ŚLĄSKIE STUDIA HISTORYCZNO-TEOLOGICZNE

Penitential Message in The Shepherd of Hermas
Apart from the “Didache”, the “Shepherd” of Hermas belongs to the oldest Christian literary works because it dates back to the middle of the 2nd century. Its content is not always easily understood on this account that the subject of the theology of penance (together with its liturgical aspect) shows at that time preliminary outline, which makes difficult and many times just makes impossible the verification of the assumed theoretical and practical as well as factual and pastoral guidelines. Certainly it will not be justified to attribute the role of an author and pioneer of the theology of penance to Hermas at the beginning of the Christian antiquity because he depicts himself in a biblical criteria already formulated in the Old Testament. However the “Shepherd” of Hermas as the first document entirely dedicated to the subject of the theology of penance outlines important scope of the later theological reflection on the presented subject (the aspects of the penance are: psychological and moral, redemptive and sacramental). The penance is compared to the baptism because by taking away the results of mortal sins it opens the doors to begin anew the way of remaining faithful to the commitments resolved there.

Die Kirche der Sünder und der Heilige. Einige Bemerkungen zum Anfang des Donatismus in Römischen Afrika. Zusammenfassung
In der Geschichte des Donatismus im römischen Afrika können wir sowohl theologische Prinzipien bestimmende Grenzen der Kirche in der Theologie des Hl. Cyprian, wie den Radikalismus des christlichen Lebens, besonders die Haltung angesichts der Verfolgungen und Märtyrertum Tertullian’s finden. Die Organisationsabspaltung konnte sich in Gestalt Kirchenspaltungen auch von der negativen Schätzung seitens der neuen Macht, „den christlichen” Kaiser Konstantins zu erfolgen. Der Kaiser, überzeugt von Anfang an von der notwendigen Kircheneinheit des Christentums, Teil seiner “politischen Theologie”, strebte zur Auflösung der afrikanischen Kirchenspaltung. Seine Zurückweisung des Donatismus und die Verfolgung der Donatisten hat inmitten ihrer die Überzeugung von der Kirche „heiliger” Märtyrer bestätigt. Die radikale und kompromisslose Bewegung der afrikanischen Kirche hat doch die Einheit der Kirche und zivilen Organisation zum Zerschlagen beigetragen.

Ecclesiastical and Theological Grounds for the Penitential Practice Introduced by Cyprian in Carthage. Summary
The mid-third century persecutions of Christians spread over the entire Roman Empire. Thank to Cyprian’s correspondence, we are familiar with their course and the developments in the African church after their termination. After the persecutions ceased, Cyprian commenced the process of reconciliation in the Church, establishing the rules for the reinstatement of the lapsed. He argued against the practice of recommendation letters issued by the Confessors on the one hand, and against the rigorists who denied the fallen any possibility of returning to the Church on the other. The Confessors pointed to their unique relationship with the crucified Christ resulting from the tortures they had withstood. The rigorists claimed that only baptism cleansed heavy sins, including the denunciation of Christ, therefore, it is impossible for the Church to forgive those sins again after baptism. Cyprian adopted the following principle: ecclesiastical communion may be offered, but it has to be preceded by penance, and it is only the bishop or priests acting on his behalf that have the right to grant it. He justified the possibility of restoring the lapsed by claiming that the Church was a community of repenting sinners. Granting the ecclesiastical communion is without prejudice to the Lord’s decision at the Last Judgment, but it gives hope and support to the sinner, so that he may persevere in his penance. Cyprian’s objection against Confessors granting ecclesiastical communion – the practice that was well established in the Church and considered as lawful – resulted directly from his understanding of the Church as a community gathered around the bishop. As the successors of the Apostles, bishops are depositaries of the gifts and executors of the commands which Christ has left to His Church. Reinstating the lapsed, they act on behalf of the Church, without invoking their personal merits, as the Confessors did.

Aphrahat, On Penitents, (Demonstratio septima. De paenitentibus. Patrologia Syriaca I, 313-360)
Aphrahat’s seventh “Demonstration”, entitled “On penitents”, and the preceding “Demonstration on members of the covenant” provided basic research material for the question of the structure and discipline in the early syrian church and the role played there by “the sons of the covenant” (bənay qəyāmā). In the “Demonstration on penitents”, Aphrahat describes ritual washing, clearly distinguishing it from baptism. He addresses the “solitary” who have fallen and delayed their conversion as well as priests refusing to reconcile penitents.