Synody według świadectw św. Augustyna – rozumienie ich roli i znaczenia w Kościele afrykańskim
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Date
2023
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Wydawnictwo KUL
Abstract
Spojrzenie na Kościół Afryki przełomu IV i V wieku przez pryzmat instytucji synodu pozwala dobrze uwydatnić nie tylko jego kondycję, ale i żywotność. Szczególnie cenne w tym względzie jest świadectwo św. Augustyna, biskupa Hippony. Jego eklezjologii zawdzięczamy ważny rozdział nauki o synodach na chrześcijańskim Zachodzie, która była mocno osadzona w dwu węzłowych problemach: schizmie donatystycznej i herezji pelagianizmu. Augustyn, mówiąc o synodach, posługuje się kilkadziesiąt razy terminem synodus i aż kilkaset razy terminem concilium. Termin ten rozumie zasadniczo jako zebranie, zgromadzenie w jedno (in unum congregare) biskupów (coetus episcoporum). Czasami na zgromadzeniach tych byli obecni kapłani i diakoni. W swojej nauce o synodach biskup Hippony podejmuje wiele ważnych kwestii: powagi, autorytetu (auctoritas) synodów; stojących przed nimi zadań, zwłaszcza w kontekście prawowierności nauki i zasad życia Kościoła; kolegialności biskupów; roszczeń Kościoła Afryki do autonomii. Synody, nie ciesząc się taką powagą jak Pismo Święte czy sięgające tradycji apostolskiej zwyczaje obecne w Kościele, odgrywały jednak w jego życiu niezastąpioną rolę, gdyż ich zdecydowane i wiążące postanowienia (constitutionis, gesta concilii) wzmocniły nie tylko jego powagę, ale uczyniły go także na arenie Kościoła powszechnego Kościołem wiodącym.
The article looks at the Church of Africa, at the turn of the 4th century and into the 5th, through the prism of the institution of the synod. Particularly valuable in this regard is the testimony of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. We owe to his ecclesiology an important chapter in the doctrine of synods in the Christian West. Two crucial controversies at the time were the Donatist schism and the heresy of Pelagianism. When talking about synods, Augustine uses the term synodus several dozen times and the term concilium several hundred times. He understands synodus and concilium essentially as a gathering, an assembly into one (in unum congregare), of bishops (coetus episcoporum), although priests and deacons were sometimes present at these assemblies. In his teaching on synods, the Bishop of Hippo addresses several important issues: the authority (auctoritas) of synods; the tasks facing them, especially regarding the orthodoxy of teachings and principles within the life of the Church; collegiality among bishops; and claims of autonomy on the part of the Church of Africa. Synods, while not possessing the weight of either the Holy Scriptures or customs drawn from apostolic tradition, nevertheless played a critical role in the life of the African Church. Their decisive and binding provisions (constitutionis, gesta concilii) not only strengthened its authority, but also made it the leading Church within the arena of the universal Church of that day.
The article looks at the Church of Africa, at the turn of the 4th century and into the 5th, through the prism of the institution of the synod. Particularly valuable in this regard is the testimony of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. We owe to his ecclesiology an important chapter in the doctrine of synods in the Christian West. Two crucial controversies at the time were the Donatist schism and the heresy of Pelagianism. When talking about synods, Augustine uses the term synodus several dozen times and the term concilium several hundred times. He understands synodus and concilium essentially as a gathering, an assembly into one (in unum congregare), of bishops (coetus episcoporum), although priests and deacons were sometimes present at these assemblies. In his teaching on synods, the Bishop of Hippo addresses several important issues: the authority (auctoritas) of synods; the tasks facing them, especially regarding the orthodoxy of teachings and principles within the life of the Church; collegiality among bishops; and claims of autonomy on the part of the Church of Africa. Synods, while not possessing the weight of either the Holy Scriptures or customs drawn from apostolic tradition, nevertheless played a critical role in the life of the African Church. Their decisive and binding provisions (constitutionis, gesta concilii) not only strengthened its authority, but also made it the leading Church within the arena of the universal Church of that day.
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Keywords
Kościół, synod, synodus, concilium, św. Augustyn, eklezjologia, Church, st. Augustine, ecclesiology
Citation
"Verbum Vitae", 2023, T. 41, nr 1, s. 33-56