The article offers a detailed analysis of the understanding of the person in the theologies of metr. John Zizioulas and Fr. Dumitru Staniloae. The analysis focuses on the different ways of conceptualizing the relation between person and nature and the role of the distinction between Divine essence and energies. The relevance of the topic is based on the fact that the differences between the two approaches have very clear implications for Ecclesiology and the understanding of Deification (Theosis). The overall conclusion is that „personalsitic” approach of Fr. Dumitru appears to offer a more comprehensive Orthodox theological perspective.