Cykliczna wizja świata w De principiis Orygenesa

Abstract

Orygenes (185/186-253) belongs to the body of the most distingished Christian writers. His splendid piece of work „On principles” (gr. Peri archon; łac. De principiis) is the first trial of the medithocal exposition of substance of faith. The unique atmosphere of Aleksandria, city of culture, science, philosophy, various creeds, as well as oriental inspirations and Hellenic culture had been the reasons that the initiated Christian teology became under strong influence of different biblical concept. The topic of this article concenrates on the concept of the world, time and creation elaborated by Orygenes. As per Greek philosophy the cyclical vision of the world has its begining and end but not definite. After each cycle there is rebirth and new being. Such concept could be found above all in the Stoicism also in Neoplatonism and in the Theosophical gnosis. This vision is strangely remote from the linear biblical one, whereby there is the begining and definite end. The work of Orygenes is the evidence and sign of the both tendencies interaction. The analysis of his doctrine covers the subject of god, logos, the world’s creatures, the end, and creation of cosmos. Basing on these stages he established the scheme of the concept of cyclical creation (Christian). The presentation of science on the world and its substance done by Orygenes draw us nearer to the newly borne and unique Christian teology and enables us to recognize one the most interesting question of the theory of the Apocatastasy.