An Intellectual of the Church: Remembering Father André Scrima (1925-2000)
The 19th of August 2020 is the date that marks twenty years since the passing away of André Scrima, an Orthodox monk known for his unusual presence. From the very position of an Orthodox monk, André Scrima pleaded for the actualization of the unity of the Church, a unity that should by no means be the result of compromise and tactics, but rather the considerate acknowledgement of the complementarity of confessions. His vivid, embodied conception of what it means to be an itinerant monk was seamlessly combined with a vast, varied, and reflective erudition. Those who have met him recall the intensity of their encounter with André Scrima, as his creative language seemed to always refuse stereotype, monolithic meanings, and took little notice of boundaries between fields of study, between lay and sacred disciplines. He would often bring into discussions of theological topics the ideas of philosophers, scientists, writers and artists, and this multiple engagement he managed organically and with astounding proficiency.
André Scrima is also known as member of the “Burning Bush” group that functioned at Antim Monastery (Romania) in the second half of the ‘40s. The group itself was probably one of the most memorable official associations of intellectuals and clerics, and of personalities combining the two, in the more recent history of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The activity of the “Burning Bush” group was defined by hesychast practices, but the group also became known for its conferences for the wider public, that were often speckled not only with cultural, but also inter-religious references.
This coming issue of RES is dedicated to the legacy of André Scrima, welcoming, but not being limited to, contributions that tackle precisely this ease of integrating and interpreting contents usually thought of as being outside the religious sphere, into a coherent and compelling theological discourse. More widely, this issue addresses the questions of whether it is possible to be an intellectual in the Church, namely, to be versed in world culture, critically aware of contemporary intellectual findings and debates, and from this stance to be engaged in the Church as well.
Deadline for submitting the papers: August 1, 2020
Email: res.sibiu@gmail.com
The Review of Ecumenical Studies About RES publishes articles, essays and reviews which come from the theological field, but also have an interdisciplinary dimension, especially from the fields of philosophy, history, ethics and social sciences, and go through a process of peer review. Decisions are made within four months. The contributions will be published in English or German and must comply with RES’s editorial guidelines: http://www.res.ecum.ro/guidelines/