Nauka o Bożych energiach w teologii Georges’a Florovsky’ego

Abstract

Georges Vasilievich Florovsky (1893–1979) was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian priest, theologian, and writer, active in the ecumenical movement. His literary output covered subjects on nearly every aspect of Church life. Florovsky became part of the great emigration of the Russian intelligentsia, which also included Nikolai Berdyaev, Sergei Bulgakov, Nicholas Lossky, Alexander Schmemann, and John Meyendorff. In his address to the gathering of Orthodox theologians in Athens, Florovsky pointed to the doctrine of energies as one of those truths that needed to be rediscovered by Orthodox theology. The major part of Florovsky’s work on the subject is to be found in three papers: Твар и тварность, Понятие творения у святителя Афанася Великого and Святитель Григрий Палама и трдиция Отцов. The starting point for Florovsky’s thought is the argument that the world does not have to exist. The creation has its foundation in the will of God and not in the nature or essence of God. This distinction between nature/essence and will becomes the basis for Florovsky’s justification of the distinction between essence and energy in God. The distinction between essence and energy is in fact the distinction between necessity and free will. This in turn forms the foundation for a proper ontological differentiation between God and the creation. The energies represent God’s will and grace, due to which the creation and the new creation (deification) are possible. The energies are perceived as the activities of the entire undivided Trinity.