St Maximus the Confessor and the End of Time and Age

Authors:

Pages: 7-26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/CHUJ4233

Abstract:

The paper aims to analyze St Maximus the Confessor’s reflections on time in his Centuries of theology and economy II, 85-93. At the beginning, the paper places the Centuries’ chapters in the historical context of St. Maximus’ works, linking them with insights previously exposed in his early works, such as On Difficulties and Questions to Thalassius. Then, in three separate sections, the papers deals with issues on time outlined in the Centuries. First, the paper differentiates between time, age (aion) and the divine eternity embodied in the Logos of God. Further, the paper analyzes St. Maximus’ distinction between the end of the world, in which the creation reaches its fullness, and the deified state of creation that exists in eternity. Finally, by focusing on the heritage of Christ’s incarnation, which persists here and now, through the faith of the saints, it seems that time, age and the Kingdom of God, perceived as a beginningless and endless eternity, simultaneously coexist.

Keywords:

time, eternity, Kingdom of God, Heavenly Kingdom, the Logos of God

Download

Portugal / Greece / United Kingdom / United States / Germany / NA / Russian Federation / China / Sweden / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Serbia / Ukraine