Les deux œuvres spirituelles majeures de Cabasilas : L’Explication de la divine Liturgie et ses Sept Discours au sujet de la vie en Christ, dont les conceptions théologiques ecclésiastiques fondamentales et principales constituent le terreau fertile de la présente thèse sur les mystères du Baptême, de la Chrismation et de la divine Eucharistie, s’appuyant sur l’idée principale du théologien que le salut humain se trouve dans la maison de Dieu. Nicolas Cabasilas fonde précisément sur les saints mystères toute sa théologie ecclésiastique du Nouveau Testament, le monde entier, qui se transforme, s’organise et vit en tant que Corps du Christ. Le Saint Esprit « par la main et la bouche des prêtre accomplit » les mystères de l’Église qui apportent des fruits spirituels et la vie morale et spirituelle en Christ. Ainsi la vie des membres du corps de l’Église, dont le Christ est la tête, est la vie dans le Saint Esprit. Cabasilas place ainsi avec justesse et profondeur, les sacrements principaux (baptême, chrismation et eucharistie) au cœur de ce chemin de vie et d'union au Christ. Toutefois, un rappel important de Cabasilas, concernant le principe de coopération, ne doit pas nous échapper. En effet, la vie nouvelle en Christ est le fruit de la coopération de Dieu et du facteur humain. Le salut n’est pas donné de force lors des mystères, mais avec la coopération et la bonne volonté de l’individu, sa participation active. Enfin, comme notre thèse le démontre, la pensée théologique de Cabasilas, concernant le caractère eschatologique des mystères, en particulier du baptême et de la divine Eucharistie, préserve et dispense la doctrine de l’Apôtre Paul et de la théologie chrétienne primitive qualifiant avec Saint Paul les mystères comme « forces du siècle à venir». / The two major spiritual works of Nicholas Cabasilas : The Explanation of the Divine Liturgy and his seven speeches on the life of Christ, whose basic theological and ecclesiastical designs are the fertile soil of our thesis on the mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist, are based on the main idea that human salvation should be found in the church, the house of God. Nicholas Cabasilas bases precisely on the holy mysteries his entire theology of the New Testament, in which the whole world is organized and lives as the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit by the hand and the mouth of the priest performs the mysteries of the Church and provides the spiritual and moral fruits, the spiritual life in Christ. Thus the life of the members of the body of the Church, of which Christ is the head, is the life in the Holy Spirit. Cabasilas places with reason the major sacraments (Baptism, Chrismation and Eucharist) at the heart of this life and union with Christ. However, the important reminder of Cabasilas on the principle of cooperation should not escape us. Indeed, the new life in Christ is the fruit of cooperation between God and the human factor. The salvation is not given by force with the mysteries, but with the cooperation and good will of the individual, his active participation. Finally, as our case demonstrates, the theological thought of Cabasilas concerning the eschatological character of the mysteries, especially baptism and the Holy Eucharist, preserves and provides the doctrine of the Apostle Paul and the early Christian theology qualifying the holly mysteries as "forces of the age to come."

The following work will examine the historical genesis of the unit that will serve the Orthodox Church in the Czech lands. It will also defend the religious doctrine of that community and its relations with the state and other Christian denominations, especially with those that have historically had to reflect, and with those that have traditionally dominated the Czech territory and share in the co-importance of the national ethos. In our diploma thesis we try to respond to the questions of the origin of Orthodoxy, its development in history, its arrival in our territory, and its fate here. The subject of our research will be examined mainly from the historical point of view, but with some interdisciplinary intersections, especially in the field of literary history, linguistics, religion and comparative cultural studies in religion and collective psychology in determining and influencing the Czech nation's own national identity. Of course, all this with a critical distance, but also with a feeling for the spirit of the relevant epoch.

The subject of this thesis is to describe and explain the phenomenon of burning books in contemporary Russia, possibly in the territory annexed by Crimea and East Ukraine. The thesis deals with events in the last 15 years, during which several cases of book burning were identified. The fundamental procedure of the thesis is a thorough verification of these events and their introduction into the socio-political context of contemporary Russia. The aim will be to address aspects of social and political circumstances that can encourage or support these trends.

The Soviet Union population was unified under the shared belief of being a part of a common goal for proletarianism, in disregard of religion. These sentiments were prevalent up until the union’s dissolution. Something which created an identity void, reinvigorating the need for spirituality. The idea of belonging to a Church was encouraged, in which Orthodoxy emerged as a solution for the lack of identity and provided a source of piety for the people. Amalgamating the scattered religious community, essentially providing a catalyst for creating an identity based on a cultural belonging to a historical past. This thesis presents the Russian Orthodox Church’s politicised role in Russia, that in turn has created an identity marker for Russians. From this, an understanding stems for the outcome of Russia’s and the ROCs attempt to exert cultural values through Soft power on Ukraine and Belarus. Fundamentally illustrating that the two states’ preconceived identities differs to the extent that they either welcome or reject these notions.

The presented work deals with the topic of the relationship between the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and the regime of Slobodan Milosevic in the years 1987 - 2000, which is a topic that has scarcely been elaborated upon in academic circles. It specifically deals with the concept of symphony as an Orthodox ideal of the arrangement of relationship between the Church and the state in the SOC policy towards the Serbian political leadership of that time. The thesis illuminates the origins and the essence of this concept and defines the adjustments which it went through in the Serbian milieu. In comparison to the original concept of symphonic interaction between the Church and the power of the state, the author establishes the core alteration as the addition of a national aspect and the creation of an organizational triad of nation, Church and state, which became a characteristic feature of the Serbian Orthodox theology. Based upon the analysis of SOC discourse, the treatise then refreshes the proposition that the symphony of Church and state, taking into account specific attributes, forms a key framework that has influenced and to this day to a certain extent still influences the SOC policy and its approach to a particular political power and regime.

Orthodox Christianity came to the Banyore people of western Kenya in 1942. The Banyore are Bantu speaking people whose language belongs to the Luhya group of languages. The Banyore live near the Uganda border; they are thought to be related to the famous Uganda Kingdom of Bunyoro Kitara. The first Christian missionaries among the Banyore were Protestants who came from South Africa in 1905. . The Orthodox faith reached Bunyore in 1942, through a Kenyan missionary from central Kenya, Bishop George (Arthur) Gathuna, and Fr Obadiah from Uganda. The point of note here is that the first Orthodox Christian missionaries to introduce the Orthodox Christian faith to the Banyore people were Kenyans. I shall examine the relation between Orthodox Christianity and Banyore culture, and show how Orthodox Christianity, in dialogue with the Banyore people, became indigenised in Bunyore culture. Thus Orthodox Christians in Bunyore do not see Orthodoxy as something foreign, but as something that has become part of their own culture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

Orthodox Christianity came to the Banyore people of western Kenya in 1942. The Banyore are Bantu speaking people whose language belongs to the Luhya group of languages. The Banyore live near the Uganda border; they are thought to be related to the famous Uganda Kingdom of Bunyoro Kitara. The first Christian missionaries among the Banyore were Protestants who came from South Africa in 1905. . The Orthodox faith reached Bunyore in 1942, through a Kenyan missionary from central Kenya, Bishop George (Arthur) Gathuna, and Fr Obadiah from Uganda. The point of note here is that the first Orthodox Christian missionaries to introduce the Orthodox Christian faith to the Banyore people were Kenyans. I shall examine the relation between Orthodox Christianity and Banyore culture, and show how Orthodox Christianity, in dialogue with the Banyore people, became indigenised in Bunyore culture. Thus Orthodox Christians in Bunyore do not see Orthodoxy as something foreign, but as something that has become part of their own culture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

The Thesis deals with the historical development of Christian marriage and conversion from the original family ritual to the public ceremony, from secular (state) rituals to the church type of marriage. It describes the beginning of the wedding liturgy at the West and the East. The first part of Thesis deals, except the history of wedding ritual, also with the theology of marriage with selected representatives of the West and the East {--} the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Byzantine type. The wedding ceremonies of both churches are described in detail in other parts of the Thesis. They are subsequently compared with a reference to the similar elements and defining the specific parts. The comparison shows that the substantial part of the Roman Catholic ceremony is the bride´s and groom´s wedding vow. The priest is the privileged witness representing the church and he only accepts the vow. Whereas at the Orthodox Church of Byzantine type the marriage is concluded by priest´s blessing and coronation. In the final part the author thinks about the possible suggestion of a ceremony that would include the liturgy elements from both selected churches.

The thesis deals with the comparison attitudes of two Eastern Christian traditions - Orthodox and Coptic to 4th ecumenical council, which held in 451 in Chalcedon. The Monophysite, or Non- Chalcedonian, Coptic Orthodox Church regards it as return to the heterodox teaching called Nestorianism whilst Eastern Orthodox Church this council considers in accordance with the Orthodox doctrine. For Orthodox Christians Chalcedon represents the breakthrough for a refinement of the Christology, concretely in the doctrine about two natures - divine and human - in single person of Christ which the Copts regard as return to Nestorian heresy which due to its dualism interfered the integrity of the person of Christ. The thesis puts forward the insight into the Council of Chalcedon from both perspectives objectively. The thesis is based on authors which represent Orthodox and Coptic traditions but also on these who researched this issue solely from a historical-theological point of view. I have noted reasons - theological and non-theological - why the Copts reject to accept conclusions of this ecumenical council to this day, among other things. I have tried to point out that Monophysitism, or Miaphysitism - whose way the Copts follow - is not only a heretical teaching from the Orthodox theological point of view but...

Many African Independent Churches emerged during the colonial era in central Kenya and western Nigeria. At times they were opposed by government officials and missionaries. Most scholars have limited the field of enquiry to the flash-points of this encounter, thereby emphasizing the relationship at its most severe. This study questions current assumptions about the encounter which have derived from these studies, arguing that both government and missionary officials in Kenya and Nigeria exhibited a broader range of perspectives and responses to African Independent Churches. To characterize them as mainly hostile to African Independent Churches is inaccurate. This study also explores the various encounters between African Independent Churches and African politicians, clergymen, and local citizens. While some scholars have discussed the positive role of Africans in encouraging the growth of independent Christianity, this study will discuss the history in greater depth and complexity. The investigation will show the importance of understanding the encounter on both a local and national level, and the relationships between the two. It is taken for granted that European officials had authority over African leaders, but in regard to this topic many Africans possessed a largely unrecognized ability to influence and shape European perceptions of new religious movements. Finally, this thesis will discuss how African Independent Churches sometimes provoked negative responses from others through confrontational missionary methods, caustic rhetoric, intimidation and even violence. These three themes resurface throughout the history of the encounter and illustrate how current assumptions can be reinterpreted. This thesis suggests the necessity of expanding the primary scholarly focuses, as well as altering the language and basic assumptions of the previous histories of the encounter.