christianity, Systematic Theology, Early Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Anthropology of Christianity, Theological Anthropology, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Ancient Philosophy, Pseudo-Dionysius, Byzantine Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory Palamas, and Greek Patristics
Research Interests:
Maximus the Confessor (580-662) is one of the best-known Greek Church Fathers and is also among the most influential Byzantine thinkers. In his complex philosophical and theological writings, Maximus does not present a systematic... more
Maximus the Confessor (580-662) is one of the best-known Greek Church Fathers and is also among the most influential Byzantine thinkers. In his complex philosophical and theological writings, Maximus does not present a systematic treatment of beauty, nor does he develop a specific aesthetic theory. Nevertheless, the concept of beauty does play a role in his thought and has many different aspects. The aim of this article is to examine the terms he uses to denote beauty in order to offer an insight into Maximus’s understanding of beauty and its various dimensions: ontological, ethical, cosmological, soteriological and so on.
Research Interests: Christianity, Philosophy, Aesthetics, Classics, Medieval Philosophy, and 12 moreGreek Literature, Neoplatonism and late antique philosophy, Patristics, Early Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Biblical Studies, Byzantine Studies, Ancient Philosophy, Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine Philosophy, Christian Theology, and Beauty
Research Interests: Christianity, Philosophy, Classics, Medieval Philosophy, Greek Literature, and 15 morePatristics, Early Christianity, Biblical Studies, Byzantine Studies, Love, Late Antiquity, Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy of Love, Pseudo-Dionysius, Neoplatonism, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Byzantine Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, Christian Theology, and Greek Patristics
The famous and mysterious fifth century author, who wrote his works known as the Corpus Dionysiacum under the pseudonym of Dionysius the Areopagite, is one of the most controversial characters in the history of philosophy. His thought is... more
The famous and mysterious fifth century author, who wrote his works known as the Corpus Dionysiacum under the pseudonym of Dionysius the Areopagite, is one of the most controversial characters in the history of philosophy. His thought is well known for the concepts of apophatic and cataphatic theologies and hierarchy (he actually coined the word), as well as for his understanding of eros, beauty, and deification, which all greatly influenced the Areopagite’s posterity. His system is a successful amalgam of ancient (chiefly Neoplatonic) philosophy and Christian doctrines. The aim of this article is to examine one of these concepts, namely beauty, which will help in understanding Dionysius’ aesthetics in its original terms, as well as in its connections to Neoplatonism. Concretely, the article focuses on the conception of the divine beauty, and is therefore articulated through two sections, which deal with beauty as an attribute (name) of God, and the famous pair of good and beautiful.
Research Interests: Christianity, Philosophy, Aesthetics, Classics, Medieval Philosophy, and 19 moreGreek Literature, Neoplatonism and late antique philosophy, Patristics, History of Christianity, Early Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Biblical Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Ancient Philosophy, Pseudo-Dionysius, Plato and Platonism, Neoplatonism, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Christian Neoplatonism, Dionysius the Areopagite, Christian Theology, Beauty, and Greek Patristics
In Platonic terms “all things to which we apply the term ‘many’ participate” in something beyond the world of matter, while for Neoplatonists there is a higher aspect that is unparticipated (One) and the “lower” aspect which is... more
In Platonic terms “all things to which we apply the term ‘many’ participate” in something beyond the world of matter, while for Neoplatonists there is a higher aspect that is unparticipated (One) and the “lower” aspect which is participated (Henads).
In Christian sphere, since God is the cause of all things, then all things have a share (participate) in God, and so Dionysius the Areopagite claims that God communicates himself to those who participate in him. this does not mean that there is some sort of a pantheistic understanding of a being as a fragment of the divinity, but that creatures owe their being to God. However, God himself remains unshared, and there is an ontological separation between him and his creation. What creatures do participate in are the acts of God, which are participated but do not participate. The aim of this paper is to examine the Areopagite’s doctrine of participation, in comparison with the (Neo-)platonic understanding of participation.
In Christian sphere, since God is the cause of all things, then all things have a share (participate) in God, and so Dionysius the Areopagite claims that God communicates himself to those who participate in him. this does not mean that there is some sort of a pantheistic understanding of a being as a fragment of the divinity, but that creatures owe their being to God. However, God himself remains unshared, and there is an ontological separation between him and his creation. What creatures do participate in are the acts of God, which are participated but do not participate. The aim of this paper is to examine the Areopagite’s doctrine of participation, in comparison with the (Neo-)platonic understanding of participation.
Research Interests: Neoplatonism and late antique philosophy, Patristics, Early Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Byzantine Studies, and 9 moreLate Antiquity, Ancient Philosophy, Pseudo-Dionysius, Plato and Platonism, Neoplatonism, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Byzantine Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, and Greek Patristics
One of the most important exponents of the School of Alexandria, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150. – ca. 215.) is the author of a famous trilogy, consisting of Protrepticus, Paedagogus, and Stromata, which correspond to the three ways of... more
One of the most important exponents of the School of Alexandria, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150. – ca. 215.) is the author of a famous trilogy, consisting of Protrepticus, Paedagogus, and Stromata, which correspond to the three ways of acting of the Logos, namely to convert the pagans to the true faith, to cure the soul from passions, and to uplift the soul to the methodic and intellectual life of spiritual perfection. Logos thus acts through exhortation, training, and teaching. Clement considers himself to be the guardian of the Apostolic tradition and takes the task of conserving this tradition, which consists of cosmological and theological truths. With that goal in mind, the Alexandrian talks about the relation between pagan philosophy and Christianity, allegorical interpretation of the Scripture, the need of revealing and concealing the knowledge, which, in order to be correctly understood, has to be interpreted in accordance with the tradition. The intention of this short article is to point out these concepts and their connections in the way Clement sees them.
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As one of the names attributed to God, justice is defined by Dionysius as something which “orders everything, setting boundaries, keeping things distinct and unconfused, giving each thing what it inherently deserves” (Divine Names, 896A).... more
As one of the names attributed to God, justice is defined by Dionysius as something which “orders everything, setting boundaries, keeping things distinct and unconfused, giving each thing what it inherently deserves” (Divine Names, 896A). It, therefore, assigns to everything what is appropriate to it, and preserves the nature of each being in its due order. In this way, it is through divine justice’s definitions that every being is assigned its own proper essence.
The same role of justice is applied to the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which, in its conformity to God, is an image of divine justice, and “gives to each as he deserves and grants an appropriate share of the divine things to all for their salvation” (The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, 432C).
In practical, i.e., ethical sense, this concept of justice points to the way of life of each individual – the divine justice ensures that each one receives a return for whatever good or bad he did during his life. That is why the hierarch, as the interpreter of the divine justice, will conform himself to the wishes of God during the funeral rites – he will not offer prayers to those who led their lives in disaccord with the divine justice.
In the dimension of the hierarchical order, justice means obedience to the Law, and to the rules of the hierarchy. In the letter to monk Demophilus, Dionysius says “Justice is pursued when each wishes to give every one his dues” (Ep. VIII, 1092D), but this cannot happen beyond their order. It is, therefore, unjust to disobey the hierarchical arrangement and correct or reproach those of higher ranks, as Demophilus did.
This paper will aim to explore the notion of justice in Dionysius’s writings in different contexts – philosophical-theological, ecclesiological, and ethical, and will also touch upon the relationship between Dionysian justice and the Platonic one.
The same role of justice is applied to the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which, in its conformity to God, is an image of divine justice, and “gives to each as he deserves and grants an appropriate share of the divine things to all for their salvation” (The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, 432C).
In practical, i.e., ethical sense, this concept of justice points to the way of life of each individual – the divine justice ensures that each one receives a return for whatever good or bad he did during his life. That is why the hierarch, as the interpreter of the divine justice, will conform himself to the wishes of God during the funeral rites – he will not offer prayers to those who led their lives in disaccord with the divine justice.
In the dimension of the hierarchical order, justice means obedience to the Law, and to the rules of the hierarchy. In the letter to monk Demophilus, Dionysius says “Justice is pursued when each wishes to give every one his dues” (Ep. VIII, 1092D), but this cannot happen beyond their order. It is, therefore, unjust to disobey the hierarchical arrangement and correct or reproach those of higher ranks, as Demophilus did.
This paper will aim to explore the notion of justice in Dionysius’s writings in different contexts – philosophical-theological, ecclesiological, and ethical, and will also touch upon the relationship between Dionysian justice and the Platonic one.
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The paper investigates the epistemological aspect of deification according to Dionysius the Areopagite. It challenges the view of the unequal degree of deification depending on the position in the hierarchy and the gnosis acquired.
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This paper deals with the doctrine of the will in Maximus the Confessor, which is the central point of his anthropological considerations. That doctrine was mainly developed during the monotelite controversy, characterized by the dispute... more
This paper deals with the doctrine of the will in Maximus the Confessor, which is the central point of his anthropological considerations. That doctrine was mainly developed during the monotelite controversy, characterized by the dispute if Christ had one (only divine) or two (both human and divine) wills. Maximus dedicated his work to proving that both wills existed in Christ. His doctrine represents a great contribution to Christology, and was officialy recognized by the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 680.
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One of the main preoccupations of Maximus the Confessor was his participation in the famous monothelite controversy that posed the problem of one or two wills in Christ. The Confessor defended the Orthodox position of two wills, human and... more
One of the main preoccupations of Maximus the Confessor was his participation in the famous monothelite controversy that posed the problem of one or two wills in Christ. The Confessor defended the Orthodox position of two wills, human and divine, but he also negated that Christ possessed gnomic will. This article explores Maximus' position on freedom, by examining main terms such as will, gnome, free choice, self-determination, etc.
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This article explores the ecclesiological views of Dionysius the Areopagite through the examination of his Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, where he discusses the hierarchical ranks and sacraments, and of his Letter VIII to monk Demophilus,... more
This article explores the ecclesiological views of Dionysius the Areopagite through the examination of his Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, where he discusses the hierarchical ranks and sacraments, and of his Letter VIII to monk Demophilus, which is important for Dionysius's understanding of hierarchical organisation and discipline. These issues are put in the context of other important questions of the Areopagite's thought, such as his symbolic theory, the character of deification and the role of knowledge in it. Although the Areopagite is one of the most famous among early Christian Greek thinkers, his ecclesiology is somewhat less familiar, especially in the West. This article tries to fill in that gap, hence it represents a general, introductory outline of Dionysius's ecclesiology, with the aim of making it more accessible to the broader Western readership and to incite further research on the subject.
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The article deals with the question of existence of a separate academic field of Byzantine philosophy and of its place in the modern philosophical research. In the first part, author gives an outline of the main trends in the scholarship... more
The article deals with the question of existence of a separate academic field of Byzantine philosophy and of its place in the modern philosophical research. In the first part, author gives an outline of the main trends in the scholarship on Byzantine philosophical tradition, highlighting some of the main works in the field. In the second part, the author gives his opinion on the questions raised and offers some suggestions and remarks on the development of the study of Byzantine philosophy.
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One of the thinkers who intellectually consolidated deification and gave it a solid doctrinal basis, which has remained fundamentally important until today, was (Pseudo)-Dionysius the Areopagite. His entire thought was dedicated to the... more
One of the thinkers who intellectually consolidated deification and gave it a solid doctrinal basis, which has remained fundamentally important until today, was (Pseudo)-Dionysius the Areopagite. His entire thought was dedicated to the deification of all creation, and ultimate goal was 'the cloud of unknowing', in which the soul, following the ascending path of apophatic theology, reaches mystical union with God. The ascending process starts with material objects, symbols, through which God manifests Himself to humanity. Given the reality of the human person, who is called upon to receive the revelation, the Divinity cannot be perceived without the help of mediators that, for Dionysius, were 'sacred veils' beneath which the divine light is hidden. The aim of this article is to highlight the role of visual elements (material objects, symbols) as the starting point in the process of deification, and in the context of the aesthetic elements of Christianity and the Church's doctrine of deification, which owes its foundation to the Areopagite.
Research Interests: Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Neoplatonism and late antique philosophy, Patristics, Early Christianity, and 11 moreOrthodox Theology, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Ancient Philosophy, Pseudo-Dionysius, Plato and Platonism, Neoplatonism, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Byzantine Philosophy, Dionysius the Areopagite, and Deification
One of the questions that presented itself with the rise and development of the Christian faith was the problem of divine omnipotence. By resolving the problem of divine power, it became possible to explain many focal problems of mankind... more
One of the questions that presented itself with the rise and development of the Christian faith was the problem of divine omnipotence. By resolving the problem of divine power, it became possible to explain many focal problems of mankind and the world, including, for example, the problem of the existence of evil, or of suffering. This article deals with two perspectives on this problem. Usually, the eleventh-century theologian Peter Damiani is pointed to as a pioneer and originator of the discussion of divine powers. But, St. Isidor's considerations were developed five centuries before Damiani wrote his famous treatise De divina omnipotentia. On the other hand, the debate in Scholasticism emerged as a long and lively discussion of different ways of defining the problem. The distinction of potentia absoluta and potentia ordinata contributed greatly to debating the general question of divine omnipotence. However, although it was useful in the theological-philosophical sense, this distinction later on provoked political solutions which sometimes served the interest of only one man.
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The article examines the historical development and contemporary life of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
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The paper attempts to synthetically examine some of the aspects of Greek inheritance present in the European culture and civilization. It devevlops throughout three themes: 1) Hesiod and philosophy, 2) Plato's political throught, 3)... more
The paper attempts to synthetically examine some of the aspects of Greek inheritance present in the European culture and civilization. It devevlops throughout three themes: 1) Hesiod and philosophy, 2) Plato's political throught, 3) features of Byzantine philosophy.
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The paper deals with the education in Byzantium, by exploring the Byzantine concept of education, as well as by pointing out to certain facts that can contribute to better understand the educational and cultural milieu of the Empire.
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The paper deals with concepts of eros and agape in Plato and Maximus the Confessor, and puts these two concepts in the wider context of Plato's and Maximus thought, thus tracking the concept of love, from both ancient and medieval... more
The paper deals with concepts of eros and agape in Plato and Maximus the Confessor, and puts these two concepts in the wider context of Plato's and Maximus thought, thus tracking the concept of love, from both ancient and medieval perspective, but also from a pagan and a Christian point of view, and highlighting their divergences/convergences.