The Prolegomena of Agapology -- an Emergent World Journal

  An Agaposofic Commentary on Matthew 5 By Fr Symeon Agiomicheltites  Abstract This article offers an Agaposofic commentary on Matthew 5, rooted in Orthodox Patristic theology and relational personalism. By integrating insights from the Church Fathers and contemporary philosophers, this analysis examines how Christ’s teachings in Matthew 5 transcend legalistic morality, emphasizing the ontological and ethical dimensions of love. Through divine grace and human synergy, the Beatitudes and broader Sermon on the Mount invite humanity into a transformative path toward hypostatic fulfillment and theosis. Introduction Matthew 5 serves as a cornerstone of Christian moral and spiritual thought, presenting Christ's Sermon on the Mount as the definitive reorientation of humanity toward divine relationality. Agaposofia, which synthesizes Orthodox theology, relational personalism, and existential phenomenology, provides a lens through which to explore the ontological depth of Christ’s teac...

  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...