Eastern Orthodoxy & Oikonomeia

Discussion Questions

1. What is "apophatic theology" and why is it important?

Apophatic theology is a kind of traditional Eastern Orthodox bulwark that defines God by negation. A practical theology branch or not, it is predicated on the idea that the Divine is too overwhelming to be comprehended in any singular way by any singular person. Instead, to combat our own ignorance of the true nature of the Divine, apophatic theology maintains a relationship with God dependent on a self-awareness regarding our lack of knowledge as mortals. God himself does not fit into our definitions of being, nor does he subscribe to our attempts to define him in relation to other things (such as our conception of space and/or time), purely because God’s omnipotence isn’t justifiably compared to anything material, or otherwise, we might use for reference.

2. What does the Byzantine concept of Oikonomeia mean and what role did it play in the Byzantine era?

The Eastern Orthodoxy’s concept of Oikonomeia is perhaps best referenced by detailing its opposite, Akriveia. Both sit on opposite ends of the spectrum of interpretation: while Akriveia represents strict adherence to doctrine, Oikonomeia is antithetical in that it offers more room for interpretation. The Eastern Church has tried to operate in the sense of “economy” in that it tries to adhere to the spirit of the law rather than the letter. Bishops are authorized to make exceptions to canon law in the interest of the parishioners who might suffer from a more strict reading of the gospel. The power of interpretation as it pertains to the ecclesiastical economy is entrusted to The Church by Christ so as to manage and govern its followers.