The development of tradition, says
Vincent of Lérins, does not mean the changing of tradition, but an amplification
within itself. (Commonitory 1.23, PG 50.667-668) The continuous
development of tradition is, on the one hand, what Scripture contains and, on
the other hand, it is an illumination of the rich and unitary sense of revelation
deposited in its essence within the Scripture. The development is found in
brief in the Creeds, but it also takes place through the more extensive forms
of the works of sanctification performed in the Church, and of the explanation of
Scripture provided down through the history of the Church on the basis of the
integral preaching of the Apostles, which has remained in the Church as
apostolic tradition. Origen suggests that in the rule of faith there is to be
found in the hidden light of the dogmas, a light contained in the words of
Scripture. (First Principles 4.1.7 and 4.2.2) A contemporary Orthodox theologian
says, “Tradition is a ‘pneumatic’ anamnesis which, beyond the often too human
objectification of the texts, reveals the unity and meaning of the Scriptures
and shows forth Christ who recapitulates and fulfills them.” (Oliver Clément, “Le
renouveau de l’Église. Un point de vue orthodoxe,” Contacts 16 [1964] Nr.
48, p. 266) (Dumitru Stǎniloae, The Experience of God, 6 vols. [trans.
Ioan Ionita and Robert Barringer; Brookline, Mass.: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1994,
2002], 1:50)
