TA 4/2011 (116. vuosikerta)

God’s Cosmic Symphony: Bonaventure’s Trinitarian Theology of Creation and its Ecotheological Dimension — For Bonaventure, creation was based on the self-diffusive goodness and love of the triune God, from which a community of relationships emerges (emanatio). All of creation is therefore in some way related to and even a sign of the Trinity (exemplarism). Like a mirror or book, creation reflects the power, wisdom and goodness of the triune God and is meant to lead humans back to Him. Bona venture viewed the world as both sacramental and symbolic. Since every creature has its foundation in the uncreated Word of God, the incarnate Word of God reveals to the world its own meaning and directs the world to fulfilment and completion in God (consummatio). Creation is imbued with divine meaning and awaits the human person to give voice to this meaning. Only together do they form a symphony of divine praise and glory.

Experience or Tradition as a Source of the Mysticism of John of the Cross? — Once in a while, experience is cited as one of the main sources of the mysticism of John of the Cross. However, a careful study of the mysticism of John shows that the features which superficially seem to have been inspired by some sort of mystical experience prove instead to be part of the tradition where John lived. For example, John’s concept of the essential knowledge of creatures which the soul attains in union with God is inspired by the medieval debate on the cognition of God (especially John Baconthorpe) and the thoughts of Meister Eckhart.

A New Dating for the Hagiography of Venerable Adrian of Ondrusov — Adrian of Ondrusov was, as tradition holds, a monk who lived in the 16th century and founded the Ondrusova monastery in the Olonets region, in the proximity of Lake Ladoga. The precise founding year of the monastery remains unclear. Nineteenth-century literature presents contradictory views on the question. The Hermitage of St Nicholas in Ondrusova, edited by Hegumen Damaskin of the Valaam monastery in 1856, was until recently considered the earliest written hagiography of St. Adrian of Ondrusov. A newly discovered manuscript source provides more detailed information about the origin of the hagiography of Adrian as the founder of the Ondrusova monastery as well as the monastery’s historical development.