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Preface

In modern language, the author sets forth the foundations of the teaching and life of the Christian Orthodox Church. The main emphasis is placed on the Holy Tradition of the Church, expressed in the works and prayerful experience of her holy ascetics and teachers. The combination of a scientific approach with inspired preaching makes the book spiritually convincing and interesting.For Christians who want to know the sources of their faith in more detail and fuller, for all those interested in Christianity.

Preface to the First Edition

Despite the subtitle "Introduction to Orthodox Dogmatic Theology," Hegumen Hilarion's book "The Mystery of Faith" is intended not only for theological seminaries and academies. It is addressed to a much wider circle of readers - in fact, to all who strive to come from intuitive and unreasoned faith to the depths of the faith that is revealed in the teaching of the Church Fathers. But the great merit of Fr. Hilarion's book is that it never leaves aside the experience of the believer. For the teaching of the Church is rooted in her Liturgy, in her prayer, in the experience of the presence of God in Christ experienced by her members. Christianity is not a philosophy, not a theory, not an ideology, but life itself - true life, the fullness of life. And Christian theology must be all-embracing enough that, if not to contain this life, for the latter is impossible, then at least to show its true greatness. The reality of the Word of God made flesh can never be adequately expressed by human words; and yet we must try to do so if we are to be ready to "give an answer to everyone who asks us to give an account of our hope" (1 Pet. 3:15).Fr. Hilarion uses modern language to express the experience contained in the two-thousand-year-old Tradition of the Church. In doing so, he fulfills a task that must be solved anew in every epoch. This is especially important today, when so many have lost the ability to directly perceive the treasures that the Orthodox Church offers them. Fr. Hilarion is attentive both to the historical path of the Church and to its unchangeable nature. He speaks in the name of the Tradition of the Eastern Church, but compares its teaching with the Western tradition, pointing out the differences, some of which are superficial, others more profound. And throughout the book, the connections between the teaching of the Fathers and the teaching of the New Testament, the Church, and the Apostles are emphasized. A book that is truly an introduction, in an etymological sense, to the riches and depths of the Orthodox faith, because it leads a person inside the faith - where the author himself lives. In an era when Orthodoxy is becoming more and more widely known throughout the world, it is to be hoped that this book will soon appear in translations into European languages.Basil, Bishop of Sergiev, Vicar of the Diocese of Sourozh

Reviews of the first edition

Fr. Hieromonk Hilarion's work "The Mystery of Faith" is a very valuable and timely contribution to Russian theological literature. The book is written in a simple, living language, from the experience and life of the Orthodox Tradition. Fr. Hilarion "introduces" the reader, even the theologically unsophisticated, into the recesses of Orthodoxy, touching upon the main areas of dogmatic doctrine: the paths to God, the Trinitarian mystery, the world and man, Christ the Savior, the mystery of the Church, the sacraments, prayer, deification, the life of the age to come. The Church itself, the Body of Christ, is the primary "sacrament," and in it we partake of the fullness of the "mystery" of salvation, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the feat of faith.The book is equipped with many quotations, in addition to the Holy Scriptures, in addition to the writings of the Holy Fathers, and even from modern Orthodox theological literature, for Holy Tradition does not confine itself to the Middle Ages and the breath of the Spirit continues in our time. The Holy Church is an old woman with an eternally young face. Modern Orthodox theology has made a rich contribution to the treasury of doctrine, and Fr Hilarion's book vividly testifies to this. Liturgical tradition should be considered on a par with the theological works of the Holy Fathers as the primary source of Orthodox knowledge of God. It is not easy to present to the modern reader the spiritual treasures of Orthodoxy without going into the cloth language of textbooks, but Fr. Hilarion fulfilled this task with complete success.With all my heart I wish the "Mystery of Faith" wide dissemination and fruitful theological and spiritual creativity to its author.Protopresbyter Boris Bobrinsky, Rector of the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in ParisThe book "The Mystery of Faith" by Hieromonk Hilarion (Alfeyev) made a deep impression on me. This book, in my opinion, surprisingly combines the depth of theological thought with the ability to approach the spiritual and intellectual needs of a modern Orthodox person.It is striking how various chapters devoted to this or that teaching of the Orthodox Church end with literal and sometimes long quotations from the writings of the Church Fathers or contemporary Orthodox authors. Among the former, a particularly prominent place is occupied by the writings of St. Symeon the New Theologian, to whom the author has been specially studying for many years. Among the latter, the author seems to be especially close to the writings of Archpriest George Florovsky, whose slogan can be considered the thesis "Forward to the Fathers!" I would like to thank the author from the bottom of my heart, in particular, for the wise words devoted to the specific problems of today's Orthodoxy, such as the liturgical language. In this book, every sincere Christian, in the words of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), will be able to learn everything "necessary in the field of faith." It is completely devoid of pedantic scholarship: every time a theological term is used, the author immediately gives an explanation. This book is addressed to the simplest reader, Orthodox or not, and even to the unbeliever, and introduces him to the very heart of Orthodox life. However, this work is, in my opinion, obligatory reading for all students of seminaries and academies. Let us add that it can be of great benefit to the most learned theologians.The book greatly contributes to the liberation of Russian Orthodox theology from what Father George Florovsky in his time called the "Babylonian captivity" (see Ways of Russian Theology, Paris, 1937), namely, from the scholastic approach to theological thinking. The point here is not only that Fr Hilarion knows the Holy Fathers very well (the critical apparatus of the book is irreproachable), but that the author renews the connection with the patristic experience of the Church: he does not simply quote the Fathers, he thinks today as the Holy Fathers thought in their time. In my opinion, Fr. Hilarion's book "The Sacrament of Faith" deserves the widest possible distribution in Russian, and I also cannot but agree with Vladyka Vasily (Bishop of Sergiev), who in the preface hopes that it will be translated into European languages. In conclusion, I would like to say that the book by Fr Hilarion (Alfeyev) is one of the brightest examples of the revival of theological scholarship in the Russian Orthodox Church.Nikolai Lossky, Professor at the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris

Author's Preface to the Second Edition