Metaphysics of All-Unity and God-Manhood in the Theology of St. Justin (Popovich)

Abstract

The article deals with one of the most important aspects of the theological work of Archimandrite Justin (Popovich), canonized in the Serbian orthodox Church, St. Justin of Chele. St. Justin compiled an exposition of the foundations of orthodox dogma in Serbian and actively used the terms «all-unity» and «God-manhood». These terms are typical for the philosophy of V. S. Solovyov and for the theological system of Fr. S. Bulgakov, which caused a well-known controversy. The article reveals the original meaning, which St. Justin invested in these concepts and the connection between their use and his ecclesiology is noted. Attention is drawn to the fact that St. Justin built an extremely Christ-centered system in which not only the existence of the Church, but also the existence of man himself is based on the reality of the Incarnation. The main idea of the St. Justin, according to which the whole creation has its ontological unity in man and receives its unity with God in the Incarnation. It is in this sense that, in Popovich's system, all-unity is Christ, and all-unity is the Church as His God-human organism. It is pointed out that in such a concept, sophiology is redundant. The main conclusion is made that Popovich’s idea of unity and God-manhood differs significantly from similar ideas of V.S. Solovyov and Fr. S. Bulgakov.