The Prolegomena of Agapology -- an Emergent World Journal

  Patristic Relational Ontology: A Theological Framework Fr Symeon Agiomicheltites                                              St Maximus Centre For Agaposofia Philosophy Patristic relational ontology is a key concept in Orthodox theology that emphasizes the relational and communal nature of existence, grounded in the Trinitarian understanding of God. It posits that true being is found in relationships, rather than in isolated individuality. This ontology is deeply rooted in the writings of the Church Fathers, particularly in their reflections on the nature of the Trinity, the human person, and salvation (theosis). Below, we explore its key aspects and implications. 1. The Trinitarian Foundation of Relational Ontology The relational nature of being finds its ultimate expression in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, where the three persons (hypostases) share one essenc...

  The Relationship of Love to Our Inner Faculties: An Orthodox and Agaposophic Perspective Fr Symeon Agiomicheltites   Abstract This article examines the integral relationship between love and the faculties of the human person—soma (body), Logos (reason/divine principle), nous (spiritual intellect), dianoia (discursive reasoning), thymos (spiritedness/will), and epithymia (desire/appetite). Drawing upon Orthodox Christian anthropology and Agaposofia, it explores how love engages and harmonizes these faculties, enabling the person to ascend toward theosis (union with God) while maintaining their unique personhood. The analysis demonstrates how each faculty contributes to the holistic experience of love, grounded in theological and philosophical frameworks. --- Introduction In Orthodox Christian theology, the human person is a composite being, comprised of body and soul, endowed with various faculties that enable communion with God and others. These faculties—soma, Logos, nous, ...

Where Love is Lacking (A Critique of the Wikipedia)  Fr Symeon Agiomicheltites  The Wikipedia article on Robert Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love provides a comprehensive overview of his framework, which categorizes love into three fundamental components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.  This critique, grounded in an Agapic Ontological Personalist (AOP) Philosophy of Agaposofia framework, highlights the article's limitations in addressing love's ethical, spiritual, and transformative dimensions. Introduction The Triangular Theory of Love, developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg, outlines love as a combination of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment (Sternberg, 1986). While this theory has gained traction as a framework for understanding romantic and interpersonal relationships, its psychological reductionism leaves critical dimensions of love unexplored. This critique examines the Wikipedia article on Sternberg's theory, evaluates it...

What is Non-Existenz? In the philosophical framework of Agaposofia, Non-Existenz refers to a profound existential and ontological failure: the state in which a person, despite existing as a created being, fails to actualize their true, authentic self in alignment with divine purpose and relational love. It is not the absence of existence, as all beings participate in existence by virtue of the divine Logos, but rather an existential void that occurs when an individual neglects their logoi (their unique divine purpose) and thus fails to live authentically and ethically. In other words, Non-Existenz is the failure to become one’s genuine self (prosōpon), which is the ultimate telos (goal) of human existence—becoming one's true self (hypostasis). Non-Existenz as an Ontological Crisis Non-Existenz can be understood as an ontological crisis because it disrupts the very nature of being. According to St. Maximus the Confessor, all beings exist through the divine Logos and a...

  The Ontology of Saint Maximus the Confessor Monk Symeon Agiomichēlitēs The ontology of Saint Maximus the Confessor is among the most sublime syntheses of Christian theological vision and metaphysical insight in the history of the Church. Situated firmly within the ascetical and doctrinal heart of the Orthodox tradition, Maximus articulates not merely a speculative metaphysics, but a living tapestry of existence—one that is at once cosmic, personal, and profoundly Christological. To inquire into ontology, for Maximus, is to inquire into the deepest foundations of reality: into the very structure of being, purpose, and relation as established by God and fulfilled in Christ. Ontology, classically, is that philosophical discipline which seeks to discern what truly is —what constitutes reality in its most fundamental constitution. It asks: What does it mean to exist? What kinds of beings are there? How are entities ordered in their being? Yet for Maximus, these questions cannot be a...

  The Space Between Us   In Agaposofia, " the space between us " is interpreted as both a relational and ontological concept, deeply tied to love ( agape ) and the presence of the divine. This space is not a void but a dynamic field of grace, where the relational nature of human beings is revealed and fulfilled; depending upon the will and decisions made by persons in the encounter.   The Space as Sacred Ground The space between us is charged with potential divine energies (Grace), where the Logoi of each person meet. This intersection is not merely a ‘meeting of individuals’ but the contact moment and space between two or more persons; it is a participatory eikon of the relational life of the Holy Trinity, where love flows unceasingly between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   As beings created in the eikon theou (Image of God), this space becomes the arena for synergy —a co-working of human intentionality and divine action to realize unity in love.   ...