Sfântul Cuvios Mărturisitor Arsenie de la Prislop și revitalizarea gândirii patristice în teologia românească din secolul al XX-

Abstract

The present work analyzes the contribution of the Saint Venerable
Confessor Arsenie of Prislop to the revitalization of patristic thought in Romanian
theology of the 20th century, in the context of the historical, social and ideological
challenges specific to the era. The study starts from the premise that the patristic
tradition, far from being a static corpus, is a living reality, capable of inspiring and
shaping both academic theological discourse and the spiritual life of believers. Through
an interdisciplinary analysis – historical, theological and pastoral – the fundamental
elements of the spirituality of Venerable Father Arsenie Boca are investigated, related
to the teaching of the Holy Fathers and to the context of communist repression. His role
as a confessor of the faith, the ability to transpose hesychast themes into contemporary
language and his influence on post‑war Christian life are highlighted. The paper argues
that the canonization in 2024 constitutes not only a recognition of his holiness, but also
a moment of reorientation of Romanian theology towards its patristic roots. The main
conclusion is that the life and work of Saint Arsenie represents a bridge between the
ancient tradition and the spiritual needs of today’s Christians, with major implications
for theology, catechesis and the mission of the Church in the 21st century.