SOTER: Journal of Religious Science / SOTER: religijos mokslo žurnalas

Obstacles to Faith Development in The Gospel According to John and in The First Letter of John

Teresė Gitana Gudelevičiūtė — 2025-01-28

The article explains what Christian faith is and the obstacles to its growth in the Gospel of John and the First Letter of John. In the context of today’s crisis of faith, it is relevant to return to the foundation of faith, which is to say to the teaching of the Gospel. In the Tradition of the Church, the Gospel according to John is called “the Gospel of Faith” because of its particular teaching on the necessity of faith for communion with God. The journey of faith, for the Apostle John, is not a static but a dynamic process. Faith grows and matures, and if it is not nurtured, it weakens and fades away. In John’s theology, faith is, on the one hand, a gift from God and, on the other, a human response. By believing, man cooperates with God through Christ and in Christ. The Gospel according to John and the First Letter of John highlight the obstacles to faith as cooperation between God and man: the effects of sin, the hatred of the world, the devil. The greatest sin is unbelief in the Messiah sent by God. The dualistic language of the fourth gospel about the workings of the obstacles to faith has deep theological weight. John’s teaching on the struggle in the journey of faith is hopeful: in the spiritual struggle the believer is not alone, but Christ is the rock of his faith. He has already defeated the prince of the world. The victory of believers over the sinful world is faith in the Messiah. The knowledge of the hindrances to the journey of faith, based on the theology of St. John, has practical implications for the growth of the faith of both the individual believer and the Church community.

The Church Building as a Tool for Orientation Without a Compass: The Problem of Orienting Lithuanian Churches

Gabrielius E. Klimenka — 2025-01-28

The research on orientation based on church buildings in Lithuania aims to answer the question whether this method of orientation can be reliable for finding directions without a compass. Survival courses and specialised literature suggest that the altar of a Catholic church is usually oriented to the East, which could help the survivor to find the path. However, an analysis of the orientation of 45 different churches in Lithuania shows that only a few of them are oriented exactly east, i.e. they have a 90° azimuth. Most of the churches were oriented in other directions, so this method proved unreliable. The tendency for churches to be oriented in a non-easterly direction may have been due to practical and historical constraints, such as urbanisation and specific spatial constraints, which may have determined the orientation of the church. The technological possibilities of the time when the churches were built must also be considered – inaccurate measuring methods in the past prevented builders from accurately determining the eastern azimuthal angle. The theological tradition of orientation in the construction of Lithuanian churches may already have disappeared. The tradition of eastward orientation, although it existed in Christian theology as a symbolic sign of resurrection and light, has changed over the centuries. Practical considerations and the actualities of historical periods may have influenced the orientation of churches. Conclusion: in Lithuania, orientation based on the direction of the church altar is not a reliable method for finding one's way around without a compass, as most churches are not oriented to the east. This suggests that it is important for survivors to rely on more reliable methods of orientation without a compass.

Characteristics of the Spirituality of the Servant of God Elena Spirgevičiūtė

Nerijus Pipiras — 2025-01-28

This article explores the spirituality of Elena Spirgevičiūtė, a 19-year-old Lithuanian woman who died defending her chastity from Soviet partisans in 1944. In 2000, the beatification case of Elena Spirgevičiūtė was opened in the Catholic Church. The diary of Elena Spirgevičiūtė, published in 2021, is the main source of information about her spirituality. The diary reveals the evolution of a young girlʼs thoughts, feelings, choices and spirituality as she searches for her vocation and a meaningful life, striving to preserve her humanity in a challenging historical reality. Elena's spirituality is characterised by Christocentrism, mariological and ecclesiological dimensions. The diary bears witness to the author's love for Jesus, the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, the angels and the liturgical rites of the Church. Elena's prayer life is characterised by sincerity, spontaneity and intensity. She faithfully entrusts her daily life to God through prayer. The diary shows Elena's sensitivity of conscience, sustained by a constant search for virtue and the examination of her thoughts and actions. It is noteworthy that the diarist's process of spiritual and personal development is not self-contained, but is inseparable from her caring and loving relationships with her relatives and friends. Even when she reflects on the war and the painful events in her immediate environment, there is no room in Elena's diary for anger, resentment, condemnation, but only for compassion, pity, sincere concern. The authors of the article emphasise that the daily practice of the virtues and faith matured Elena Spirgevičiūtė for the fateful decision to sacrifice her life for the virtue of chastity.

The Importance of Spiritual Assistance for Infertile Families in the Lithuanian Context

Ingrida Vuosaitytė — 2025-01-28

This article presents the importance of spiritual support for those facing infertility in Lithuania. It describes the medical methods used in Lithuania to address infertility, such as NaProTechnology and assisted reproductive technology, pointing out the ethical and moral challenges associated with these medical interventions. The concept of spiritual assistance and the possible role of a spiritual assistant in helping those facing infertility challenges are explored. An empirical qualitative study conducted in 2023 is presented to understand how people experiencing infertility perceive the Church's teachings and what their need for spiritual accompaniment is, and whether it has been met. In summary, the article highlights the need to increase awareness and understanding of the Church's teaching on infertility, the provision of comprehensive and accessible information and the need for spiritual accompaniment. It highlights the need to raise awareness of the Church's teaching on infertility, to provide accessible information, and to develop a strategy to meet the spiritual needs of infertile couples in Lithuania in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church by promoting moral healing methods and increasing the availability of spiritual assistance. It is noted that spiritual assistance is important for those experiencing infertility or undergoing treatment, but this need is not well met in Lithuania.