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Curriculum vitae
rev. dr. Doru Costache
Systematic Theology Dept., University of Bucharest
www.oocities.org/dorucostache_web
dcostache_rev@yahoo.com
Civil status
Born: January 10, 1967
Married to Otilia (1989); one daughter, Ioana Maria (born 1992)
Known languages
English
French
Byzantine Greek & Latin
Romanian: mother tongue
Education
2000 – Doctor of Theology
[PhD Thesis: Logos and Creation. From the Anthropic Cosmological Principle to the Theo-anthropo-cosmic Perspective
The thesis studies the possibility that the Anthropic Principle should open to an understanding of St. Maximos the Confessor's unification theory as a framework for the dialogue between science and theology. The work was appreciated with the highest mark for its equilibrium and flexibility, as well as for the subtle analysis of St. Maximos’ original text (in Byzantine Greek).]
1994-1998 – doctoral studies in Orthodox theology, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest, under the scientific supervision of Rev. Dr. Dumitru Popescu (Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy)
1989-1993 – Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest
[Thesis for BA: The Relevance of the Eastern Fathers' Anthropology Today
The work addresses the potential of traditional Church anthropology (St. Athanasios the Great, St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Makarios the Great, St. Symeon the New Theologian) to offer an understanding of contemporary issues like values, finality, and ethics.]
1983-1988 – Undergraduate Studies: The Orthodox Theological Seminary, Bucharest (valedictorian)
Church serving experience
2001-present day – Priest (‘Saint Basil the Great’ Church, Calea Victoriei, Bucharest)
1997-2001 – Deacon (‘Domniţa Bălaşa’ Church, Bucharest)
1990-1997 – Ecclesiastical Cantor (‘The Assumption of Mother of God’ Church, Bucharest)
Work experience
1995-present day – Lecturer in Systematic Theology, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest
1994-1995 – Editor of Glasul Bisericii (The Voice of the Church), the official publication of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Bucharest
1992-1994 – Religion Teacher
Academic work
Scholarly activities
2004-2005 - Participant to an interdisciplinary research program, Science and Religion in Romania, developed under the aegis of the Romanian Academy, the International Centre for Transdisciplinary Study and Research, and the Interdisciplinary University of Paris (funded by grants from John Templeton Foundation)
2000-2004 – Delivered the interdisciplinary course Patristic Cosmology and Scientific Paradigms, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest
[The course tried to present the way Church Fathers approached the cosmology of their time, for missionary reasons, and to describe a way for a similar procedure today, in a new cosmological frame. The Church needs such an effort, first because of the problems Christian conscience has today, in the modern context, and secondly, to establish a good relationship with the natural sciences, in the effort to construct an efficient ethics.]
2000-2003 – Delivered a course in Patristic, Post-Patristic and Neo-Patristic literature, at the International Academy for the Study of History of Culture and Religion, Bucharest
[The course studied the theology of some of the main representatives of the ecclesiastical tradition’s three major stages: 1st – from the beginnings to the classical Byzantine era; 2nd – the late Byzantine Fathers; and 3rd – the post-Byzantine and contemporary theology.]
2002-2003 – Delivered a course in Missiology and Ecumenism for two semesters, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Patriarhul Justinian, University of Bucharest
[First semester: “The Mission of the Church: Historical Aspects, Methodological Elements”; second semester: “Ecumenism: History and Valuation”)
2002-2003 – Member of a working group in the field of interdisciplinary research, within the program Contemporary Cosmology, an Interface for Science-Theology Dialogue (funded by grants from the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences – Berkeley, California, SSQII), at the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (May 2002 - June 2003) [http://www.oocities.org/ccistd]
2001-2002 – Delivered a course in History and Philosophy of Religions for two semesters, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Patriarhul Justinian, University of Bucharest
[First semester: “Des-incarnationist Spiritualities and the Spirituality of Incarnation”; second semester: "Ecclesiastical Hermeneutics of the Religious Experience".]
2001-2002 – Visiting Professor in Fundamental Theology - one semester, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Craiova
[The course addressed (1) some of the main aspects of the traditional way to understand the relationship between ecclesiastical theology and non-ecclesiastical culture; (2) some of the challenges the Church faces today from the secular society and culture; and (3) a few possibilities that Church theology has at its disposal to answer contemporary challenges.]
1999-2002 – Led inter-confessional seminars, with Prof. Martin Hauser (UNESCO Chair), co-president of the international comission for the Reformed-Orthodox dialogue (Switzerland), at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest
1995-2000 – Led seminars on Patristic (St Maximos’ epistemology, anthropology, Christology, and ecclesiology) and interdisciplinary issues (cosmology, creation and evolution, ecology), at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest
Other activities, membership
April, 2004 – Organizer of a promotion round-table of GPSS (Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality), a program of the Interdisciplinary University of Paris and Elon University, having as guests Prof. Pranab Das (USA) and Prof. Basarab Nicolescu (France) (Radu Vodă Monastery, Bucharest)
June-July 2003 – Member of the official delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the 12th General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (Trondheim, Norway)
March, 2003 – Co-organizer of the round-table Time in Scientific and Theological Perspective, within the program Contemporary Cosmology, an Interface for Science-Theology Dialogue (the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy)
Since 2003 – Member of the Centre for Dialogue between Sciences and Theology, University of Craiova
2001-2003 – Co-founder and member of the Center for Applied Theology, Archdiocese of Craiova, head of Science & Theology Dept.
2001-2003 – Member of Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate Committee for Bioethics
Since 2000 – Editor, Publishing House XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest (specialized in Science and Theology)
1994-1996 – Ecological Commissioner of the Romanian Orthodox Church, for a network of the Conference of European Churches
1994-1995 – Representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Steering National Committee, within the preparatory program of the European Year for the Conservation of Nature (1995)
Scientific and public conferences
May, 2004 – “A Theological Perspective on the Origin of Man in Genesis 1,26-27 & 2,7. Aspects of Traditional Hermeneutics” (at the 7th National Symposium on Creation and Evolution, organized by the Romanian Academy, the Centre for Anthropological Research Francisc I. Rainer, and Foundation of Scientists – Prahova, Museum of Natural History, Ploieşti)
April, 2004 – “Science-Theology Dialogue as a Way for Transcending the Conflict between Orthodox Fundamentalism and Ideological Scientism. The Contemporary Romanian Experience”, with Dr. Magda Stavinschi (at the Tenth European Conference on Science and Theology, Streams of Wisdom? Science, Theology and Cultural Dynamics, organized by ESSSAT, Barcelona)
November, 2003 – “Darwin, Evolutionism, Creationism – Rejecting a Modern Myth. An Orthodox Theological Outlook” (National Museum of Natural History Grigore Antipa, Bucharest)
November, 2003 – “Ecclesiastical Cosmology and Modern Paradigms” (talk given within a vulgarization program of the Group for Interdisciplinary Studies – Ploieşti, organization affiliate to the Romanian Committee for History of Philosophy and Science, Romanian Academy)
May, 2003 – “Modern Marginality of Theology and its Place in Contemporary Age” (talk given during the first reunion of the participants at the program Science and Spirituality, of the Romanian National Comission for UNESCO, Bucharest)
February, 2003 – “The Dialogue between Science and Religion in Romania”, with Dr. Magda Stavinschi, Director of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (the international conference And the Truth Will Make You Free, Theology and Science in Conversation in the Changing Contexts of Central and Eastern Europe, organized by Local Societies Initiative, Bratislava)
September, 2002 – “Two Levels of Tradition – The Reference System of Christ’s Church. With a Hermeneutical Application to the Cosmology of the Genesis”, with Dr. Jean Kovalevsky, member of the French Science Academy (within the program Contemporary Cosmology, an Interface for Science and Theology Dialogue, and Journées 2002: Systèmes de référence spatio-temporels, French Institute, Bucharest) [http://www.astro.ro/journees2002.html]
November, 2001 – “Logos and Evolution in Anthropological Research” (the international colloqui Science & Religion. Antagonism or Complementarity?, organized – within the framework of Science and the Spiritual Quest II, a program of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Berkeley – by the Romanian Academy, the Interdisciplinary University of Paris and the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, Bucharest, November 2001)
October, 2000 – “Virtuality and Actuality. From Quantum Ontology to Rev. Dumitru Stăniloae's Anthropic Cosmology” (the international congress Dumitru Stăniloae, Bucharest)
August, 2000 – “Patristic Tradition and Mission of the Church Today” (Diocese of Lower Danube, Galaţi)
March, 2000 – “The Anthropic Cosmological Principle between Post-Modernism and Theology” (the Center for Anthropological Research Francisc I. Rainer, Romanian Academy)
April, 1998 – “Science & Theology. Towards a New Valuation of Relationships” (Physics Faculty, University of Bucharest)
Published works
Romanian texts, excepting those signaled as being in English and French
Books
2003 – The Holy Fathers on the Origins and the Destiny of Cosmos and Man, with Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Ică et alii (Deisis, Sibiu)
2001 – Science and Theology. Preliminaries for their Dialogue, with Rev. Prof. Dr. Dumitru Popescu et alii (XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest) (www.oocities.org/xxi_eonuldogmatic)
1997 – An Introduction to Orthodox Dogmatic. Themes of Christian Faith in a Comparative Outlook, with Rev. Prof. Dr. Dumitru Popescu (Libra, Bucharest)
Science & Theology
“The Irrelevance of Creationism vs. Evolutionism Controversy for the Orthodox Church Tradition. A Logical and Theological Deconstruction of a Modern Myth”, in Noua reprezentare a lumii. Studii interdisciplinare [New World Paradigm. Interdisciplinary Studies], no. 3, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2004
“The Cosmological Dimension of the Liturgy and of Ascetic Experience. Relevant Aspects for the Dialogue between Science and Theology”, in Noua reprezentare a lumii. Studii interdisciplinare, no. 2, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2004 [read]
“From Conflict and Confusion to Complementarity and Dialogue. Jean-Pierre Lonchamp, the History of Science, and the Relationship between Science and Belief”, afterword, in the vol. Ştiinţă şi credinţă [Science and Belief], XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2003
[English text] “Logos, Evolution and Finality in the Anthropological Research. Towards a Transdisciplinary Solution”, in vol. Science and Religion. Antagonism or Complementarity?, eds. Basarab Nicolescu & Magda Stavinschi, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2003 [see it also at www.uip.edu/gpss] [read]
[English text] “The Teleological Anthropology: a Way for Transcending the Conflict between the Scientific & Theological Perspectives on Human Being”, in the vol. Science and Religion Dialogues, eds: Radu Constantinescu & Gelu Călina, University of Craiova, SReDOC Program, Archdiocese of Oltenia Printing House, Craiova, 2002
“John F. Haught, Science & Religion Relationship, or About the Virtues of Decency”, afterword, in the vol. Ştiinţă şi religie. De la conflict la dialog [Science and Religion. From Conflict to Conversation], XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2002
“An Orthodox Outlook to Creationism-Evolutionism Controversy. Elements for a Debate on Method”, in the vol. Teologie şi ştiinţe naturale. În continuarea dialogului [Theology and Natural Sciences. Continuing the Dialogue], eds. Radu Constantinescu & Gelu Călina, Metropoly of Oltenia, Center for Applied Theological Studies, Craiova, 2002
“Thoughts at the End of Second Millennium. On the Origins of Man”, in Glasul Bisericii [The Voice of the Church], no. 1-4/1994
Ecology
“Secularism, the Religion of Power, and Ecological Crisis. Doctrinal premises, mental attitudes”, in Biserica Ortodoxă [The Orthodox Church], no. 1/2003 [read]
“Microcosmos and Macrocosmos. Ecological Aspects in St. Maximos the Confessor’s Thinking”, in the vol. Theology and Natural Sciences. Continuing the Dialogue, eds. Radu Constantinescu & Gelu Călina, Metropoly of Oltenia, Center for Applied Theological Studies, Craiova, 2002
“Man and Cosmos in the Teaching of Eastern Fathers”, in Glasul Bisericii, no. 6-12/1995 [read]
Patristic research
“The Program of Traditional Church Hermeneutics. Three works of St. Maximos the Confessor”, in Bărăganul ortodox (the official publication of the Diocese of Slobozia and Călăraşi) no. 12 & no. 13, 2004 [read]
“The Experience of the Holy Spirit in the Teaching of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Palamas”, in Anuarul Facultăţii de Teologie Ortodoxă Patriarhul Justinian, University of Bucharest, 2002 [read]
“Apologetic, Moral, and Mystic: Three Manners of Ecclesiastical View on Creation. Elements for a Traditional Cosmology”, in Noua reprezentare a lumii. Studii interdisciplinare, no. 1, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2002 [read]
“Sunthetos. The Soteriological Christology of St. Maximos the Confessor”, in Anuarul Facultăţii de Teologie Ortodoxă Patriarhul Justinian, University of Bucharest, 2001
“St. Augustine or the Theological Justification of Mind. Essay on the Soliloquia and Confessiones”, in Biserica ortodoxă, no. 2/2000 [read]
“About what is, in Christ, to our power to reach. Some Remarks on St. Nicholas Cabasilas’ Thinking”, in Vestitorul Ortodoxiei [Orthodoxy’s Announcer], no. 245-246, 2000 [read]
“From the Absence of the Mystagogue to the Succession of Saints. Three Other Maximian Texts in Contemporary Reading”, in Areopag, no. 6/2000 [read]
“Logos and Creation in St. Athanasios’ Vision”, in Glasul Bisericii, no. 8-12/1994
Bible studies
“The Final Shape of the World in St. John the Theologian’s Apokalypsis: Creation, History, Salvation and Church. Essay on chapters 21 & 22”, in Buletinul of Center for Dialogue between Science and Theology, University of Craiova, SReDOC Program, Craiova, 2002
The Creation of the Visible World. Towards a Contemporary Interpretation of the Biblical Narrative on Cosmogenesis”, in Ortodoxia [Orthodoxy], no. 1-2/1997
Social issues
“A Teological Perspective on Fear”, in Biserica Ortodoxă, no. 2/2003 [read]
“The Role of the Family in Children’s Education. An Ecclesiastical Perspective”, in International Congress Family and Life at the Beginning of a New Millenium (Bucharest, September 25-27, 2001), Biblical and Missionary Institute Publishing House of the Romanian Orthodox Church, 2002
“Des-incrimination of Prostitution, Human Rights, and the Nobility of God’s Creation”, in vol. Legiferarea prostituţiei, o lege a fărădelegii, Metropoly of Oltenia & Center for Applied Theology, Craiova, 2002
“Society and Communion. A Major Contribution of Father Dumitru Popescu”, in Biserica Ortodoxă, no. 1/2001
Various theological studies
“The Endless Colloquium. Creation’s Reason of Being in Father Stăniloae’s Thinking”, in the vol. Dumitru Stăniloae sau Paradoxul teologiei [Dumitru Stăniloae or the Paradox of Theology], eds. Teodor Baconsky & Bogdan Tătaru-Cazaban, Anastasia, Bucharest, 2003 [read]
“Reflections on the Regime of the Holly Communion in the Orthodox Church Tradition”, in Biserica Ortodoxă, no. 2/2003 [read]
“Orthodoxy: the Continuity of Criteria and of the Apostolic Spirit of Tradition. Relevants Aspects for the Mission of the Church Today”, in Studii [Studies], no. 1/2002, Archdiocese of Craiova and the Center for Applied Theology
[French text] “Two Levels of Tradition. The Reference System of Christ’s Church”, in Noua reprezentare a lumii. Studii interdisciplinare, no. 1, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucharest, 2002
“Anselm of Canterbury or the Intellectual Justification of God”, in Biserica Ortodoxă, no. 2/2002 [read]
“Communio. Father Dumitru Stăniloae and the Ecclesial-Colloquial Reason of Existence”, in Studii teologice [Theological studies], no. 3-4/2001
“For an Orthodox Anthropology”, in Glasul Bisericii, no. 5-7/1994
“Mission and Evangelization”, in Glasul Bisericii, no. 1-4/1994
Modern & post-modern culture
“René Descartes and the World We Live in. An Orthodox Theological Point of View”, in Biserica Ortodoxă, no. 2/2002
“Modern Anthropocentrism and the Features of the Ecclesial Anthropology”, in Analele Universităţii din Craiova, Theology series, nr. 10 /2002, Universitaria, Craiova [read]
“From the Paradisiac Experience to Homo Creator’s Myth. Two Maximian Texts in Contemporary Reading”, in Areopag, no. 2/1999 [read]
Review and opinion papers
“The ecclesial charisma of discerning”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 14, 2004 [read]
“The dialogue between science and theology in Romania” (with dr. Magda Stavinschi), in Noua reprezentare a lumii, Studii interdisciplinare. 2, XXI: Eonul dogmatic, Bucureşti, 2004 [read]
“The two levels of tradition. 2 – Unity and plurality”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 9, 2004 [read]
“The two levels of tradition. 1 – Fidelity and flexibility”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 8, 2004 [read]
“The liturgy of the Church as embodiment of the Word. Reflections on the mystery of godmanhood and tradition’s spirit”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 7, 2003 [read]
“Two ways for missing the meeting with tradition”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 6, 2003 [read]
“It is good to be in tradition”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 5, 2003 [read]
“Pseudo-traditional Fundamentalism and the two Levels of Tradition”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 4, 2003 [read]
“Modern Marginalization of the Church and Tradition”, in Bărăganul ortodox no. 3, 2003
“Tradition in Contemporary Times”, Bărăganul ortodox no. 2, 2003
“The 12th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches. Jesus Christ heals and reconciles. Our witness in Europe” (with His Grace Ciprian Câmpineanul, bishop assistant to the Patriarch), in Vestitorul Ortodoxiei, no. 318-319, 2003
“The International Symposium «Father Dumitru Stăniloae». Bucharest, October 2-4, 2000”, in Vestitorul Ortodoxiei, no. 254-255, 2000
“Today, Herod: An invitation to the Supper of Christmas Eve”, Preface, in vol. of Fr. Adrian-Petruş Drăghici, Irod. Teatru pentru copii, Biserica Ortodoxă Publishing House, Alexandria, 2002
“Metaphysics and Theology, or About the New Encounter between Theology and Academy”, in Glasul Bisericii, no. 5-8/1997
“Conversion through habit”, in Martyria. Review of Apologetics no. 8/1994
Bucharest,
October 7, 2004