The Father's Eternal Freedom

1. "Dr Chiapetti has produced a comprehensive, profound and fair discussion of Patristic theology, as presented in my work, particularly with regard to its ontological significance. A most successful attempt to bring to the surface the immense significance of Patristic theology for human existence." - John D. Zizioulas, Metropolitan of Pergamon. 2. Despite being the most influential living Greek theologian, John Zizioulas publications are largely occasional. Chiapetti knows the thickets of Zizioulas like no one else. His defence of his theology - against all comers - tests its theological roots and explores its philosophical implications for notions of personhood and freedom. Impressive!" - Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University. 3. "In addition to providing a lucid and insightful systematic presentation of Zizioulas theological vision, Chiapetti breaks new ground by offering a constructive defense of the father's eternal freedom. A must read for those interested in Zizioulas and in contemporary trinitarian theology." - Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, and co-founding director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University 4. "Chiapetti studies here for the first time in depth Zizioulas Trinitarian theology, the keystone of his synthesis. Led by a rigorous historical and theological method, this study sheds new light on Zizioulas' thought. Chiapetti's work is important for the ecumenical movement, but also for contemporary reflection on man and on the authentic basis of his freedom." - Carmelo Giuseppe Conticello, Professor of Byzantine Theology at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. 5. "It is with great pleasure that I recommend this book to all those interested in Zizioulas' theology, Greek patristic Trinitarian developments, and Christian personalism. Chiapetti deserves congratulations for this scholarly achievement, as well as for the insightful systematization of a theological topic that is not always easy to engage and convincingly defend." - Viorel Coman In St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, pp 223 - 226, 2024. 6. "In opposition to such a "monarchical" conception of the Trinity as Zizioulas posits, the critical question always arises as to whether it is ultimately a form of subordinationism... Dario Chiapetti consistently comes to the mediating conclusion that Zizioulas' suggestions are coherent in themselves and, as an interpretation, are also compatible with the patristic textual findings, without being able to impose themselves as the only possible interpretation. In particular, he emphasises as positive and influential for further study the aim of not wanting to overcome the exaggerated individualism of the present by repristination of pre-modern categories of substance and nature, but rather to devise with the Church Fathers a relational ontology of the person with a mystical-ecclesial, even erotic trajectory. Anyone interested in this philosophical enterprise is very well served with Chiapetti's book." - Tobias Graßmann in Theologische Literaturzeitung 148 (2023), pp. 498-500.