UNDERSTANDING OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEATH AND HUMAN FALL ACCORDING TO THE TEACHING OF GREGORY OF NYSSA
/CHÁPANIE VZŤAHU MEDZI SMRŤOU A PÁDOM ČLOVEKA PODĽA GREGORA NYSSKÉHO/

Miroslav ZUPINA

lecturer, Orthodox Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov, Masarykova 15, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, zupina@unipo.sk, 00421517724729

Abstract

An understanding of the close relationship between the death and human fall is one of the basic assumptions for correct understanding of many other anthropological questions. According to the teaching of Gregory of Nyssa, the death shall be perceived as a result of efforts to be created a new reality of existence, which is contrary to life as God created it. However, this new reality of existence inherently presents a nonexistence (nonbeing). Although, it remains in existence it is different from the natural state of existence in a manner. For Gregory of Nyssa and his teaching is typical that defining the evil as a nonexistence or an absence of good, he, at the same way, connects the origin of evil with finding the good. Sin, fall and death of a man are in a very close relation to each other. Their origin is a free decision of the man who succumbed to the temptation of Satan, and thus the fall, evil and death belong solely to the responsibility of man himself.

Keywords

God, man, death, fall, sin, evil, Satan, movement, freedom, will, life

(Language: slovak)

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