annus sacerdotalis

The Antiochene tradition   versione testuale



From Ignatius to John Chrysostom
[1]
 
                     
1. Introdution
 
In this and the following chapter I intend to present some patristic texts relating to the formation of priests.
I will limit myself out of necessity to a few examples, among the many possible,[2] referring in this chapter to the “Antiochene tradition” and it the next to the “Alexandrine tradition”.
It is a choice that puts some order in the exposition, and on the other hand helps to overcome the image of a “theology of the Fathers” that is as rigid and compact as a monolith. In fact, the variety of the antique “schools” of Antioch, Alexandria, Edessa… and of their respective historical-cultural roots establishes different positions and sensitivities in the patristic texts.
The orientations of the antique traditions of Antioch and Alexandria are well known.
On the one hand, Antioch seems to incarnate the more evident characteristics of the so-called Asiatic “materialism”, sustainer of the letter in exegesis and of the humanity of the Son in Christology; while Alexandria seems to take the two instances – respectively complimentary – of allegory in exegesis and of the divinity of the Word in Christology.[3]
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