Keywords
doctrine
anthropology
creationism
Church Father
How to Cite
Abstract
This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the anthropological doctrine of the Cappadocian Triad: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa. The relevance of the topic stems from the need to reinterpret the patristic heritage as a dynamic system capable of offering an alternative to the contemporary anthropological crisis, which manifests itself in the depersonalisation of the human being and the loss of their existential integrity. The point is that the theological experience of the 4th century allows us to reconstruct an understanding of the person as a unique subject that cannot be reduced to biological or social functions. This study aims to elucidate the anthropological teaching of the Cappadocian School as the result of Trinitarian and apologetic discussions of the Nicene period, as well as to reveal the role of the human being as a microcosm that, through synergy with the Creator, participates in the process of the renewal of being. The study is based on the use of hermeneutic analysis of primary sources, the historical-genetic method for identifying the transformation of ancient categories, and a systemic-analytical approach. This has enabled the integration of the Trinitarian controversies of the 4th century into a coherent model of Christian creationism. As a result, it is proven that the Cappadocian Fathers carried out an ontological revolution, rethinking man as a microcosm capable of contemplating the Logos of being. It has been established that their apologetics is based on a rejection of a static perception of dogmas in favour of viewing humanity through the prism of sacred history. It is emphasised that Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa view human nature as a mirror reflecting the Divine light, and the physical world as the realm in which human dignity is realised. The text substantiates the status of the human being as an active agent within the structure of existence, who, through free synergy with the Creator, participates in the process of renewing their own nature and the entire created world. Thus, the anthropology of the Cappadocian Fathers is the doctrinal foundation of Christian humanism. It affirms the idea that the creation of the world is not a completed act, but an ongoing process in which the human being acts as a mediator between the Creator and creation. The model they developed allows us to reconstruct the meaning of human existence as a path to eschatological deification, which makes their legacy highly relevant to contemporary Christian philosophy and apologetics.
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