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Document Details : Title: Nikos Kazantzakis, seine Asketik Subtitle: Die Retter Gottes und die griechisch-orthodoxe spirituelle und liturgische Tradition Author(s): GROEN, Bert Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Volume: 67 Issue: 1-2 Date: 2015 Pages: 47-102 DOI: 10.2143/JECS.67.1.3144283 Abstract : This paper discusses Nikos Kazantzakis’ key writing Asceticism [Spiritual Exercises]: The Saviours of God. I investigate its philosophical and religious sources as well as the 'atheism' charge brought against its author. Furthermore, the paper concentrates on the role which the Greek Orthodox tradition plays in Kazantzakis’ oeuvre. It concludes that the Cretan writer, who was raised as an Orthodox, dissociated himself from the Church of his youth and went many other ways to save both his own soul and the world. Nevertheless, the Eastern Orthodox spiritual and liturgical traditions have considerably influenced his work. After an introduction, the paper describes the genesis and contents of Asceticism, its connections with Kazantzakis’ other writings, as well as factors that had a great impact on it. Subsequently, the author’s relation to Greek Orthodoxy and the positions taken by some contemporary Orthodox theologians regarding his work are examined. Finally, I bring up the aftereffect of Asceticism and various ecclesial reactions. |
