Primus inter pares? Een historisch-theologische analyse van de kwestie rond het pauselijke primaat in de Orthodox-Rooms-katholieke dialoog vanuit Orthodox oogpunt.

The present study is a contribution to the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Dialogue regarding the question of papal primacy. The topic, considered by many theologians and Church leaders as being the most important theological issue that divides the two Churches, has received in the past decades a growing attention, on the one hand from theologians of various theological traditions and on the other from the International Commission of Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholics. In its present state, the International Commission of Dialogue has produced one single document (the Ravenna document, 2007) which discussed the question of papal primacy in relation to conciliarity. Yet in itself, this document only represents half an answer to the problem. Furthermore, the debates in the Commission resulted in a growing tension among the Orthodox Churches which take part in the dialogue, tension due to the differences in understanding the Orthodox concept of primacy. Thus, as our study will show, the Orthodox concept of the “primus inter pares” receives different understandings and justifications among Orthodox theologians and local Churches. The present study consists of six chapters, each chapter treating the question of primacy from a different angle. The first chapter analyzes the primacy from a Patristic perspective, being an attempt to relate it to spirituality and to the concept of theosis or deification, a central concept in Orthodox theology. The second chapter focuses on the historical, cultural and theological development that contributed to the development of two different visions of the role of the bishop of Rome in the community of Churches. The third chapter moves the discussion towards ecclesiology. Here an analysis is offered of the ecclesiological vision of one of the most important Russian Orthodox theologians of the 19th and 20th century, namely Sergei Bulgakov. The fourth chapter focuses upon the Eucharistic ecclesiology of Nicholas Afanasiev. His work has influenced not only modern Orthodox ecclesiology but also Roman Catholic theology. Although deeply influenced by Afanasiev, our third theologian, Greek Metropolitan John Zizioulas, proposes to bring ecclesiology in dialogue with Trinitarian theology. As a result of his original approach Zizioulas’ understanding of primacy is on the one hand highly appreciated ecumenically, and on the other, deeply contested. The analysis looks into these difficulties and challenges with a particular attention, also because his work has extensively influenced the work of the International Commission of Dialogue. The sixth and final chapter traces the O-RC relationship as of the 19th century, paying particular attention to the role the question of primacy played in this dialogue and what responses it received.status: publishe