MThA Publishing House Releases John Kornarakis's "Introduction To Pastoral Psychology"

The MThA Publishing House has released the book "Introduction to Pastoral Psychology" by John Kornarakis (1926-2013), Professor of Pastoral Theology at the University of Athens. The Russian translation was prepared by Archimandrite Simeon (Gagatick). The edition was published as part of the "Library Of Christian Literature" series.

This new book is a fundamental work in which pastoral psychology is conceptualized as a science that assists an individual on the path to salvation. The author focuses on the connection between a person's psychic life and the tasks of spiritual care, pastoral guidance, and the Orthodox understanding of the personality.

John Kornarakis is among the most renowned Greek Orthodox theologians of the 20th century who worked in the fields of pastoral theology, ascetic tradition, and psychological knowledge. Born in Piraeus in 1926, he received his theological education in Athens and subsequently dedicated himself to scientific and teaching activities. In 1978, Kornarakis was elected Ordinary Professor of the Department of Pastoral Psychology and Confessional Practice at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens. He taught there until his retirement in 1993. His name continues to hold a prominent place in modern Greek Orthodox theological literature.

The distinctive feature of Kornarakis's works is the strive to combine Patristic tradition with a careful and sober use of the achievements of modern psychology. This determines the general character of the book. The reader is presented not with an attempt to superficially combine ecclesiastical and psychological language, but with an experience of Orthodox reflection on human psychic life in the light of spiritual guidance, ascetics, and pastoral ministry. The author consistently proceeds from the premise that psychological knowledge can only be useful to a pastor when it is subordinated to the goals of Christian life, aligned with Orthodox anthropology, and serves the cause of salvation.

The Russian edition was prepared based on the second Greek edition of the "Manual Of Pastoral Psychology", published in Thessaloniki in 1993. Originally, the book was intended as the first volume of a broader work, which was to be followed by a continuation. However, this plan was never realized. Therefore, the Russian translation was titled "Introduction To Pastoral Psychology", which more accurately conveys the place and character of the book.

The book grew out of a lecture course that John Kornarakis delivered for many years at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens. This explains its academic structure and practical orientation. In the very first sections, the author raises the question of the relationship between psychology and spiritual life. He then examines the link between depth psychology and spiritual guidance, the confessional nature of pastoral psychology, and its Orthodox foundations.

Special attention is paid to the sources of Orthodox pastoral psychology. These include the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the works of the Holy Fathers and Church writers, the lives of saints, the liturgical books of the Church, practical pastoral experience, as well as critically interpreted data from psychology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry.

A significant part of the work is dedicated to the theme of mental conflict - one of the key elements in Kornarakis's framework. The author examines its sources and structure in detail, referencing major representatives of 20th-century depth psychology while simultaneously correlating psychological analysis with biblical material. The focus remains on issues of guilt, conscience, neurosis, internal personality split, repression, and compensation. At the same time, Kornarakis seeks to show that Orthodox pastoral psychology cannot limit itself to borrowing ready-made schemes from secular science. The inner life of a person must be considered in the light of Christian teaching on the Fall, freedom, moral choice, repentance, and salvation.

An essential feature of the book is its pastoral direction. Kornarakis does not limit himself to general discussions on the admissibility of psychology in an ecclesiastical setting, but shows how a pastor can use psychological knowledge without betraying the Orthodox understanding of spiritual life. In this regard, the book is not only an academic study but also a practical manual for a clergyman striving to deeper understand the internal difficulties of spiritual children, distinguish between the psychological and the spiritual, and more accurately see the boundaries of pastoral action itself.

For the Russian reader, this edition is of particular importance because Orthodox pastoral psychology in the domestic church context continues to be actively conceptualized and formed. In this regard, Kornarakis's work represents an important milestone in the development of this field and a significant experience of the encounter between Tradition and modern knowledge about man.

The publication is addressed primarily to clergy, teachers, and students of theological schools. At the same time, the book will be of interest to a wider circle of readers interested in the Orthodox understanding of the human personality, spiritual help, and the inner life of an individual.

Reference: The "Library Of Christian Literature" series is a publishing project of the Moscow Theological Academy designed to promote the development of theological science at the Academy and provide an impetus for the development of church science as a whole. The series publishes works that combine a high scientific level with relevance and accessibility for a wide audience. Special attention is paid to works that, while maintaining a solid scientific foundation, may be in demand not only by specialists but also by a broader circle of church readers.

The book can be purchased in the official store of the Publishing House: https://www.ozon.ru/product/vvedenie-v-pastyrskuyu-psihologi… 

MThA Press Office