Time and Man

Man tends to see time as a factor in life that needs no explanation, and thinks that he knows what it is. But when he happens to ask questions about the nature of time and tries to define it, he becomes aware of his inability to do so. The question of man's correct orientation in his life is, in fact, a question of his correct orientation in time; and correct orientation in time presupposes a moving towards, and an examination of, the possibilities and perspectives afford by time. Time is offered to man as a context for his dealings and encounters with his neighbor and with God. Time is also seen as the place where the love of God is revealed. Within time man shows, or fails to show, love for his neighbor. Finally, it is within time that man achieves, or fails to achieve his proper orientation within the world around him. This book includes discussions on such issues as the problem of time, space and time, Christ and time, Church and time, the transfiguration of time and liturgical time - among others. In addressing such topics, the author shows how these are not simply abstract theological issues, but that they indeed affect the entire spiritual orientation of man. Georgios I. Mantzaridis is one of the foremost Orthodox theologians of our day. Born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1935, he is Professor of Ethics and Sociology of Christianity at the Theological School of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. Professor Mantzaridis is the author of numerous books, many of which have been translated into several languages. His main works available in English include The Deification of Man (New York, 1984) and Orthodox Spiritual Life (Brookline, Mass., 1994). His textbooks on Christian Ethics and Sociology of Christianity are considered by many Orthodox scholars to be classics in their fields.