Archimandrite The title archimandrite (; ), used in Eastern Christianity, originally referred to a superior abbot ('' hegumenos'', , present participle of the verb meaning "to lead") whom a bishop appointed to supervise several "ordinary" abbots and monaste ...

Seraphim Papakostas (1892 – 1954) was the Superior of the Zoe Brotherhood movement in Greece from 1927–1954. Zoe was founded in 1907 by Archimandrite Eusebius Matthopoulos (1849–1929), an earlier follower and collaborator of Apostolos Makrakis, as an extra-ecclesiastical, semi-monastic organization patterned on religious orders in the West.

Life and authorship

Archimandrite Seraphim (Papakostas) was born in a mountain village of central Greece in 1892, and died in Athens in 1954. He studied theology at the

University of Athens The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; , ''Ethnikó kai Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens (UoA), is a public university in Athens, Greece, with various campuses alo ...

, thereafter serving as a high school teacher for two years, and later as a preacher at the Cathedral of Athens. Father Seraphim passed the last twenty-five years of his life in the capacity of Superior of the "ZOE" Brotherhood of Theologians, which was established by his predecessor, Archimandrite Eusebius Matthopoulos. As Superior of "ZOE", Father Seraphim Papacostas developed all of the groups under the Brotherhood, contributing to the establishment of associations for parents, the educated, the young working class, students and educators. Father Seraphim was distinguished as an author. Three of his books, ''The Parables of Christ'', ''The Miracles of Christ'' and ''The Sermon on the Mount'', became classics for the Orthodox in Greece. His liturgical works, ''Baptism'', and ''A Handbook of the Divine Liturgy'', were also of great significance. In his writings he also dealt with modern social problems. In ''The Problem of Parenthood and Birth Control'', ''Morality and Health'', ''Between the Two Wars'', ''Postwar Problems'' and ''For the Hours of Pain'', he attempted to provide counsels for the difficulties of our times. All of these books had a widespread circulation in Greece, with successive editions being published and warmly received. However, of all of his books, ''Repentance'' had the most extensive circulation, having been published repeatedly.

Criticism

Professor

Christos Yannaras Christos Yannaras (; also Giannaras; ; 10 April 1935 – 24 August 2024) was a Greek philosopher, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author of more than 50 books which have been translated into many languages. He was a professor emeritus of philo ...

has remarked that: "like Matthopoulos he wrote like a Protestant

pietist Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christianity, Christian life. Although the movement is ali ...

. In his book ''The Question of Conception'', Papakostas faithfully follows Anglican and Roman Catholic opinion about contraception, presented as a quintessentially Orthodox view."

. ''Orthodoxy and the West: Hellenic Self-Identity in the Modern Age.'' Transl. Peter Chamberas and Norman Russell. Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2006. pp. 229-230.

Notes

Citations

Sources

* Archimandrite Seraphim Papacostas. ''REPENTANCE.'' 3rd Edition; Transl. from the 12th Greek edition. Athens: "ZOE" Brotherhood of Theologians, 1987. pp. 5–7.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seraphim (Papakostas) 1892 births 1954 deaths 20th-century Eastern Orthodox priests 20th-century Greek writers Greek Eastern Orthodox priests Eastern Orthodox monks Eastern Orthodox writers Greek theologians Radical Pietism