Jean-Claude Larchet: orthodox personalism of C. Yannaras and metropolitan Jоhn (Zizioulas) in the field of the ecumenical dialogue

In the paper I analyze contemporary ecumenical dialogue through the problem of the relation between theology and philosophy. In order to highlight the differences between two approaches within the orthodox theology, I examine on the one hand orthodox theology based on such philosophical movements of the 20th century as existentialism and personalism, and on the other hand - theology focused on the patristic tradition. The first movement is presented by the philosopher of religion Christos Yannaras and by the theologian metropolitan John (Zizioulas), the second one - by French theolog Jean-Claude Larchet. I analyze concept ontology of person, the criticism of Catholicism and Protestantism based on this concept and the reaction to it from the point of view of traditional “patristic” movement of contemporary Orthodox theology. The results allow me to show two positions with respect to the use of contemporary philosophy in theological discourse as well as their applications to the field of the ecumenical dialogue, for that reason I raise the question whether orthodoxy might be identified with personalism and Catholicism - with essentialism.