Section · 08 / 11

Colloquium

Interviews and dialogues with monks, theologians, and pastors of souls.

All studies in this section Advanced filters
2023 1 article
Colloquium No. I (XV) / 2023 The joy and responsibility of monastic life Fr. Constantin Olariu

Orthodox monasticism is presented as a prophetic and missionary ministry, founded on the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, on prayer, asceticism and the Divine Liturgy, as a living response to the challenges of a desacralised society. The rite of tonsure, repentance, confession and liturgical life are portrayed as essential means of spiritual ascent and of man’s union with God within the Church.
2022 2 articles
Colloquium No. II (XIV) / 2022 God’s grace and human freedom PhD candidate Andrei-Lucian Ionescu
An interview conducted by Drd. Andrei Lucian Ionescu with an abbot addresses central themes of the Orthodox spiritual life: the knowledge of God, prayer, the Holy Sacraments, freedom in Christ and the ascent towards deification. The dialogue highlights that union with God requires the cooperation of human will and divine grace, and that holiness, illustrated by the example of Saint John Jacob of Hozeva, can be lived out even during one’s earthly life.
 Colloquium No. I (XIII) / 2022 Interview with Protos. Clement Păunescu, Abbot of Slănic Monastery – Argeș Fr. Constantin Olariu
In a theological interview, an Orthodox abbot explores the fundamental role of prayer in the life of a Christian, beginning with the creation of man in the image of God and the Fall of Adam. Prayer is defined as the voluntary relinquishment of one’s own freedom to allow for divine intervention, whilst fasting, and the examples of Saint Gregory Palamas and Saint Joseph the Hesychast, illustrate the path to deification and salvation.
2021 2 articles
Colloquium No. II (XII) / 2021 On Prayer (II). An interview with Father Archimandrite Veniamin Micle Fr. Constantin Olariu
The dialogue with Father Veniamin explores the nature, forms and role of prayer in Christian life, emphasising that prayer is an ontological necessity for humankind – not a magical practice, but an act of freedom and communion with God. The different kinds of prayer are analysed according to the teachings of Saint John Climacus, Saint Symeon the New Theologian and Saint Theophan the Recluse, as well as the role of the spiritual father in guiding the faithful along the path of pure prayer.
 Colloquium No. I (XI) / 2021 Interview with the Most Reverend Father Archimandrite Veniamin Micle Fr. Constantin Olariu

The interview conducted by Fr. Constantin Olariu with Father Veniamin addresses the deification of man, unceasing prayer and the Hesychast tradition in Romanian monasticism, with particular reference to Bistrița Monastery and the intercessions of Saint Gregory the Decapolite; the reader comes to understand that prayer, rooted in the teachings of the Holy Fathers, is man’s living and continuous communion with God.
2020 1 article
Colloquium No. I (X) / 2020 Interview with Father Efrem Vatopedinul, abbot of Vatopedu Monastery on Mount Athos Hieromonk Dionisie

An interview with an Athonite abbot, conducted by Hieromonk Dionysius of Ostrov Monastery, explores essential themes of the Orthodox spiritual life: gratitude towards God as the key to the mysteries revealed to Saint Joseph the Hesychast, the role of spiritual fatherhood, asceticism, fear, the contemporary crisis and the failure to manifest virtues, illustrated by recollections of Saints Paisios of Mount Athos, Ephrem of Katounakia and Joseph of Vatopedi.
2019 2 articles
Colloquium No. II (IX) / 2019 On the health of the soul. A helpful word from Abba Julian the Prodromite George Crăsnean

The article sets out the teachings of the monk Iulian Lazăr of the Prodromou Skete (Mount Athos), as conveyed to some visitors in February 2014, and contains exhortations on deification, unceasing prayer, the healing of the soul through confession and a spiritual father, patience in the face of injustice, love for one’s neighbour and zeal for holiness.

 Colloquium No. I (VIII) / 2019 On the priesthood and the passions, with Father Damaschin Grigoriatul George Crăsnean
Father Damaschin of Grigoriou Monastery (Athos), a missionary monk who learnt Romanian, Swahili and other languages in order to translate texts on Orthodox spirituality and carry out missionary work in Africa, speaks about the spiritual struggle against carnal passions, the purity required of the priesthood, humility as the foundation of Christian life, and the attainment of grace through the Jesus Prayer.
2018 3 articles
Colloquium No. III (VII) / 2018 Fourteen existential questions. Their theological answers Professor (Dr), Emeritus Dimitrie Țelenghídis

Dimitrie Țelenghidis, Professor of Dogmatic Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, provides theological answers to fourteen fundamental existential questions, translated from the original Greek booklet Δεκατέσσερα ὑπαρξιακὰ ἐρωτήματα. The topics covered include the purpose of creation, the salvific role of the Church and the Holy Sacraments, death and resurrection, freedom, abortion, suicide and the causes of the breakdown of the contemporary family.

 Colloquium No. II (VI) / 2018 Interview with Archimandrite Athanasius Prodromitus, Abbot of the Romanian Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos (III) Rev. Dr. Ștefan Zară, Monk Gherasim Prodromitul

The interview reconstructs the spiritual life of the Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos under the abbotship of Father Petroniu, presenting the Athonite practices he introduced in accordance with the Typikon of Saint Sava, the strained relations with the Great Lavra, and the restoration work carried out in a negligent manner. More recent crises are also discussed, including the breakaway of some monks from the Orthodox Church due to fanatical zealotry and the unauthorised use of the internet.

 Colloquium No. I (V) / 2018 Interview with Archimandrite Athanasius Prodromitus, Abbot of the Romanian Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos (II) Rev. Dr. Ștefan Zară, Monk Gherasim Prodromitul
This article presents the spiritual life and monastic order of the Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos, under the abbotship of Father Petroniu, and their continuation by his successor. It describes in detail the principles of the community – the liturgical programme according to the Typikon of Saint Sava, the daily duties, weekly confession and the abbot’s way of life – as well as the process of electing the new abbot and the spiritual and administrative challenges facing the skete.
2017 2 articles
Colloquium No. II (IV) / 2017 Interview with Archimandrite Athanasios Prodromitis, Abbot of the Romanian Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos (Part I) Rev. Dr. Ștefan Zară, Monk Gherasim Prodromitul

The interview conducted by Fr. Ștefan Zară and Monk Gherasim Prodromitul features the testimony of the abbess of the Romanian Prodromu Skete on Mount Athos regarding her departure from Sihăstria Monastery in 1978, together with Archimandrite Petroniu Tănase and three other monks, and of her early years at the skete, marked by the state of disrepair of the monastic complex, the presence of some Old-Style zealot monks, and the efforts to restore liturgical and monastic life. Readers also learn about the political context of the Communist era and the revival of Athonite monasticism during those years.

 Colloquium No. I (III) / 2017 Interview with Archimandrite Elisei, abbot of the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos Rev. Dr. Ștefan Zară

Interview conducted by Fr. Ștefan Zară
Translation: Monk Gherasim Prodromitul
2016 2 articles
Colloquium No. II (II) / 2016 Interview with Archimandrite Nikodim, abbot of the Holy Monastery of Filotheou on Mount Athos Archimandrite Dr Policarp Chițulescu

Archimandrite Nikodim, abbot of Filoteu Monastery on Mount Athos, offers, in an interview conducted in 2016 by Archimandrite Dr Policarp Chițulescu, spiritual guidance on the balance between work, prayer and priestly ministry, addressed to priests and the faithful in Romania. Topics covered include the danger of greed, the role of the abbot in monastic life, the importance of confession, and the duty of priests to shepherd their community with devotion and genuine faith.

 Colloquium No. I (I) / 2016 At the home of the Elder Gavriil of Mount Athos, the Abbot of the Cutlumuși Skete, the Venerable Hristodul of Karies

The monk Gherasim Prodromitul records an interview with Elder Gabriel of Mount Athos, conducted at the request of His Eminence Varsanufie, Archbishop of Râmnic. The Elder speaks of the spiritual decline of Athos, of the Venerable Paisios the Athonite, and offers exhortations to prayer, confession, fasting, almsgiving and repentance as the path to salvation in these times.