Συνέντευξη του Theodor Paleologu, Ρουμάνου ιστορικού και πολιτικού (μέλος του κόμματος PD-L), απόγονου της αυτοκρατορικής οικογένειας τω Παλαιολόγων με αρχική καταγωγή τη Μυτηλήνη. Γιος της Olympia & Alexandru Paleologu.DYNASTY Paleologos
Theodor Paleologu is his name, but his family and loved ones tell Toader. Of course, c
u that r specific Paleologos a French r, indicating precise cultural origins. From adolescence he studied at the best schools Paris, then taught them. And not only, has lectured in the U.S., and in Germany, where it is now. Philosophy is the passion of his youth policy, but policy is likely to be his job practice perspective. He married very young (20 years old) with a French woman of Lebanese origin, Sarah, having a child, Michael. Thus, casoiul on Armenian Street, the three Paleologi "beef" now covers nearly a century of existence, culture and politics. It is more? Besides their family history seems less. Besides during that stingy so much to us, seems enormous ...
-Paleologu ... It has a special resonance! In fact, what kind of name is that?
-The name of this unit to a general for the first time in the 11th century in the Byzantine Empire. It is obviously originally a nickname - Paleos - old logos - science or word. It was, therefore, a man card. Older sources indicate earliest origins of the name, but do not want to look like a rising illustrate. Recent tradition says that we came from a family dynasty combined Genoese Paleologos and receiving the reward island of Lesbos. We actually come from Lesbos ...
-Or have helped Genoa aboard our Byzantine resistance against the Turkish siege in 1453?
I do not know what a policy have resulted in this era family - Gattilusi - but I think they were quite independent of the time of the Republic of Genoa. A wife of one of the last Byzantine emperors was a Gattilusi.
-Romans have family?
-How can you not?? Romanian family genealogies are often fanciful ... Here, the feminine line, leads upward to Brancoveanu. However, the family Paleologu established in Romania in the early 18th century, so we are completely and rapidly Romanized. Greek
bourgeoisie different situation that has long remained separated from
the rest of the Romanian population, because there is a social class
equivalent to absorb it. In parallel, the Greek aristocracy was more quickly absorbed by the nobility Romanesque.
-Do you know any iota from Greek?
-Unfortunately not.
-In what position you feel best: the novel, the Balkans, the European or Euro-Atlantic?
The answer is obvious: the novel! But not for reasons of patriotism easy. I traveled a lot in France, in America, in Germany etc. In spite of "cosmopolitanism" brand, I feel and are novel. Actually, my wife is French woman by birth is very much assimilated Romanism. As recently as a few days ago in Germany, Francophone birthday, gave a concert as Romance. I think just in a globalized world, national dimension is very important. Romania is the country where I feel most comfortable, where I most friends. Here are the fish in the water.
- "Bite!"
-Do not press the cultural prestige of your father? Do not knock the thought of a "parricide" intellectual?
A few months ago I wrote Andrei Plesu as obviously in my case Freud's theories do not apply. I am in relationship with my father as a loyal dog, stupid and evil. Bite anyone who has something to him. Obviously, now joking. But I think a family like ours, continuity is more important than being overcome by his father. And
my dad was like a pressure prestige enjoyed by his father, Michael
Paleologu, which was a great lawyer but an interesting politician.
What connection do you have with the Church?
-Tight forever. I had an education Orthodox Christian , but the decisive moment was a teenager, when I went to a faith designed as a result of reflection. I was fortunate that living in this neighborhood (Armeneasca-Sf. Sylvester - Ed) to know the Father Galerius , which impressed me very much. We sat and Key monastery , repeatedly, before 1989, when he was abbot Father Justin Marchis. In France we had close links with the monastery of St. Anthony, which is a subdued the Athonite monastery Simonopetra. There is the famous abbot Father Placide Déseille. For me, the taste is very strong religious life.
-We tried thinking monasticism?
-Who has tried this plan? You must have the necessary strength and vocation. In France I was tied to a francophone Russian church, the crypt of the Russian Cathedral of Paris. There was Father Boris Bobrinskoy, a figure quite remarkable. It was a warm, welcoming, for the Russians in exile were willing to share with anyone who treasures of Orthodoxy. These Russians have exceeded nationalism that many of them give you proof. Finally, in 1998 he was elected bishop of Paris High Joseph, for whom I have a very special consideration. Already we are a group dance along ...
-For you travel the world?
-For by 1990. Then I went to Paris. In
1999 he had to go to Boston, in the U.S., I returned to France, then
back to America in Indiana, now teaching at the Berlin ... So, for someone like me, joining a parish community is difficult.
-Between so many journeys, have arrived in Byzantium ancestors in Istanbul today?
-No. Great shame!
-Do you think the Byzantine political and cultural experience can ever be updated? At least in this part of the world?
Byzantine-period is so long, over 1,000 years, that it is difficult to generalize. In the Byzantine Empire there were elements of democracy, now look. Emperor went through a process of voting - when acclaim by the people of Constantinople. Are
studies of Byzantine democracy and the "constitution" of the Byzantine
Empire, the emperor's power was limited by tradition, experience etc. There must therefore be identified Byzantinism with despotism. It is a big mistake that comes from the 18th century, the history of Gibbon. However, Byzantine past is too glorious to be neglected, especially in the dimension of the symphony between church and state.
-Your family caught in the several hundred years of existence, more order, more political currents. What about Freemasonry, an institution of date, however, most recent?
I do not have a very firm opinion, insofar as it is not part of society. Ask questions and I guess because my father was a mason. Known. Anyway,
my father wrote that book about Sadoveanu - Mason notorious - which is
probably the most important book of Masonic gnosis in the second half of
the 20th century. I was not tempted this problem and for me it seems to have enough in Orthodoxy looking for other experiences.
-Monarchy or Republic, Mr. Paleologu?
Heart-voice tells monarchy. For the Church, the monarchy is a safer form - as a long term partner. Given the current situation, do not want to turn into a Don Quixote of a lost cause. Sorry but I have not lived a restoration of constitutional monarchy, with King Michael led. Then and Romania would have had a much better status ... However, a special case of the Bulgarians. I
could see in Washington with the Prime Minister Simeon
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Adrian Nastase and the contrast seemed
extraordinary. Bulgaria is still ahead of us, especially when King Simeon's prime minister. Of course, a situation totally unique!
Orthodoxy: The only advantage of being novel in Europe
They still have the Romans that preserve their identity in a united Europe that we get clear?
They still have the Romans that preserve their identity in a united Europe that we get clear?
-Just in a globalized world, national links are essential. Only then national identity becomes more important. In keeping this specific Orthodoxy plays a key role. If we think that is the advantage of being novel, we see that Orthodoxy. And it would be good to cling to orthodox nationalism, this would be a big mistake. Orthodoxy is beyond being an identity element .
Then they would call orthodoxy ...
-On the other hand, features Romanian Orthodox are national elements, but Orthodoxy is an incarnation of a universal truth. Christianity
is a religion of incarnation, and the nation itself is rehabilitated as
a kind of bodily element, say, in which a universal truth finds a
concrete realization.
-You are now about a priest in Romania?
-The Archbishop Bartolomeu Anania , which we know little. A
common memory to dance and my father comes from the day I was born I:
spent the whole day and drank wine in honor of the event!
-In what conditions you have definitely established in Romania?
-Given that I could practice their profession: that of professor. The problem is wages for young teachers who are miserable. Would be and politics, which he did every generation of my family. This creates a kind of genetic vocation ...
Interview by
Razvan Bucuroiu
World Faith, year II, No. 5 (10)
