Martyria magazine · issue XV of the series

Issue I / 2023 January – June

Fifteen contributions across the six rubrics of the journal — from an introductory word by His Eminence Father Varsanufie on divine providence, to theological studies signed by authors from Athens…

15 studies
Bilingual edition
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The issue's argument

Fifteen contributions across the six rubrics of the journal — from an introductory word by His Eminence Father Varsanufie on divine providence, to theological studies signed by authors from Athens and Plovdiv, an ample dossier of Râmnican historical memory (Vartolomeu Stănescu, Chesarie, Saint Calinic, Mircea the Elder, the Cetățuia Skete), a word by Saint John Chrysostom on the middle of the Great Fast, an essay on the aesthetics of the Byzantine icon, an analysis of the Russian film The Miracle, a pilgrimage to the River Jordan and an interview on the joy of monastic life.

Studia Theologica

4 studies
01 God’s Providence, or On the Sustaining and Governing of the World through Love His Eminence Varsanufie 02 Theology in today’s globalised world Associate Professor Dr Nicolae Xionis 03 The Christological Mariology of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God Associate Professor Stoyan Chilikov 04 Orthodoxy and Contemporary Challenges: Demystifying a Connection. A Different Perspective Associate Professor Dr Marina Kolovopúlu

Studia Humanitatis

7 studies
05 Vartolomeu Stănescu – a revered hierarch and patriotic senator (I) Rev. Dr. Laurențiu Rădoi 06 The Life and Printing Work of Bishop and Scholar Chesarie of Râmnic Rev. Prof. Petre Mateiescu 07 Additional documentary evidence concerning the life and work of Saint Calinic of Cernica, Bishop of Râmnic Dr. Oana-Mădălina Popescu 08 Mircea the Elder – a prince of Christendom and his legacy Sergiu Iosipescu, Raluca Iosipescu 09 Cetățuia Hermitage, a Bessarabian foundation set to be revived Prof. Dr. Florin Epure 10 The Aesthetics of Beauty. Notes on the Byzantine Icon: Theology and Art The Nun Atanasia Văetiși 11 Listening to Patriarch Justin Dan Ciachir

The Words of the Fathers

1 study
12 A homily by [Saint John Chrysostom] on the week halfway through the [days] of fasting [during Lent] The Saint Ioan Gură de Aur

Ars Christiana

1 study
13 ‘The Miracle’ – a film about a miracle performed by Saint Nicholas that shook the Soviet Union Elena Dulgheru

Via Peregrina

1 study
14 The River Jordan – Our Epiphany Theodora Videscu

Colloquium

1 study
15 The joy and responsibility of monastic life Fr. Constantin Olariu

Issue illustration

This issue features watercolours created during the ‘Faith and Art’ International Painting Camp

Watercolour of an arched passage with two monk figures, in warm tones, with red flowers.
Watercolour of an arched passage with two monk figures, in warm tones, with red flowers.
Watercolour of a monastery gate tower, with figures gathered, in misty grey and violet tones.
Watercolour of a monastery gate tower, with figures gathered, in misty grey and violet tones.
Watercolour of a monastery courtyard with a staircase and arcades, in grey tones, with figures.
Watercolour of a monastery courtyard with a staircase and arcades, in grey tones, with figures.
Watercolour of a church with towers on a hill, in warm browns, with a staircase.
Watercolour of a church with towers on a hill, in warm browns, with a staircase.
Watercolour of a monastery church with a Brâncovenesc arcaded porch and a bed of red flowers in front, in a loose, luminous style.
Watercolour of a monastery church with a Brâncovenesc arcaded porch and a bed of red flowers in front, in a loose, luminous style.
Watercolour of a church gate tower with an archway and figures, with autumn fir trees.
Watercolour of a church gate tower with an archway and figures, with autumn fir trees.
Watercolour of a monastery church with domes, seen through grapevine leaves, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a monastery church with domes, seen through grapevine leaves, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a church with an open porch and a crowd of figures in front, luminous.
Watercolour of a church with an open porch and a crowd of figures in front, luminous.
Watercolour of a whitewashed monastery church, with two towers and an arcaded porch, against a blue sky.
Watercolour of a whitewashed monastery church, with two towers and an arcaded porch, against a blue sky.
Watercolour of a white church with a dome and a cypress, at dusk, with a black-clad figure in front and red flowers.
Watercolour of a white church with a dome and a cypress, at dusk, with a black-clad figure in front and red flowers.
Watercolour of an Orthodox church with an arcaded porch, at sunset, with an orange sky.
Watercolour of an Orthodox church with an arcaded porch, at sunset, with an orange sky.
Watercolour of a whitewashed church with a dome, at sunset, with a green bush in front and an orange sky.
Watercolour of a whitewashed church with a dome, at sunset, with a green bush in front and an orange sky.
Watercolour of a large whitewashed monastery church, at dusk, with a dramatic sky.
Watercolour of a large whitewashed monastery church, at dusk, with a dramatic sky.
Watercolour of a bush of red flowers, in a loose style.
Watercolour of a bush of red flowers, in a loose style.
Expressive watercolour of a wooden roadside cross-shrine (troiță), in violet and grey tones.
Expressive watercolour of a wooden roadside cross-shrine (troiță), in violet and grey tones.
Watercolour of a monastery gate tower and buildings among fir trees, with red flowers, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a monastery gate tower and buildings among fir trees, with red flowers, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a staircase with many potted flowers, in sunlight.
Watercolour of a staircase with many potted flowers, in sunlight.
Watercolour of a narrow sunlit street, with figures, in warm yellows and blue shadows.
Watercolour of a narrow sunlit street, with figures, in warm yellows and blue shadows.
Watercolour of a monastery church with green domes and a gate, on a hillside, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a monastery church with green domes and a gate, on a hillside, in bright colours.
Watercolour of a monastery courtyard with a bell tower and arcades, with figures, in a loose style.
Watercolour of a monastery courtyard with a bell tower and arcades, with figures, in a loose style.

Editorial masthead

Board of Directors

His Eminence Dr. Varsanufie, Archbishop of Râmnic – Founding President
Fr. Constantin Olariu, Cultural Counselor of the Archdiocese of Râmnic

Editorial Board

(in alphabetical order)

  • Acad. Prof. Dr. Ilie Bădescu, Romanian Academy
  • Prof. Irakli Brachuli, Department of Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, „Ivane Javakhishvili" Tbilisi State University, Georgia
  • Dr. Bogdan Tătaru-Cazaban, Researcher at the Institute for the History of Religions, Romanian Academy
  • V. Rev. Archim. Maximos Constas, Professor of Patristics and Orthodox Theology, Director Pappas Patristic Institute, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA, USA
  • Dan Ciachir, writer – Bucharest
  • Prof. Dr. Habil. Ion Marian Croitoru, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Valahia University of Târgoviște
  • Prof. Dr. Nae Georgescu, Bucharest
  • Lect. Dr. Octavian Gordon, University of Bucharest
  • Prof. Dr. Marina Kolovopúlu, Faculty of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Prof. Dr. Giorgi Kvesitadze, President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences
  • Fr. Bassam A. Nassif, Ph.D., D.Min., Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon
  • Prof. Dr. Mihaela Palade, University of Bucharest
  • Prof. Dr. Ioan-Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Ribolov, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Prof. Dr. Ioan Scurtu, member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists – Bucharest
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nicolae Xionis, Faculty of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Prof. Anastasia Zakariadze, Anthim the Iberians Scientific Center for Studying Philosophy and Theology, „Ivane Javakhishvili" Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Editors

  • Fr. Constantin Olariu
  • PhD Cand. Dragoș Cătălin Jumugă
  • Fr. PhD Cand. Andrei-Lucian Ionescu

Graphic Design and Layout

Atelierul de grafică

Typefaces

Calluna, Alegreya Sans