Course Description
The nature of primacy and synodality and their mutual relationship is a theological question of prime importance today, both within the Churches and in their ecumenical dialogues. Do these two concepts belong to the essence of the Church? How can we distinguish between synodality, collegiality and the communal dimension of the Church? How do they ensure communion between the Churches? To what extent do Christians accept a universal primacy, and why is synodality crucial for Christian unity and the Catholic Church’s ecumenical commitment? These are the questions that the course will address on the basis of recent ecumenical dialogue documents.
Bibliography
PETER SZABO (ed.), Primacy and Synodality: Deepening Insights, Nyíregyháza, 2019.
SAINT ITENAEUS JOINT ORTHODOX-CATHOLIC WORKING GROUP, “Serving Communion Re-thinking the Relationship between Primacy and Synodality” (2018).
JOHN CHYSSAVGIS (ed.), Primacy in the Church: The Office of Primate and the Authority of Councils (Vol. I, II), SVSP, Crestwood 2016.