Transfiguring Time: Understanding Time in the Light of the Orthodox Tradition

by Olivier Clément, Jeremy N. Ingpen (Translator)

Clément's Transfiguring Time is an early work, written when he was 37. It carries all the excitement of his fresh encounter with Orthodoxy and the Fathers of the Christian Church. He draws on his deep study of Hinduism, Buddhism and Indian myths to differentiate the understanding of time and eternity in archaic religions, in Hinduism and in Buddhism, from the Christian and specifically Orthodox understanding of time and eternity. This new translation – the first one in English - wants to bring Clément's early work to a new generation of readers.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Christianity

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2019

About the author

Olivier Clément was a French theologian and convert to Orthodox Christianity who taught at St. Sergius Institute in Paris.

He was born in 1921 in the south of France. In his youth he was a non-believer. As he grew to maturity, he became influenced by a number of Orthodox theologians in France, notably Vladimir Lossky and Nicholas Berdiaev, eventually receiving baptism at the hands of Fr Evgraph Kovalesvky, later Bishop Jean-Nectaire of Saint-Denis.

Although a committed school teacher, Clément was most devoted to his work at the St Sergius Institute and to his writing. His work was wide-ranging — from poetry to literary criticism, philosophy to theology, and extended to book-length interviews with figures such as Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and one of his successors, Bartholomew.

The most widely distributed of Clément's many books was perhaps his introductory work on the Orthodox Church in the popular Que sais-je? series, first published in 1961 and now in its seventh edition.

Clément also enjoyed friendship and entered into dialogues on major spiritual themes with a number of imminent personalities including Patriarch Athenagoras, Pope John Paul II, the priest and theologian Dumitru Staniloae, and the brother Roger of Taizé.

Modest, kindly and balanced, and supported faithfully by his wife Monique, Clément worked selflessly to unite Christians of different backgrounds, to unite France’s various Orthodox communities, and to inspire readers and listeners with a love of the Orthodox tradition which, he believed, would enrich the whole Church.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful considerations and meditations on time, from an Orthodox perspective. Hoping to share more about it soon

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a young Clement in the time period following his own conversion to Orthodoxy after having studied Eastern religions. He lays out a vision for understanding the world - time, space, history, evil - based in Christ and His victory over sin, death and evil.

[Sandu Andronic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prea alambicată, mistică și dogmatică.