Synoro, The Human body from an Orthodox point of view, Issue 33, (1965), 86 pages.
This issue dedicates two studies in the view of the human body by Orthodoxy. The first comesby Timothy Ware (later bishop Diokleias Kallistos). This study underlines the affirmation by Christianity of the material part of the person through the glory-his metamorphosis- in the model of the metamorphosis of Christ in Thabor. The glory of body that is presented diachronically in numerous texts, mainly ascetic, underlines besides the affirmation of the human body, also the invasion of eschata in the present time. Ware under the light of the Metamorphosis of Christ, examines Pauline but also Palamite theology and distinguishes between the dualistic (material and intellectual) ancient Greek confrontation of person and the monistic (pneumatological unity) confrontation by Christianity. The eschatological revelation of metamorphosis is faced in the study as proof of the future resurrection and glory of all people but also of the entire creation.
In the second study Ap. Alexandridis attempts the inversion of the widespread in Christian circle erroneous belief in the “evil” body and the immortal soul based on the Palamite theology as this was revealed at the period of hesychast dispute. In this frame, he records and presents extracts of texts by St. Gregory Palamas from which results the Christian reception of the human body as “good in its nature” and “temple of the Holy Spirit” that demands the sanctity in its reception and rejects any practise of its depreciation.
In the issue there is also an interesting study of K. N. Kakouris with regard to the relation of Hellenism and Christianity titled “Difficulties of a greek Orthodox or Greek spirit and Christian truth”. In this issue there are also two texts dedicated in the death of two personalities, the orthodox philosopher Leonta Zanter, student of f. Sergrey Bulgkakov and the great poet T.P. Eliot. Extract from his essay with the title “The idea of christian society” is also published. The first text is signed by D. G. Kourtesis, while the second by Tasos Romanos.
The literary part of the issue is covered by the publication of the poem of Eliot for Simeon the new Theologian and by the seventh sermon of the Saint Simeon in translation by the important poet N.D. Karouzos. What follows is the publication of the “Anthem to God” of Gregory the Theologian, the short story of Sotos Chondropoulos “The old song” and the text of Chr.Yannaras from the “Exercise in twelve short stories” with the title “Odysseus”.
The literary work of Helen Vamvounelis “January 17th and the children” closes the issue.
In “Epikera”, the permanent column of the magazine, we find a report of Chr. Yiannaras on the entry of the publication of Synoro in its second period, notes on the book and obituaries of G. Sotiriou, who established Byzantine archaeology in Greece, and of the folklore scientist and painter Angeliki Chatzimichalis.