Christianity and the World in the Letter to Diognetus: Inferences for Contemporary Ecclesial Experience, Doru Costache

Abstract: The author explores chapters five and six of the Letter to Diognetus for a traditional alternative to the problematic attitudes regarding secular society that occur in contemporary Christianity. Thus he reiterates the challenge launched by Marrou more than sixty years ago, which is to infer from the Letter - beyond its immediate import for early Christians - guidelines for the contemporary ecclesial experience. The article addresses the immediate context and character of the text, progressing to an analysis of the two chapters, and ends by highlighting the relevance of this information for contemporary Christianity. The article adds to current Diognetian studies by identifying as yet ignored traces of it in later Christian literature.

Bio: Revd Doru Costache received his Doctor of Theology degree from the University of Bucharest, in 2000. He is a presbyter under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and a Senior Lecturer in Patristics at St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College, Sydney. His research interests are in traditional/patristic theology, transdisciplinarity and the dialogue of science and theology. Currently, he is undertaking an interpretation of Genesis 1 within tradition and in light of contemporary challenges.