Anastasios Yannoulatos: The Theological “Image” of the Orthodox Mission

Relevance of the research. Modern Orthodox theology formes principles and practical approaches to mission, that involve dialogue with other denominations, religions, and secularized society.

Problem statement. Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos laid the foundation for modern Orthodox theology of mission, his views require study and analysis.

Analysis of recent research and publications. Researchers have mainly paid attention to the extensive missionary activity of Yannoulatos. His theological views were analyzed by Milutin Janjic (considered inculturation in missionary activity), Pavel Aurel (highlighted certain aspects of the theology of mission), Nikolaos Tsirevelos (analyzed the significance of the principle “Liturgy after the Liturgy” for mission).

Research task. The article analyzes the theological understanding of mission and its characteristic features in the works of Anastasios Yannoulatos.

Main material presentation. Yannoulatos emphasizes the need for a theological understanding of mission for the spread of the Christian gospel in the modern world and the church's response to the challenges of globalization. He bases the theology of mission on the teaching of the Triune God, Who is Love and created the world and humanity with the aim of including them in being in love. The first messenger into the world was Jesus Christ, Who showed an example of life and preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven, founded the sacrament of the Eucharist and the Church, gave the apostles commandments and the Holy Spirit for the further spread of the Gospel. Therefore, mission is a matter of the Triune God, in which Christians participate. Yannoulatos states that modern Orthodox Churches tend to limit their activities to pastoral care for their own faithful. While the evangelical commandments of Christ to the apostles regarding the gospel “to the whole world”, “to all nations” are given to all Christians. He involves the categories of law and justice and emphasizes that all peoples have the right to the spiritual gifts that God has given to the Church, and the Church is responsible for all humanity, not just the faithful. Every person has the freedom not to accept the Gospel, but the Church has the duty to preach and create Eucharistic communities in order to give people the opportunity to participate in spiritual gifts. Preaching involves the life of a missionary according to the commandments of Christ and must be non-violent and sacrificial. Conclusions. Yannoulatos considered the mission in a Trinitarian, Christological, pneumatological, ecclesiological perspective, pointing to it as a duty of the Church, which extends to all times, all geographical regions and all problems facing humanity.

Conclusions. Yannoulatos considered mission from a trinitarian, christological, pneumatological, and ecclesiological perspective, pointing to it as a duty of the Church that extends to all times, all geographical regions, and all the problems facing humanity.