I sacrifici dell’assimilazione a Dio secondo l’esegesi di Clemente di Alessandria: aspetti antropologici

Chapters 14 – 18 of the fourth book of Stromateis of Clement of Alexandria draw parallels with the characteristics of the true Gnostic and with the main peculiarities of the Christian martyr, and prove that a state of assimilation to God cannot be attained without sacrifices. In this paper, we point out how Clement interpreted the nature of martyrdom through existential and intellectual approaches. This study emphasises that also in the themes of assimilation to God and martyrdom, Clement makes significant references to the philosophical literature, however, in his opinion, the orthodox truth is the Sacred Scripture, through the mediation of Saint Paul and the Church Tradition. Just as
he is convinced that the passages of the Sacred Scripture contain more than one meaning, in the same way Clement also quotes and comments on the writings of the “Apostolic Fathers” in the light of the theological needs of his time.many respects, provide a pattern and energy for the implementation of the guidelines suggested in the directorate, for the unified vision and practical application of the kerygmatic, mystagogical and catechumenal nature of catechesis.
Getting acquainted with this honourable catechetical approach of the Eastern Churches in the directorate will certainly enrich the vision of the Western Church as well. At the same time, it draws the attention of the members of the Eastern Churches to the important, indispensably urgent duty of the modern mediation of their own heritage, and – instead of adopting foreign practices that often seem simpler and more practical and are considered modern – to the exciting task of creative actualization and re-reading of the tradition.