Going Deeper with Zizioulas & ChatGPT

“John Zizioulas (Greek: Ιωάννης Ζηζιούλας; 10 January 1931 – 2 February 2023)[1][2] was a Greek Orthodox bishop who served as the Metropolitan of Pergamon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from 1986 until his death in 2023. He was one of the most influential Orthodox Christian theologians of the 20th and 21st centuries,” (Wikipedia).

In his book “Being as Communion,” Zizioulas touches on concepts that are critical to understanding the deeper implications of Schmemann’s book, “For the Life of the World.”

The following are related quotes taken directly from “Being as Communion.”

“Christ becomes the “principle” and “end” of all things, the One who not only moves history from within its own unfolding, but who also moves existence even from within the multiplicity of created things, towards the true being which is true life and true communion.”  pg 98

“Eikon is the final truth of being communicated in and through an event of communion (liturgical or sacramental), anticipating the “end” of history from within its unfolding.”  Pg 101

In regards to the Greek patristic concept of truth, the key emphasis is the “identification of truth with communion…  If communion is conceived as something additional to being, then we no longer have the same picture.  The crucial point lies in the fact that being is constituted as communion; only then can truth and communion be mutually identified.” Pg 101

ChatGPT provides a helpful summary of how Zizioulas develops these terms of “being” and “communion”.

““Zizioulas defines being as a dynamic relationship of communion, rather than as a static substance or essence. He asserts that all beings, including human beings and the triune God, exist in a state of constant becoming, defined by their relationships of communion. Being is not something that exists in isolation or independently of other beings, but is rather a relational reality that is created and sustained through communion.

Communion, according to Zizioulas, is not simply a relationship of exchange or communication, but is a shared existence in which individual beings are united in a common life. Communion is not a mere aggregate of individual beings, but rather a mutually enriching and transformative relationship in which the unique identity of each being is both preserved and enhanced. Communion is the ontological condition for the possibility of authentic personal existence.””

Going beyond this step, to understand our aim of restoring communion with God — we must further clarify our understanding of what went wrong with the fall of man — what problem are we trying to solve?

Again, ChatGPT does some of the heavy lifting for us — to summarize what is meant by the fall of man, according to Zizioulas.

““John Zizioulas' understanding of the fall of humanity is closely related to his ontology of being as communion. In his view, the fall represents a disruption or distortion of the relational nature of existence, in which humanity became isolated from God, from one another, and from the natural world.

Zizioulas argues that the fall was not simply a moral or ethical failing, but was a profound ontological and existential rupture that affected the very nature of human being. The fall represented a turning away from God, and an attempt to establish an autonomous existence independent of communion with others. This rupture led to a loss of the true identity of humanity, and a fragmentation of human existence into isolated individuals and groups.

According to Zizioulas, the fall of humanity represents a rejection of the ontological condition of communion, and a failure to recognize the essential interconnectedness of all existence. The resulting alienation and fragmentation can only be overcome through a restoration of communion, which is only possible through the redemptive work of Christ.

Zizioulas emphasizes that salvation is not simply a matter of individual moral or spiritual transformation, but is a restoration of the relational nature of existence. Through participation in the life of Christ and the Church, individuals are reunited with God and with one another in a shared existence of communion. This restoration of communion leads to a transformation of all existence, including the natural world, and is the ultimate goal of God's plan for creation.

Overall, Zizioulas sees the fall of humanity as a profound ontological and existential rupture that disrupted the relational nature of existence. Salvation, in his view, is a restoration of communion, which can only be achieved through participation in the life of Christ and the Church. This vision of salvation has significant implications for our understanding of the nature of humanity, the Church, and the world, and emphasizes the essential interconnectedness of all existence.”””

….More to come…