The world as a theophany, gift and mystery. Toward the issue of father Dumitru Staniloae's theology of history

The history of modern theology concerns such a direction as the theology of history. In the twentieth century, various aspects of the relationship between the Creator and the created world were comprehended taking into account the worldview crises through which Christian culture and civilization passed in the era of modernity. Also the role and tasks of the Church in traditional society and the secular one were rethought. Theologians of the East and West sought their answers to these philosophical and theological issues. One of the outstanding Christian thinkers of the twentieth century was the Romanian theologian, Professor Archpriest Dumitru Staniloe. He was well educated and well acquainted with the philosophical and religious issues of the twentieth century. This article examines his views on such aspects of the theology of history: the development of Divine Revelation in the history of the world, theophany and theosis, interpersonal relations in the context of communion with God, Church sacraments as a sphere for the transformation of the world and man. Conclusions about the dynamic nature of both revelation and knowledge of God, as well as of theophany and theosis, are made.