Serbian Theological Thought in a Period of Transition: Neopatristics, Spiritual Tradition, and Ecumenism
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/GEI2503133C UDC: 27-1:271.222”199/”(497.11) Original research paper
Abstract
This paper explores the development of contemporary Serbian theology from the late 20th to the early 21st century within the broader context of Orthodox theological discourse. It focuses on three central dimensions that have shaped the identity of Serbian theology during this period: the return-to-the-fathers movement and the neopatristic synthesis, the revival of interest in Serbia’s spiritual and theological heritage, and the engagement with ecumenism and inter-Christian dialogue. The first section demonstrates how the neopatristic synthesis, inspired by the thought of Georges Florovsky and Justin Popović, provided a framework for renewed theological expression, integrating academic scholarship, monastic renewal, and Eucharistic consciousness in Serbia. The second section examines the reception of Saint Sava, the Kosovo Covenant, Nikolaj of Žiča, and Justin the New of Ćelije, emphasizing their role in shaping spiritual and identity consciousness amid social and political upheavals. The third section traces the evolving attitudes toward ecumenism, ranging from sharp critique to more moderate participation in dialogue, revealing the complex balance between fidelity to tradition and the imperative for conciliar action within the wider Orthodox and Christian context. Overall, this study demonstrates that Serbian theology in this period functioned not merely as an academic discipline but as a living spiritual practice, simultaneously preserving tradition and responding to contemporary challenges. It cultivated a space in which spiritual experience, historical memory, and global dialogue intersect, thereby shaping a distinctive identity for contemporary Serbian theological thought.
Keywords: contemporary Serbian theology; neopatristic synthesis; Justin of Ćelije; Nikolaj of Žiča; ecumenism; Orthodox ecclesiology; identity; spiritual tradition
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