Transcendence and Revelation: from Phenomenology to Theology

Thinking on transcendence falls into
 a paradox: if transcendence is a radical one,
 we cannot speak about it; if we speak about it,
 it is no longer radical. The aim of this paper is
 to overcome this paradox and to analyze the
 concept of transcendence considering (1) the
 dynamic of self-transcending that is natural to
 man, (2) the limit beyond which one can speak
 about transcendence, and (3) the phenomena of
 mystery whereby the transcendence appears.
 Inasmuch as transcendence does not escape
 from the suspicion that the movement of selftranscending
 postulates it according to its
 desires and reaches Kantian “transcendental
 appearance,” this text tries to delineate
 the possible phenomenon of the maximum
 manifestation of transcendence in this world:
 how could transcendence give itself? The answer
 engages the revelation, namely, transcendence’s
 intention of donating itself, the presence
 of paradox, and the solution of mediation
 between transcendence and immanence by
 transcendence itself. Each of these possible
 solutions has examples in Christian Orthodox
 theology