Ekumeniczne znaczenie teologii patrystycznej

Abstract

A number of contemporary theologians of different denominations unanimously stress the necessity of a creative return to the original, „ecumenical” patristic Tradition of the ancient Church, who inspite of all the doctrinal controversies and divisions threatening to her existence from the very beginning, managed to avoid a definite schism for more than ten centuries. The Fathers are teachers and theologians of the undivided Church, and their theology is truly ecumenical i.e. belonging to all Christians. They created the canon of the Bible, the basic confessions of faith for the entire Christianity, the main forms of Christian worship, and a theology whose ecumenical openness will always retain its value. Patristic renaissance is, above all, a way to the reintegration of original Christian Tradition, which, since the schism between the East and the West, has ceased to be a common heritage of all Christians. In order to fulfil its ecumenical role, the much talked about ’’return to the Fathers” must be creative and open to all contemporary problems. No one maintains that it will automatically restore the Christian unity; with this return a true problem rather begins as perhaps one of the most difficult tasks in the history of the Christian faith. The vocation of patristics consists in preparing the future of a truly ecumenical Church.