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The ideas of the Orthodox theologian Bishop John Zizioulas (1931–2023) particularly focus on trinitarian ecclesiology. For him, the Trinity consists of Persons in communion, and the nature of God himself is relational. Trinitarian unity is therefore the prototype, and the Church is its reflection. The essence of the Church is communion, which results from the fact that the Trinity is communion. Zizioulas’ view of the Church is steeped in a trinitarian perspective. Zizioulas pointed out that the Church is based on the double divine economy: the work of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. The relationship of the Holy Trinity with the Church also has consequences for the structure of the Church. In this way, the Church becomes hierarchical in the sense in which the Holy Trinity itself is hierarchical: because of the specificity of the relationship. Becoming a person means breaking down the barriers of individualism and entering into communion life. This is realized in the Church through Baptism and Eucharist. The aim of the article is therefore an attempt to present and evaluate John Zizioulas’ concept of trinitarian ecclesiology.

The Vatican II Council was very much concerned about presenting us an idea of the Church which could serve as a reference point concerning her identity and mission in the world today. It wanted to express a vision of the Church which could elicit new enthusiasm among the faithful and offer a new alternative to the way the world perceived reality. In concretizing this vision, the Council chose trinitarian images and symbols of the Church, regarding them as basic for our time: the Church as the New People of God; the Church as the Body of Christ; and the Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The article elucidates these images in the light of the thoughts of the Italian theologian Bruno Forte. For him, the Church can best be understood from a trinitarian point of view. The Church is an icon of the Holy Trinity, and her communion is structured in the image and likeness of the trinitarian communion.