https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/issue/feed 2026-10-18T06:24:21+00:00 Dacian Bud-Căpușan dacian.but@ubbcluj.ro Open Journal Systems https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/148 2026-10-18T06:16:58+00:00 Teofil Tia 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/149 2026-10-18T06:17:28+00:00 Ioan Chirilă

This study explores the meaning and role of God’s names in Jewish and Christian traditions. In Jewish thought, the divine name, including the Tetragrammaton, is perceived as a mysterious and creative entity, central to understanding the Torah as a sacred language. The Tetragrammaton is seen as an expression of divine power, having a mystical-magical nature that allows for a deep relationship with divinity. In Christianity, the name of God is seen as a personal and intimate revelation of divinity that transcends human knowledge and sensory experience. Christian thinkers such as Dionysius the Areopagite, Maxim the Confessor, and John Damascene explore divine names to understand God’s workings and as means of spiritual communication. The study emphasizes the importance of the calling of God’s name in Eastern mysticism as an act of communion and transfiguration, pointing to the connection between the divine name and the essential presence of God in the lives of believers.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/150 2026-10-18T06:17:29+00:00 Nicolae-Olimpiu Benea

The passage of Ephesians 6:10-13 introduces one of the most vivid Pauline metaphors: the “Armor of God” (πανοπλία τοῦ θεοῦ). Although scholarly attention has frequently focused on its Greco-Roman military imagery and Pauline theological nuances, its rich Jewish background and patristic interpretations have been less thoroughly explored. This study addresses this gap by systematically examining the metaphor within its original Jewish context, drawing on Old Testament antecedents (especially Isaiah 59:17 and Wisdom 5:17-20) and significant parallels from Jewish rabbinic literature. In this respect, it analyzes key Hebrew and Greek terms, such as στῆναι (עָמַד), σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα (בּשָ ׂרָ ודָ םָ ), and elucidates the references to cosmic spiritual conflict against demonic forces (ἀρχαί, ἐξουσίαι, κοσμοκράτορες). Moreover, this article explores how these concepts were received and interpreted by patristic authors, particularly Origen, John Chrysostom and Augustine, each of whom employed and adapted the armor metaphor to address pastoral, doctrinal, and spiritual matters in their own contexts. The hermeneutical and exegetical strategies of these patristic authors are examined in dialogue with the Jewish tradition, illuminating the ways early Christianity understood spiritual warfare, ethical exhortation, and the believer’s struggle against evil. This detailed comparative analysis between Jewish sources and early Christian reception underscores the profound continuity and divergence in the theological discourse around spiritual warfare, demonstrating the enduring significance of Pauline metaphors for contemporary theological reflection.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/151 2026-10-18T06:17:30+00:00 Stelian Pașca-Tușa Constantin-Radu Iliescu

Although Günther Anders confesses explicitly, in several lines, that he is an atheist, his writing Obsolescence of Man lends itself to broad theological readings. By this last statement, we do not mean what the ordinary mind usually accepts. Still, we call “theological reading” the process of going through a given text by a theologian who can discover the theological meanings implicit in its content. If the secular man has evicted God from the world of ideas and, in so doing, has degraded theology to the status of a discipline perfectly demarcated from all other humanistic or exact sciences, we propose, on the contrary, a restoration. The aim of a theological reading is the constitution of understanding and the elucidation of problems without any particular obsession with solutions. The theologian engaged in such an endeavor is a historian of ideas who is concerned with the past, the present, and, above all, the future. The right and capacity of theology to account for everything is axiomatically presumed. Only in this way can we bring theology out of the isolation imposed upon it and restore it to the world as queen of the disciplines of the spirit. Therefore, we assert that the theological reading that we will undertake of the Andersian occasionalism in The Obsolescence of Man, will lead to a diagnosis of the degrading state of the world and of man today and will allow us to indicate how to face the terrible assault to which the technological revolution is subjecting all humanity.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/152 2026-10-18T06:17:30+00:00 Ioan-Vasile Leb

The present research aims precisely to establish whether the rupture that occurred within African Christianity in the first Christian centuries was of a heretical or schismatic nature, which is why it contains three parts, one of a historical nature, in which the factors that led to the rupture of the African Church are presented, and one of a dogmatic nature, of doctrine, in which both the teaching of the Donatists and that of the Catholics is presented, followed by several conclusions imposed by our historical-theological approach. Although Catholics characterized the Donatists as heretics, in reality we are dealing with a schism, not a heresy, for both sides had the same dogmatic teaching, the same Liturgy, and the same Sacraments, even if they differed in the matter of the readmission of heretics into the Church. This schism could have been overcome, but the conquest of Africa by the Vandals and Arabs put an end to the unrest in a completely undesirable way.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/153 2026-10-18T06:17:31+00:00 Gabriel-Viorel Gârdan

Management of care institutions for elderly. Case study: The Social Services Center „St. George”, Orthodox Parish Românași, The Episcopate of Sălaj. Institutional care is the most intensive form of long-term care. This type of care is aimed at people whose degree of autonomy is significantly diminished, who require support in carrying out daily activities as well as specialist care. Institutionalisation is both a failure and an opportunity. It is a failure of social policies on active ageing, a failure for the ability of families to integrate and value the elderly relative, a psycho-emotional failure for the in-patient who has to start a new life in an institution providing social services, albeit in a community with similar needs as their own. On the other hand, institutionalisation is often the salvific solution for the person who needs to live the last part of their life with dignity, cared for with responsibility, treated with respect and surrounded by love. It is an opportunity for those who can no longer bear the burden of loneliness, for those who are trying to preserve or regain some of their autonomy, for those who need a safe environment adapted to their personal needs. It is a breakthrough solution for families overwhelmed by the care needs of elderly family members or for those unable to take responsibility for the personal care of relatives. In a nursing home under the Church’s care, the very environment, Christ in the chalice, the icons on the walls, the smell of basil and incense, the antidoron and the oil, the gentle voices, the tender touches, the deft hands and serene faces of those who serve the Lord who has taken the form of a suffering man, all help suffering become spiritualised and pain become transformed into the murmur of a psalm. The management of a successful social institution is technically identical to that of any other competitive organisation. The aim, however, is fundamentally different; the profit sought by a social establishment of the Church is the wellbeing, the assistance, the comfort and the consolation of those under its care. A spiritually-based management does not exclude the general means of managerial activity, but imbues them with a spiritual dimension, the intrinsic motivation of actions being the serving of Christ who identifies with each beneficiary of the services provided in the institutional setting, but also with each employee and volunteer. The binding force of all these actions, in an act of spiritualised management, is love for one’s brothers and sisters, responsibility towards one’s fellow human beings, and fidelity to the Christian vision of the organisation’s mission. From this perspective, the activity of institutional care for the elderly is an act of service, the beneficiary is not a client but the recipient of loving action, the employee is a fellow-servant, the Church is not the person-in-charge but a source of blessing and a model of love. The supreme motivation for all the effort made - material, physical and spiritual - is the desire to fulfil the call of Christ.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/154 2026-10-18T06:17:32+00:00 Nicolae-Dragoș Kerekes

In the present study we will analyze some statistical data regarding the village Hășdate (Gherla), Cluj county, from the 18th-20th centuries. Far from being an exhaustive study of the problem, it is intended to be an overview of the demographic evolution - ethnic and confessional through the view of some of the state or church statistical data of that period. The study aims to contribute to completing a gap in the history of the locality and a prelude to an extensive and complex monographic study.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/155 2026-10-18T06:17:33+00:00 Vasile Rojneac

Prestigious personalities at the ”Church on the Hill”. The connections of the writer and philosopher Lucian Blaga with the Literary Cenacle at the ”Church on the Hill” Our research approach broadly aims to outline the scholarly activity of the Romanian poet-philosopher and writer Lucian Blaga and the connections he had with Father Florea Mureșanu, archpriest of Cluj and parish priest of the ”Holy Trinity” church in Cluj-Napoca, under whose auspices the Literary Cenacle at the ”Church on the Hill” was established. Due to his very active participation, Lucian Blaga will come to the attention of the security forces, who will follow him until the end of his life and will censor his life and literary work. Basically, our material presents the drama that the writer Lucian Blaga went through during the period of sad memory of the communist regime.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/156 2026-10-18T06:17:34+00:00 Ioan-Alin Hirișcău

The proposed study falls within the research on otherness, with the main objective of analyzing how Muslims were perceived and described by Christians in various sources, including internal and external documents, as well as in Turkish and Romanian chronicles.In view of the subject’s scope, both from a temporal and geographical perspective, a delimitation of the analysis was necessary in order to provide a coherent and relevant interpretation. Thus, the research will explore not only the stereotypes and prejudices that exist among Christians, but also the complexities of the inter-human relations between the two groups. It will emphasize the historical context in which these perceptions have been formulated, considering the political, social and cultural events that have influenced Muslim-Christian interactions. By examining historical sources, it will seek to highlight both the negative and positive aspects of perceptions, as well as their evolution over time. It will also analyze the impact of these representations on cultural identities and relations in the region. This multidimensional approach will contribute to a deeper understanding and to a reassessment of the relations between Christian and Muslim communities in their specific historical context.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/157 2026-10-18T06:17:34+00:00 Valer Bel

Christian Eschatology. The Centrality of the Person of Jesus Christ in Eschatology. The present study presents Christian eschatology, emphasizing, at the same time, the centrality of the Person of Jesus Christ in eschatology. It does so with special reference to the theology of Father Dumitru Stăniloae, as he is one of the greatest Orthodox theologians of the 20th century, who deepened theology in the light of Holy Scripture and in the spirit of the Church Fathers, but also taking into account the interrogations of the contemporary world, establishing, at the same time, a balance between triadology, Christology and eschatology.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/158 2026-10-18T06:17:35+00:00 Dacian But-Căpușan

The world - God’s gift involving sacrifi ce. Unlike the pantheism of ancient thought, which considered that the material world has existed since eternity, in the Christian conception the author of the world is God; the world does not exist by itself from eternity, nor by chance, it has a beginning and will have an end. God did not create the world from His being, nor from a pre-existing matter from eternity, but brought everything from non-existence to existence, from non-being to non-being. Creation, the world itself is a gift. The gift must not be understood in itself, separated from its two intrinsic poles: the giver and the receiver. The gift represents a renunciation on the part of the giver towards the receiver, therefore it bears the seal of the cross. The purpose of the gift is therefore linked to the loving relationship between two people. The gift is the messenger of love. Everyone must see in what they have received God’s gift, as a sign of His love for us. Hence the obligation to return the gift received by dedicating our lives to God and serving our fellowmen, that is, accepting the cross willingly.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/159 2026-10-18T06:18:04+00:00 Eneia Nicolae Todoran

The rationality of creation is a consecrated and comprehensive topic in the patristic reflection. The rational character of creation attracts the human soul to knowledge and shows that the entire existence is the creation of a rational Being, the creation of God. In the prayer to God the Father, our Savior Jesus Christ testifies: “this is the eternal life to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent” (John 17,3). Patristic Gnoseology highlights both the importance of knowing God and His works, as well as the need for man to advance in knowledge with wisdom. The Holy Fathers clearly state that man cannot know God in His Being. God makes himself known to man through His energies and works. But the knowledge that comes from God is genuine. The Holy Scripture shows that in the present age we know “in part” and we will know “fully” when “that which is perfect will come” (I Corinthians, 13). The incomplete character of knowledge in the present age can be highlighted including in top fields of current scientific research. For illustration, we focus on research in Computer Science. But the divine providence is obviously also present in the present age and is revealed to us including through the rational character of creation. In this article we study aspects related to the rationality of creation and knowledge in the light of the theological thinking of the Holy Three Hierarchs and Saints Gregory of Nyssa and Maximus the Confessor.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/160 2026-10-18T06:18:05+00:00 Andrei Chețan

This paper examines abortion through a Christian Orthodox lens, highlighting its theological, psychological, and biological ramifications. In Orthodox doctrine, abortion is condemned as a severe breach of the divine commandment ”Thou shalt not kill”, representing a deliberate disruption of a developing human life and a violation of sacred moral responsibilities. Beyond spiritual condemnation, empirical research indicates that abortion is associated with significant psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and behavioral disturbances that can affect familial and societal dynamics. Additionally, emerging epigenetic studies suggest that the trauma of abortion may trigger genetic modifications - such as changes in DNA methylation - that influence stress regulation and mental health in future generations. These findings underscore the complex interplay between individual choices and long-term reproductive and transgenerational health. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a holistic approach that integrates theological ethics, psychological support, and biomedical research in addressing the comprehensive impact of abortion.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/161 2026-10-18T06:18:06+00:00 Petru-Adrian Ostaș

The concept of „inner liturgy” in the work of Saint Mark the Monk represents an essential dimension of spiritual life, grounded in personal mystical experience and the inner transformation of the believer. This inner liturgy manifests as an extension and internalization of communal liturgical worship, requiring a permanent state of prayer, contemplation, and communion with God. Saint Mark the Monk emphasizes that interior liturgy involves the purification of the mind, cultivation of virtues, and struggle against passions, thus achieving a synthesis between the sacramental aspect of church life and individual ascetic dimension. Through this spiritual practice, the believer becomes a „living altar” where perpetual spiritual sacrifice takes place, leading to the deification of the human person and the achievement of complete communion with God. Thus, the inner liturgy becomes a mystical framework for the transfiguration of daily life, an invisible extension of the Eucharistic Liturgy within the human conscience, through which the soul is united with God and embraces the calling to deification. In an age marked by fragmentation, individualism, and secularization, this teaching of Saint Mark the Monk unveils a profoundly personal and contemporary path for the restoration of the human person in communion with Christ, offering a theological and existential response to the spiritual crisis of modernity.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/162 2026-10-18T06:18:06+00:00 Ionuț Lupașcu

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the necessity for the collaboration between the priest and the physician in the treatment of the ailing. Given that humanity is a multifaceted entity comprising both corporeal and spiritual elements, comprehensive healing necessitates a combination of conventional and spiritual interventions. While the physician is responsible for diagnosing the patient and proposing a treatment plan, the priest’s role is to assist the patient in overcoming the challenges of life with dignity and to provide a sense of purpose amidst adversity. It is often the case that church and state work together for the benefit of public health. However, this cooperation must extend beyond the institutional or administrative level and become a practical, case-by-case, personal endeavour. In this sense, the priest, doctor, and patient form a complementary organic unit, each providing assistance to the other in the pursuit of the greater good.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/163 2026-10-18T06:18:07+00:00 Vlad Cristian Todoran

The Mystery of Holy Confession in Confessional Dialogue: Between Evangelical Minimalism and Orthodox Plenitude. The mystery of Holy Confession in the confessional dialogue reveals that true Christian repentance involves both the inner attitude of turning to God and the outer act of sacramental confession. Evangelical minimalism, through its simplicity, reminds us of the importance of a direct personal relationship with Christ and of total sincerity before Him - for without these, any confession becomes an empty ritual. The Orthodox fullness of Confession shows us how much this personal relationship can be enriched and perfected when it is lived in the Church, in communion, under the work of grace transmitted through apostolic succession. The lack of apostolic succession and the gradual deformation of the meaning and purpose of the Sacrament of Holy Confession in non-Orthodox communities mean that no pastor or confessional leader can authentically exercise the power to bind and loose sins - a power given by the Savior Jesus Christ Himself to His Apostles. In the absence of Confession as a Sacrament, the person often turns to a psychologist or counselor, seeking support in a form of therapy.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/164 2026-10-18T06:18:08+00:00 Teofil Tia

The present research travels through the conceptual and psycho-emotional universe outlined by the Italian psychiatrist Giacomo Dacquino1, attempting to focus, from a pastoral perspective, on the sad phenomenon of mistreatment by the younger generation of those who have reached old age. We „cut out” from the thinking of the emeritus Italian professor an exciting conviction: each of us is interested in love, in our third age more than ever: the fact of feeling loved greatly increases our selfesteem, at any age we are. And the lack of love is an indication of religious desertion and lack of spiritual sensitivity.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/165 2026-10-18T06:18:35+00:00 Marcel Ghe. Muntean

Zodiac representations are found in the great cultures and civilizations starting from Antiquity, crossing the Jewish sphere and then reaching the area of Byzantine and Eastern Christianity. The zodiac is the term used to describe the circle with twelve divisions of celestial longitude. The term zodiac derives from the Latin zōdiacus, which means „circle of animals;” although it also contains the image of a woman (Virgo), a man (Aquarius) and two children (Gemini). The only zodiac that is represented only by animals is the Chinese zodiac. Among the examples we note: The carved zodiac called Dendera, the Tallaras zodiac, mosaic from the fourth century, d. In Greece, the pavement mosaic in the Church of San Savino in Piacenza, the Parisian Cathedral, and other churches such as the one known as the Waltham Abbey Church, the Great Lavra of Mount Athos, the Lesnovo Monastery of the fourteenth century, the Sucevița Monastery of the sixteenth century, the Probota Monastery of the sixteenth century, the Living Pilar Church in Georgia dating from the seventeenth century. Representations of the Macedonian zodiac can be found in the narthex of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Lesnovo (1349), the Church of the Holy Archangels in Kucheviste (1591), and they can also be seen on the arch in the narthex of the Church of St. George in the Poloshko monastery (1608/9). In all three examples, the Zodiac appears in the illustration of Psalm 148. The theme of the zodiac is present in the masterful composition The Last Judgement and we find it in the exterior painting or on the façade of the Bukovina monasteries, such as: Probota, Voroneț, Moldovița, Humor and Sucevița. The signs are dropped, perhaps as a symbol of the end of time or of the ages when the judgment will take place. In classical, medieval or modern writings, the inscribed illuminations present the Zodiacal Man - Homo Signorum or „The Man of Signs”, or Alphonse Mucha, Zodiac, 1896, lithograph. Finally, we consider that the signs have been rendered in art, since the beginnings of artistic creation, they have been assimilated by the great cultures and have expressed man’s concerns towards the spiritual ones, transposed into signs, symbols and iconic scenes.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/166 2026-10-18T06:18:36+00:00 Liviu Vidican-Manci

The present study aims to explore the accessibility of Orthodox sermons in the virtual environment. The enormous capacity of search engines to generate answers in fractions of seconds does not guarantee the verified quality of the result. This is the responsibility of the administrators of institutional or private domains and sites. Under these circumstances, we have tried to find out in a concrete way, using keywords, what content users interact with when they first use general terms such as „sermon” or teaching word”. Is it possible for a user of Orthodox faith, but poorly catechized, to be misdirected in his search for homiletical discourses? What is the Church doing to avoid such situations? Should we act in some way? In addition to official channels, should the Church also have private channels that focus exclusively on providing words of doctrine?

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/167 2026-10-18T06:18:37+00:00 Ionuț-Eugen Chifa

This article explores Orthodox Christian conversion narratives published between 1990 and 2020, interpreting them as testimonies of inner healing and spiritual reintegration. Drawing from Romanian and international sources - ranging from theological syntheses to autobiographical accounts and empirical research - the study argues that conversion is not merely a change of religious affiliation, but a profound existential process of reconstituting the fragmented self within the life of the Church. The analysis identifies recurring themes such as liturgical integration, theological continuity, identity crisis, and communal belonging, and traces how these are framed within pastoral and psychological dynamics. Ultimately, the article proposes an integrative pastoral theology of conversion, in which the Church becomes both a guardian of truth and a therapeutic space for the healing of the human person.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/168 2026-10-18T06:18:38+00:00 Rafael Vintilă

Time was perceived according to the movement of the stars in the sky. The concept of time was included in the way we relate to time. Time had three coordinates: past, present and future. Thus, horoscopes based on the division of time have transmitted a certain human wisdom down through the ages. Horoscopes contained information that linked people’s personal time to the life of the planet. As astral inflections were correlated with personal life, various information about man from the past to the future, from physical appearance to destiny resulted. Horoscopes became over time the bearers of a wisdom which, codified as they were, called for a translator who was usually an astrologer. The horoscope was perceived as a divinatory tool, although it was much more complex in reality. Therefore the Christian church, although it used celestial symbols in its writings, rejected the art of divination. The zodiac appears on the walls of some churches and monasteries or even in holy writings, but the Church wants to show that it is not a prediction of the future, but a symbol of self-government converging around the Holy Trinity or around the Christic monogram. Instead, the Church used calendars and the information that came from observing the stars and planets to place the most important Church events in time.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/169 2026-10-18T06:18:38+00:00 Cătălin Nichiforeasa

The priesthood must be seen from many and unexpected aspects. From these aspects one can judge the activity of the priest. Worthy men are called to this ministry, who strive to fulfill the mission to which they have been called. The priest is present in every important moment of a person’s life and manifests his work through the three missions: teaching, sanctifying and leading. Then, the priest is seen through the prism of moral life, which must be irreproachable. Several of the priests who served in the city of Fălticeni and beyond have remained in the consciousness of the locals as examples of priests with a moral life that can be taken as a model and with a vocation for the ministry to which they were called.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/170 2026-10-18T06:18:39+00:00 Cristian-Grigore Ianchiș

In the history of our nation the Orthodox Church has been permanently present in the midst of its shepherds, sharing together the joys and sorrows of our nation, fighting together for national ideals. We can say that the defense of the national ideals and the right faith are intertwined, because the Romanian people was Christian by formation, the literature through the selected texts shows us the image of the Transylvanian Romanian p riest as an apologist, a priest who defended the right faith and the identity of the nation. The burden of the foreign yoke was felt most keenly by the Transylvanian Romanian priest, together with the people he shepherded under foreign rule, where they fought to defend the faith and the unity of the nation, defending the cultural and r eligious identity of the Transylvanian Romanians.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/171 2026-10-18T06:19:02+00:00 Ioan Vraja

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the relationship between pastoral ministry and the secular professions has been a subject of considerable theological and canonical reflection. One such intersection occurs in the context of agricultural clergy, those who, in addition to their spiritual responsibilities, also engage in agriculture to support themselves and their communities. However, this dual vocation is not without canonical challenges and limitations. The concept of vocational balance, or the harmonious integration of sacred and secular ministry, is vital in maintaining the integrity of the priestly function. From a canonical perspective, the activity of tilling the soil, while vital for sustaining life and promoting self-sufficiency, must not overshadow or compromise the primary pastoral duty of shepherding the flock. This study explores the theological and canonical limits governing the compatibility of agricultural labor and clerical life, examining how these dual roles can be reconciled within the broader framework of orthodox ecclesiastical discipline.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/172 2026-10-18T06:19:03+00:00 Andrei Popa

Raising children is a complex and challenging responsibility. In a constantly changing world, it is essential to focus not only on academic education but also on developing the emotional and social skills that will contribute to their future maturity. Providing an environment that encourages responsibility, empathy, and critical thinking can be crucial in this process. One essential first step in raising a mature child is to cultivate their empathy. This can be achieved by introducing discussions about emotions, both their own and those of others around them. By teaching children to express their feelings and understand others’ perspectives, we help them become adults who can navigate interpersonal relationships with respect and openness. Techniques such as roleplaying or reading stories that include moral dilemmas can be very helpful in this regard.

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/173 2026-10-18T06:19:04+00:00 Dacian But-Căpușan 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/174 2026-10-18T06:19:04+00:00 Maxim (Iuliu-Marius) Morariu 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/175 2026-10-18T06:19:05+00:00 Dacian But-Căpușan 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/176 2026-10-18T06:19:05+00:00 Maxim (Iuliu-Marius) Morariu 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology) https://anuarfto.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/anuarfto/article/view/177 2026-10-18T06:19:28+00:00 Cosmin Trif Nicolae-Dragoș Kerekes Dacian But-Căpușan 2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Yearbook (“Babes-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca. Faculty of Orthodox Theology)