BOOK REVIEW: Patriciu Vlaicu and Răzvan Perșa, eds., ‟Canonical Tradition and Mission of the Church” (Cluj-Napoca: Presa Universitară Clujeană, 2018), 350 p.

Abstract

The first volume of the collection Studii Nomocanonice brings together the papers presented at the International Conference of Canon Law and Orthodox Theology from Bruxelles (3-5 September 2015). The 13 contributions are divided in five sections, each of them having a distinct importance for this theological domain: canonical tradition, canonical principles, role of clergy, Church and law, the actuality of the tradition. The only article included in the section The Canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church is dedicated by Revd. Assoc. Prof. Irimie Marga to “The Canonical View of Revd. Prof. Liviu Stan” [pp. 9-25], one of the most important professors of Canon Law in the Romanian Orthodox Church. His canonical thinking is complex and profound, and the author underlines five main characteristics: a) his view is based on Andrei Şaguna's ecclesiastically canonical foundation; b) Liviu Stan's contribution as a pathfinder for the Romanian Orthodox Canon Law; c) his preoccupation to rediscover the Orthodox canonical principles, especially with that of laity's participation to Church's life; 4) his persistence to return to the study of ecclesiastic law sources and e) Stan's approach to all current problems faced by the Church.