Elena Ene D-Vasilescu: The epektasis [ἐπέχτασις] and the exploits of the soul in Gregory of Nyssa’s De anima et resurrectione/On the Soul and the Resurrection

The paper refers to a notion central to Gregory of Nyssa’s theology – that of epektasis [ἐπέχτασις], i.e. progression of the soul(ἡ ψυχή)towards its Creator, as presented in the dialogue De anima et resurrectione/On the Soul and the Resurrection.The conversation between Nyssen and his sister Macrina, employing notions peculiar to the most advanced science of their time, emphasizes that in the afterlife the soul does not leave the body (and neither does human memory). The interesting consequences of this state of affairs for both the resurrection of people and that of Jesus Christ are also discussed.