Jean-Claude Larchet
Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet is a French Orthodox researcher who is one of the foremost Orthodox Patristics scholars writing today.
Born in northeastern France in 1949 of a Roman Catholic family, Larchet earned a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy (1987)and a Ph.D in theology from the University of Strasbourg (1994). In 2024 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Alba Iulia.
It was during his studies in philosophy that his reading of the Greek Fathers and their Orthodox commentators (especially Vladimir Lossky) led him to the Orthodox Church, where he was received in 1971 by the hieromonk who would be his spiritual father, the elder Serge Chévitch (1904-1987), who was also the spiritual father of the theologian Vladimir Lossky, the philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev, and the monk iconographer Gregory (Krug). From 1973 to 1979 he met, seeking spiritual guidance and advise, some of the best-known spiritual leaders of that era: Archimandrite (now Saint) Justin Popovich, Archimandrite (now Saint) Sophrony (Sakharov) and, in two long stays at Mount Athos, the followers of Elder Joseph the Hesychast - the Elder (now Saint) Ephrem of Katounakia, the Elder Ephraim (Moraitis) of Philotheou (now in Arizona), the Elder Charalambos of Dionysiou - especially the Elder (now Saint) Paisios (Eznepidis) with whom he had long talks and whose support remains of great importance to Larchet.
Dr. Larchet, now retired, has been teaching philosophy for 35 years, and as a patrologist and theologian has lectured in many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, France, Great Britain, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, USA.
His prolific writings on the spirituality of the Fathers of the Church and on Orthodox theology (36 books, 180 articles, more than 700 reviews) have been translated into no less than 19 languages.
He is one of the very few contemporary authors who is able seamlessly to combine rigorous scholarship with a vibrant sense of the inner life of the Church.
Contents
Authorship
Books translated in english
- The Theology of Illness (2002)
- Mental Disorders and Spiritual Healing (2005).
- Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses (2012)
- Life after death according to the Orthodox Tradition (2012, 2nd edition 2021)
- Elder Sergei of Vanves: Life and Teachings (2012)
- Theology of the Body (2017)
- The New Media Epidemic. The Undermining of Society, Family, and Our Own Soul (2019)
- The Spiritual Unconscious (2020)
- The Spiritual Roots of the Ecological Crisis (2022)
Books in French
Anthropology
- Thérapeutique des maladies spirituelles (1991, 6th edition 2013) ISBN 2204055301
- Théologie de la maladie (1991, 4th edition 2017) ISBN 2204042900
- Thérapeutique des maladies mentales. L’expérience de l’Orient chrétien des premiers siècles (1992, 4th edition 2017) ISBN 2204045187
- Dieu ne veut pas la souffrance des hommes (1999, 2nd edition 2008) ISBN 2204086029
- La Vie après la mort selon la Tradition orthodoxe (2001, 2nd edition 2008) ISBN 220406713X
- Le Chrétien devant la maladie, la souffrance et la mort (2002) ISBN 2204070947
- L’Inconscient spirituel (2005) ISBN 2204077879
- Théologie du corps (2009) ISBN 2204090026
- Malades des nouveaux médias (2016) ISBN 2204114868
- Petite théologie pour les temps de pandémie (2020) ISBN 2940628815
- Transfigurer le genre (2023) ISBN 2940701711
Bioethics
- Pour une éthique de la procréation. Éléments d’anthropologie patristique (1998) ISBN 2204058580
- Une fin paisible, sans douleur, sans honte... (2010) ISBN 2204091278
Spirituality
- Variations sur la charité (2007) ISBN 2204084751
- La Prière de Jésus selon les moines du Mont Athos (2024) ISBN 2706726997
Dogmatics
- Théologie des énergies divines (2010) ISBN 2204090085
- Personne et nature (2011) ISBN 2204096237
Iconology
- L’Iconographe et l’artiste (2008) ISBN 220408476X
Byzantine Fathers
• La Vie et l’œuvre théologique de Grégoire II de Chypre (1241-1290), patriarche de Constantinople (2012) ISBN 2204097152 • Introduction to Grégoire Palamas, Traités démonstratifs sur la procession du Saint-Esprit (2017) ISBN 2204116831 His three volumes on St Maximos the Confessor are widely acknowledged as among the best studies of this great saint and theologian published in any language:
- La Divinisation de l’homme selon saint Maxime le Confesseur (1996) ISBN 2204052493
- Maxime le Confesseur, médiateur entre l’Orient et l’Occident (1998) ISBN 2204059498
- Saint Maxime le Confesseur (580-662) (2003)ISBN 2204071560
Modern Saints, Elders and Theologians
- Saint Silouane de l’Athos (2001, 2nd edition 2004) ISBN 2204065439
- Le Starets Serge (2004) ISBN 2204076244
- Le Patriarche Paul de Serbie. Un saint de notre temps (2014) ISBN 282514423X
- Saint Gabriel, fol-en-Christ de Géorgie (2015) ISBN 2825145505
- "En suivant les Pères..." La vie et l'œuvre du Père Georges Florovsky (2019) ISBN 2940628432
- Mont Athos.Carnets 1974-2015 (2022) ISBN 2940701075
Ecclesiology
- L’Église, corps du Christ, I, Nature et structure (2012) ISBN 2204096245
- L’Église, corps du Christ, II, Les relations entre les Églises (2012) ISBN 2204097721
- La Vie sacramentelle (2014) ISBN 2204102822
- La Vie liturgique (2016) ISBN 2204106208
Ecology
- Les fondements spirituels de la crise écologique (2018) ISBN 2940523894
- Les animaux dans la spiritualité orthodoxe (2018) ISBN 294052386X
Methodology
- Qu'est-ce que la théologie ? Méthodologie orthodoxe dans sa pratique et son enseignement (2022) ISBN 2940701377
Articles in english
- On the Love of Enemies: The Teaching of St. Silouan. In Communion. (Posted Sunday, October 24th, 2004)
- But I say to you: Love your Enemies.
- The Question of the Roman Primacy in the Thought of Saint Maximus the Confessor. In: Cardinal Walter Kasper. The Petrine Ministry: Catholics and Orthodox in Dialogue: Academic Symposium Held at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The Newman Press, 2006. pp.188-209.
• Patristic Views on the Nature and Status or Scientific Knowledge. • The Prophetic Role of Mount Athos in the Contemporary World.
See also
References
Sources
- Jean-Claude Larchet. ORA ET LABORA. Friday, May 8, 2009.
- Wikipedia: Jean-Claude Larchet
- OrthodoxInfo.de: Jean-Claude Larchet