Chrystus powierzył człowieka Duchowi Świętemu. Rozważania nad tradycją wschodnią

Abstract

Eastern tradition does not know an isolated teaching on the Holy Spirit. Pneumatology is rather a permament dimension of theological thinking and spiritual experience. It has never become a separate theological treatise. It permeates Orthodox teachings on Christ and man’s salvation, on the Church and its sacraments and on the ultimate destiny of humanity. In that particular quality lies its truly ecumenical significance. Orthodox theology resists all temptation to diminish personal autonomy and specific action of the Holy Spirit in the economy of salvation. In its trinitarian approach it stresses the relationship of full reciprocity between the Son and the Holy Spirit which excludes any unilateral dependance and subordination of the divine persons. The role of the Spirit cannot be reduced to a simple mediation. It is the Spirit who proceeds from the Father towards the Son, rests upon Him both in eternity and in time, and turns again from or through the Son to the Father. Thus the Father remains the unique cause, principle and source of the divine persons. The paper offers some suggestions how to deal, in a truly ecumenical way, with many centuries long controversy on the procession of the Holy Spirit. The two traditions, both Eastern and Western, can fruitfully challenge each other and reach reconciliation. Going back to St. Irenaeus (commendante Domino Spiritai Sancto suum hominem) the Author shows human being as entrusted by Christ to the Holy Spirit. Eastern tradition does not admit any static opposition between nature and grace which in fact mutually penetrate one another. Human life, even in the state of fall and sin, is an ontological invocation or epiklesis of the Holy Spirit, a constant cry from the depths (de profundis} of spiritual misery. The Holy Spirit reveals the divine beauty which reaches the very core of human self. For this reason Eastern spirituality stresses so much the role of heart and compassion. A man transformed by the Spirit lends to Him, so to speak, his own face. Orthodox theologians speak willingly about the kenosis of the Holy Spirit who in a way disowns Himself, deprives Himself discretely of His own face to find it again on the face of Christ and of the people transfigured by His power. The paper analyzes in a more detailed way the role of the Spirit in the Church and in the final transfiguration of the world. It also points out that the Holy Spirit inspires the believers with the hope of universal salvation which has found in Eastern tradition a more favourable ground than in the Western one. We all need a more paracletic vision of Christianity of hope and encouragement.