The Problem of Understanding Kenosis by the Holy Fathers in the 1st – 7th Centuries

Abstract

The publication is devoted to the concept of «kenosis» in general and the defini­tion of its role and place in the works of the Holy Fathers, in particular. Within the frame­work of the topic, the works of the teacher of the Moscow Theological Academy M. M. Tareev, professor of the Kazan Theological Academy P. P. Ponomarev, professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy N. N. Glubokovsky, professor V. N. Lossky, American Episcopal theo­logian and priest Francis Joseph Hall and contemporary Russian theologian Archpriest Vad­im Leonov were analyzed. The article presents the conclusions of these scholars, on the basis of which the author identifies the stages of the patristic understanding of «kenosis», the his­torical conditions and teachings that influenced the development of Christology, as well as the features of the presentation of the idea of kenosis in the period under consideration. The main conclusion: the idea of kenosis has been present in church consciousness since the be­ginning of Christian history. The key role in the understanding of the kenosis of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Fathers is occupied by the theology of the Holy Apostle Paul. The most im­portant milestone in the development of the idea of kenosis in patristic theology is the work of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, which affirmed kenosis as part of the Creed.