Greek edition of Metropolitan Hilarion’s book “The Mystery of Faith” is presented in Athens

On 10 April 2011, the Greek edition of “The Mystery of Faith” by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk was presented at the Palace of Music in the capital of Greece.

This book was written in 1991 and published in the Russian language six times. It was translated into the English, French, German, Finnish, Japanese, Hungarian, Serbian, Polish, Ukrainian and Macedonian languages. The En Plo Publishing House, the major publisher of the contemporary theological literature, issued “The Mystery of Faith” in Greek.

Attending the presentation were hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Greece, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia and Bishop Prokopios of Christianoupolis; Bishop Theodoritos of Nazinanzos (Patriarchate of Constantinople), clerics, monks, faculty and students of the University of Athens, diplomats, and representatives of scholarly, church and public organizations.

The participants saw a video message of Metropolitan Kallistos of Diocleia. A renowned theologian shared his reminiscences of Metropolitan Hilarion’s studies in Oxford and of a long friendship between the teacher and the student. Metropolitan Kallistos underscored the topicality of “The Mystery of Faith.” Saying that this book can be described as a church catechesis of the modern times, as an example of theology inspired by prayer.

Professor Konstantinos Kornarakis of the Faculty of Theology, University of Athens, presented a review of Metropolitan Hilarion’s theological works, noting in particular his roots in the liturgical tradition.

Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the audience in Greek, saying that Greece, its people and culture have always been close to his heart, and thanked all those who have worked at the Greek edition of ‘The Mystery of Faith.”

Speaking of the tasks he set himself in writing the book, Metropolitan Hilarion emphasized that he wanted to introduce the readers to the rich legacy of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church and added that the book will help the readers to understand the meaning of dogmatic theology that sometimes may seem something of minor importance to the people of today.