Fr. Dumitru Staniloae, the greatest Romanian Orthodox theologian of the twentieth century, talks about Christian poetry and how it uses words that go beyond simple dry definitions in order to express a great mystery.
Source: “Cerul dintre noi” – video production by Silviu Despa (1989)
Fr. Dumitru Staniloae:
"Why is poetry so useful for the faith?
Because one can not rationally define God. God is beyond the narrowing of rational definitions...
These days, I read some pages from "The Ambigua" of St. Maximus the Confessor. He showed that we can reach only a limited level using the explanatory word. From a certain place we can not move forward.
...
We must confess God as a Trinity of Love. We must confess the love of God to us through Jesus Christ and through His Sacrifice.
These can not be expressed, but somehow our intention to express these truths should be visible. These truths are so high that you can not express them only by some poor words...
You have to say words that go beyond simple dry definitions... You have to say words, words full of enthusiasm, words full of warmth, this is poetry... Once you get beyond these limits of the world, you become deep. You become different, you discover some depths inside you...
We can not become profound in literature and philosophy unless we become Christians..."
