Ernst Christoph Suttner died at 22 october 2024
Obituary by Prof Dr Dr Thomas Németh
Professor emeritus Dr Ernst Christoph Suttner died in Würzburg on 22 October 2024 at the age of 91.
He was one of the outstanding personalities of German-speaking theology of the Christian East. From 1975 to 2002, he taught Patrology and Eastern Church Studies at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Vienna. The implementation of the ecumenical insights of the Second Vatican Council and the dialogue with Orthodoxy were matters close to his heart. He played a key role in the reappraisal of the Unions of Brest and Transylvania, which was supported by the PRO ORIENTE Foundation. From 1979 to 2000, he was a member of the joint international commission for theological dialogue between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, and since 2011 he has been a corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Suttner was ordained a priest in the Russian Catholic rite for the diocese of Regensburg and worked for a time as pastor to the German-speaking Roman Catholic community in Moscow, where he was also active at Catholic and Orthodox teaching institutions. The transnational promotion of young academics and intellectual breadth in theology were very important to him. Three honorary doctorates testify to his academic ties with Romania; after his active career, he also taught at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. His multifaceted academic commitment extended into the last decade of his life through publications with an ecumenical-ecclesiological focus.
Ernst Christoph Suttner's death leaves a large gap in the theology of the Christian East, but his legacy will live on in the numerous publications and in all those whom he accompanied on academic paths.
May the Lord grant him eternal remembrance!
Preview: Excursion to Romania
Outer facade of the Moldovița monastery church (16th century)
Fr., 23.05. – Sa., 31.05.2025
(about Ascencion) 9 days
97% of the Romanian population belong to a Christian denomination, the highest figure in Europe after the Vatican State (98.6%).
We would like to explore this phenomenon on an excursion (SS 2025) and in the compulsory preparatory seminar:
Discover Romania: denominational diversity, communist heritage and religious life today.
| WD | Date | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs | 10.10.24 | 18.30 - 20.00 | Presence |
| Sat | 19.10.24 | 09.45 - 16.30 | Presence |
| Thurs | 21.11.24 | 18.00 - 21.00 | online |
| Thurs | 28.11.24 | 18.00 - 21.00 | online |
| Thurs | 12.12.24 | 18.00 - 21.00 | online |
| Thurs | 23.01.25 | 18.00 - 21.00 | online |
We will look at the history, culture and current diversity of denominations and practised religiosity in this country, which is so close and yet often very far away for many.
Binding pre-registration for the excursion is required by the end of October 2024 (stating the relevant faculty affiliation!)
Students of the Faculty of Catholic Theology will be given preferential consideration when registering, but we are also happy to receive applications from students of other faculties.
Total costs: approx. 1,400 euros incl. full board (with faculty grant probably only approx. 700 euros)
This page will be continuously updated and will contain all the necessary information. We will also inform you about updates on the excursion via social media.
Contact: Mag. Daniela Wiedl +43 1 4277 - 30211 daniela.wiedl@univie.ac.at
Program for download.
(see also the two maps below, press the [ ] symbol in the frame at the top right)
Programm Points
Itinerary
A warm welcome!
Team f.l.t.r.: Wiedl, Uhryn,Németh, Moga, Heith-Stade
The Department of Theology and History of the Eastern Churches deals in research and teaching with:
- Orthodox Churches
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Oriental Orthodox Churches
- Patrology
It inscribes itself in a continuous research tradition at the University of Vienna (Eastern Church Law at the Faculty of Law since 1867, Eastern Church Studies and Patristics at the Faculty of Catholic Theology since 1975).
Against the background of the strong presence of Eastern Churches in Austria (Orthodoxy in second place among churches and religious communities) and the importance of the location for ecumenism, the department forms an important European interface of teaching and research in the field of Eastern Church Studies.
With regard to European transformation and identity processes, the historical dimension of the subject is of particular importance.
News from Eastern Church Studies and Orthodox Religious Education
Publications of our department
Thomas Németh is an author in the anthology "The 'Lviv Sobor' of 1946 and Its Aftermath. Towards Truth and Reconciliation", which has just been published in the series Eastern Christian Studies, vol. 34 (edited by Adam A.J. DeVille and Daniel Galadza) by Brill, Leiden/Boston, with the essay "Canoncial Considerations on the Legitimacy of the 'Lviv Sobor' of 1946" (co-author: Teodor Martynyuk).
Ioan Moga, "Care iarăși va să vină". Jurnal hristologic în 31 de zile [He, who will come again. Christological diary in 31 days]. Doxologia: Iași 2023, ISBN (Print): 978-630-301-096-0.
Ioan Moga, Orthodoxe Selbst- und Fremdbilder. Identitätsdiskurse der rumänischen orthodoxen Theologie des 20. Jh. im Verhältnis zur Römisch-Katholischen Kirche [Orthodox Images of Self and Other. Discourses of Identity in 20th Century Romanian Orthodox Theology in Relation to the Roman Catholic Church]. Religion and Transformation in Contemporary European Society. - Volume 18, Vienna University Press V&R unipress: Göttingen 2020.
Ioan Moga, "Sfânta Treime între Apus și Răsărit. Despre filioque și alte dileme teologice"[Die heilige Dreifaltigkeit zwischen West und Ost. Über das Filioque und andere theologische Dilemmata]. Colectia Universitas, Seria: Teologia dialogica 1, Ed. Eikon: Cluj-Napoca 2012, ISBN: 978-973-757-658-3 Full text on Academia too.
Byzantine prayer book in Swedish with prayers from the Greek and Slavic traditions. Translation and selection by David Heith-Stade.
