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Love and Sexuality: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 February 2009
Extract
When we speak of sexual love, we imply an entire host of meanings, moods and activities. It is not my intention to analyse the distinct concepts of affection (στoργ⋯), friendship (φιλ⋯α), love (⋯γ⋯πη) and eros. When one speaks of these, one usually finds a prepared audience — that is to say, one that is in some way prejudiced. Rather, what I would like to look at briefly is that vital force of love within human nature.
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- Copyright © Scottish Journal of Theology Ltd 1987
References
1 For a lucid anatomy of love, see Lewis, C. S., The Four Loves (Glasgow 1960).Google Scholar
2 Dionysius, De Div. Nom. IV, 12, PG 3: 712 AB.
3 Cf. Dionysius, De Div. Nom. IV, 12–14, PG 3: 709 BC and Maximus, Comm. in Div. Nom. IV, 17, PG 4: 269 CD.
4 Maximus, Comm. in Div. Nom. PG 4: 261 B.
5 Maximus, De Amb. PG 91: 1260. Cf. also Dionysius, De Div. Nom. IV, 10.
6 PG 79: 464.
7 Gregory of Nyssa stresses that love conquers fear: In Cant. Cant. 4, PG 44: 1116.
8 Cf. Nietzsche, F., ‘Der Willie zur Macht’, in Werke (München, 1966) vol. 3, p. 844Google Scholar. See also Jung, C., ‘Psychologie und Religion’, in Werke vol. 11 (Zürich and Stuttgart, 1963) p. 116–117. Cf. also the writings of Kafka.Google Scholar
9 De Div. Nom. IV, 12, PG 3: 709 B.
10 Cf. Bailey, D. S., The Man-Woman Relationship in Christian Thought (London 1959)Google Scholar and Sherrard, P., Christianity and Eros (London 1976)Google Scholar. Augustine and Aquinas go as far as to state that woman was created solely for purposes of procreation.
11 It is not true to say that the Song of Songs has been developed more by Western mystics and that, as a result, eros is exalted more in the West: cf, for example, T. K. Papatsonis' article in Eros and Marriage (Athens 1972) pp. 41–61.Google Scholar
12 Dionysius, De Div. Nom. IV, 12, PG 3: 712 A.
13 Cf. Maximus the Confessor, Centuries on Love, PG 90: 516 A.
14 Cf. C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, p. 53.
15 Cf., for example, On the Resurrection of the Flesh by Tertullian.
16 The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Alphabetical Collection) Anthony 9. Cf. also, for example, Basil the Great, Longer Rules iii, 1: ‘For nothing is so characteristic of our nature as to communicate with one another, and to need one another, and to love our own kind.’ Cf. also Macarian Homilies XXXVII, 3.
17 J. P. Sartre, Huit clos.
18 Only in the ninth century did the Church officials establish marriage as a Sacrament and develop a special service of prayers.
19 Gregory of Nyssa composed an entire treatise On Virginity as the first step in one's return to the unfallen condition.
20 Ladder of Divine Ascent 4, PG 88: 705 A. Cf. also Athanasius, Life of Anthony 2 and Pachomius, First Greek Life 4–5.
21 Basil the Great, Letters 207, 2.
22 Cf. John Climacus, Ladder 26: 43, PG 88: 1028 B.
23 Diadochus, Gnostic Centuries 40.
24 Sayings of the Desert Fathers 14, PG 65: 165.
25 Maximus, Ad Thal. 61, PG 90: 628 A–629 D.
26 Cf. John Climacus, Ladder 30: 9, PG 88: 1157 A, Mac. Hom. 9, 9 (which speaks of ‘thirst’ and ‘desire’) and Diadochus, Cent. 8.
27 John Climacus, Ladder 30: 5 (1156 C) and 11 (1157 AC). Cf. also, Dorotheus, Sayings 14 (p. 528) and Symeon the New Theologian, Eth. 4.
28 Pastor, Liber III, Sim. VI, Ch. 5.
29 26.31 (1024 BC). Cf. also, Yannaras, 'H 
(Athens 1971) p. 149–66: I believe that Dr Yannaras does not emphasise sufficiently the qualification (made below) of poieisthai imas and enantion.
30 Cf. 30.5 (1156 C).
31 27.14(1097 D–1100 A).
32 Cf. Dionysius, Letter 8, PG 3: 1085.