John Meyendorff

John Meyendorff (February 17, 1926 - July 22, 1992) was a modern Orthodox scholar, writer, and teacher. He was born into the Russian nobility as Ivan Feofilovich Baron von Meyendorff ("Иван Феофилович барон фон Мейендорф"), but was known as "Jean Meyendorff" during his life in France.

Fr John Meyendorff retired as Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary on June 30 1992, planning to dedicate more time to teaching and writing. Unfortunately, his creative plans were cut short when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, to which he succumbed on July 22, 1992.

His son, Paul Meyendorff (b. 1950), is currently Fr. Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Education

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, Meyendorff completed his secondary education in France and his theological education at the Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris in 1949. In 1948 he also received a licence-èn-lettres at the Sorbonne, and later earned a Diplôme d'études supérieures (1949), a Diplôme de l'école practique des Hautes Etudes (1954), and a Doctorate of Letters (1958).

Professional / Academic life

In France he was an Assistant Professor of Church History at the Orthodox Theological Institute, and a Fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Having been ordained to the priesthood in the Orthodox Church, he became Professor of Church History and Patristics at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (1959), holding also successive joint appointments as lecturer in Byzantine theology at Harvard University, Dumbarton Oaks (to which he returned for a semester as Acting Director of Studies in 1977), and as Professor of Byzantine History at Fordham University (from 1967). He also was Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary and lectured widely on university campuses and at church events. He held the position of Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary from March 1984 until June 1992.

Publications and Courses

Fr Meyendorff's publications include the critical text and translation of Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas (1959), as well as a number of books in the fields of theology and history, such as "A Study of Gregory Palamas" (French ed., 1959; Engl. 1964); "The Orthodox Church" (1963); "Orthodoxy and Catholicity" (1966); "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought" (1969); "Byzantine Theology" (1973); "Marriage, an Orthodox Perspective" (1975); "Living Tradition" (1978); "Byzantium and the Rise of Russia" (1980); "The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church" (1981); "Catholicity and the Church" (1983); and "Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions. The Church 450-680 AD" (1989). His books have been published in a number of languages, including French, German, Italian, Russian, Greek, Finnish, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Serbian, and Polish.

Affiliations

A member of several professional associations, Fr Meyendorff served during different periods as President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America, President of the American Patristic Association, and a member of the Executive Committee, U.S. Committee for Byzantine Studies. He was a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities (1976-77), and a Guggenheim Fellow (1981).

During his service at the seminary, he held the positions of librarian, director of studies, and was long-time editor of St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly. His service to the church included positions as chairman of the Department of External Affairs of the Orthodox Church in America, as advisor to the Holy Synod, and as editor of the monthly newspaper "The Orthodox Church".

As a representative of the Orthodox Church, he participated in the activities of the World Council of Churches, having been Chairman of the Commission on Faith and Order (1967-1976) and a member of the Central Committee. Committed particularly to inter-Orthodox unity and cooperation, he was one of the founders and the first general secretary of Syndesmos (World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Organizations), and served later as its president.

Awards

Fr Meyendorff held honorary doctorates from the University of Notre Dame and General Theological Seminary, and was a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy.

He was a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks. The Diploma of Honorary Member of the Leningrad Theological Academy was bestowed upon Fr John in May 1990. In June 1991 Fr John was awarded the Order of St Vladimir, 2nd Class, by His Holiness Aleksy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

ee also

*Hesychasm
*Essence-Energies distinction
*Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
*Neoplatonism
*Apotheosis
*Theophany
*Michael Pomazansky
*John S. Romanides
*Vladimir Lossky
*sobornost
*Philokalia
*Phronema
*Uniatism
*Praxis
*Archimandrite Sophrony
*Symeon the New Theologian

Resource

* [http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Meyendorff Orthodoxwiki Article on Father Meyendorff as source]

Bibliography

* "Unité de l'Empire et divisions des chrétiens", Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1992; tr. of "Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions".
* "The Primacy of Peter: Essays in Ecclesiology and the Early Church", rev. ed. Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1992.
* "The Legacy of St Vladimir", ed., with Fr. John Breck and Eleana Silk. Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1990.
* "Vizantiia i Moskovskaia Rus': ocherk po istorii tserkovnykh i kul'turnykh sviazei v XIV veke". Paris: YMCA Press, 1990; tr. of "Byzantium and the Rise of Russia".
* "Christian Spirituality: Post-Reformation and Modern", ed., with L. Dupe, Don E. Saliers, ed. New York: Crossroad, 1989.
* "Chrystus Zwyciezyl: Wokol Chryta Rusi Kijowsidej". Warsaw: Verbinum, 1989.
* "Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church 450-680 AD". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1989.
* "A Legacy of Excellence", ed., with Vladimir Borichevsky and William Schneirla. Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1988.
* "Vyzantio kai Rosia: Meleton Vizantino-Rosikon Scheseon kata to 14 Aiona". Athens: Ekdoseis Domos, 1988; tr. of "Byzantium and the Rise of Russia: A Study of Byzantine-Russian Relations in the Fourteenth Century".
* "Christian Spirituality: High Middle Ages and Reformation", ed., with J. Raitt and B. McGinn. New York: Crossroad, 1987.
* "Vision of Unity". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1987.
* "Witness to the World". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1987.
* "Le Marriage dans la Perspective Orthodoxe". Paris: YMCA Press, 1986; tr. of "Marriage, an Orthodox Perspective".
* "Christian Spirituality: Origins to the Twelfth Century," ed., with Bernard McGinn, "World Spirituality", v. 16. New York: Crossroad, 1985.
* "Vvedenie v sviatootecheskoe bogoslovie: konspekty lektsii". New York: Religious Books for Russia, 1985. 2nd ed.
* "Vizantijsko Bogoslovje, Kragujevac", 1985; tr. of "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes".
* "Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective", 3rd rev. ed. Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1984.
* "La Teologia Bizantina: Sviluppi storid e temi dottrinali". Casale Monfeirate: Casa Editrice Marietti, 1984; tr. of "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes".
* "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes". New York: Fordham, 1983. 2nd ed., 2nd printing with revisions.
* "Catholicity and the Church". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1983.
* "Gamos: mia Orthodoxe Prooptike". Athens: Ekdose Hieras Metropoleos Thevon kai Levadeias, 1983; tr. of "Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective".
* "Ho Hapos Gregorios ho Palamas kai he Orthodoxe Mystike paradose". Athens: Ekdoseis "Akritas," 1983; tr. of "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe".
* "Sveti Grigorije Palama ipravoslavna mistika". Beograd, 1983; tr. of "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe".
* "Ho Christos soterias semena Homilia-sychetese?" Athens: Synaxe, 1985.
* "Teologla bizantyjska. historia i doktiyna". Warsaw: Instytut Wydawn. Pax., 1984; tr. of "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes".
* "The Triads: Gregory Palamas", ed., with introduction. New York: Paulist Press, 1983.
* "Catholicity and the Church", 1983.
* "The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1982.
* "Vvedenie v sviatootecheshoe bogoslovie: konspekfy lektsu". New York: Religious Books for Russia, 1982.
* "Byzantium and the Rise of Russia: A Study of Byzantino-Russian Relations in the Fourteenth Century". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.
* "The Orthodox Church". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1981; 3rd rev. ed.
* "The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church", 1981.
* "Pravoslavie v sovremennom mire", added title page: "Orthodoxy in the Contemporary World." New York: Chalidze Publications, 1981.
* "Byzantium and the Rise of Russia. A Study of Byzantino-Russian Relations in the Fourteenth Century". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1989; reprint of Cambridge ed. of 1980.
* "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes". New York: Fordham University Press, 1979; 2nd ed.
* "Living Tradition". Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1978.
* "The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony". New York: Dept. of Religious Education, Orthodox Church in America, 1978; reprint of 1975 ed.
* "Trinitarian Theology East and West: St Thomas Aquinas-St Gregory Palamas", with Michael Fahey. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1977.
* "S. Gregorio Palamas e la mistica ortodossa". Torino: Piero Gribaudi Editore, 1976; tr. of "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe".
* "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe". Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1976.
* "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes". London: Mowbrays, 1975.
* "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1975; tr. of "Le Christ dans la theologie byzantine".
* "Initiation a la theologie byzantine: Htistoire et la doctrine". Paris: Cerf, 1975; tr. of "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes".
* "Marriage, an Orthodox Perspective". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1975; 2nd expanded ed.
* "Byzantine Hesychasm: Historical, Theological and Social Problems: Collected Studies". London: Variorum Reprints, 1974.
* "Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes". New York: Fordham University Press/London: Mowbrays, 1974.
* "Cristologia Ortodossa". Roma: An. Veritas Editrice, 1974; tr. of "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought"
* "St Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press & Bedfordshire: Faith Press, 1974.
* "A Study of Gregory Palamas", 2nd ed. Bedfordshire: Faith Press & Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1974.
* "Defense des saints hesychastes", 2nd ed. Louvain: Spicilegium sacrum lovaniense, 1973. 2 v.
* "The New Man: An Orthodox and Reformed Dialogue", ed., with Joseph McLelland. New Brunswick: Agora Books, 1973.
* "The Primacy of Peter", 2nd ed. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire: Faith Press, 1973; tr. of "La primauté de Pierre dans l'Eglise Orthodoxe"
* "Byzantine Theology", 1973.
* "Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective". Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1970.
* "Le Christ dans la theologie byzantine," "Bibliotheque oeumenique", 2. Serie orthodoxe. Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1969.
* "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought". Washington, DC: Corpus Books, 1969; tr. of "Le Christ dans la theologie byzantine".
* "L'Eglise Orthodoxe: hier et aujourd'hui", 2nd ed., rev. Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1969.
* "La Iglesia Ortodoxa: ayery hoy". Paris: Desclée de Brouwer, 1969; tr. of: "L'Eglise Orthodoxe: hier et aujourd'hui".
* "Sv. Grigorii Palama i pravoslavnaia mistika", 1969; tr. of "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe".
* "The Orthodox," "Ecumenical Series". New York: Paulist Press, 1966.
* "The Orthodox," reprint. Minneapolis, MN: Light and Life, 1966. Originally published: New York: Paulist Press, 1966.
* "Orthodoxy and Catholicity". New York: Sheed & Ward, 1966; tr. of "Orthodoxie et Catholicité".
* "Orthodoxie et Catholicité". Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1965.
* "The Orthodox Church: Yesterday and Today". London: Darton-Longman, 1964.
* "De Orthodoxe Kerk, roermond-maaseik", J.J. Romen & Zonan Vitgevers, 1964; tr. of "L'Eglise Orthodoxe, hier et aujourd'hui".
* "A Study of Gregory Palamas". London: Faith Press, 1964; tr. of "Introduction a l'etude de Grégoire Palamas".
* "Die Orthodoxe Kirchegestem undheute". Salzburg: Otto Muller Verlag, 1963; tr. of "L'Eglise Orthodoxe, hier et aujourd'hui".
* "The Primacy of Peter", with N. Afanassief, et al. London: Faith Press, 1963; tr. of "La primauté de Pierre dans l'Eglise Orthodoxe".
* "La Chiesa Ortodossa, hieri e oggi". Brescia: Morcelliana, 1962; tr. of "L'Eglise Orthodoxe, hier et aujourd'hui".
* "The Orthodox Church: its Past and its Role in the World Today". London: Darton, Longman & Todd/New York: Pantheon Books, 1962; tr. of "L'Eglise Orthodoxe: hier et aujourd'hui".
* "Syggrammata", ed., with B. Bobrinsky, P. Papaeuaggelou, and P. Christou. Thessaloniki: Endidetai syndromi tou basilieou Idrimatos, 1962.
* "Der Primat des Petrus in der Orthodoxen Kirche", with N. Afanassief, et al. Zurich: EVZ-Verlag, 1961; tr. of La "primaute de Pierre dans l'Eglise Orthodoxe".
* "L'Eglise Orthodoxe, hier et aujourd'hui". Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1960.
* "Die Orthodox Kirche: gestern und heute". Salzburg: Muller, 1960; tr. of "L'Eglise Orthodoxe: hier et aujourd'hui".
* "Grégoire Palamas. Defense des saints hesychastes: Introduction, text critique, traduction, et notes." Louvain: "Spicilegium sacrum lovaniense," 1959; administration, ed. and tr., v. l, 383, v. 2, 383-767.
* "Introduction a l'étude de Grégoire Palamas," "Patristica Sorbonensia", v. 3. Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1959.
* "St Grégoire Palamas et la mystique orthodoxe," "Maitres spirituels", n. 20. Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1959.