In a public debate with Jehovah’s Witnesses (1), I asked them something similar to what I am asking now, and they asked me: Don’t you rely on […]
Second: The true church and delivery (tradition) Continue reading »
The idea that the Orthodox Church adheres to the principles and piety of the ancient, universal, indivisible Church is the central principle of this Church.
Essential characteristics of the Orthodox Church Continue reading »
It is clear that the Old Testament foreshadowings point not only to the event of Christ’s crucifixion, but also to the sign of the cross itself, the “sign of the Son of Man,” which will be the banner of victory at the Lord’s triumphant coming. The cross of the Lord is an expression of God’s infinite love and of man’s infinite value. There is no greater expression of God’s love than the cross, and there is no greater elevation of man than his elevation to the reality of the cross.
The truth of salvation in Christ is not a rigid letter that can be preserved in a book. It is a treasure that the Lord gave to the apostles so that their union would be the sure guarantee of their possession of the truth of salvation. The apostles passed this treasure on to the bishops so that they might complete the mission, in their union with the Church - the Body of Christ, where the Holy Spirit works. In doing so, they do not express their own opinion, but the will of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church.
Chapter Thirteen - The Holy Deposit of the Church Continue reading »
Saint Cyril was born in the city of Alexandria around the year 378. His uncle, the Archbishop of Alexandria, Theophilus, took responsibility for his upbringing and education.
Cyril of Alexandria, Archbishop of Alexandria Continue reading »
Man cannot know the divine truth, that is, he cannot know the essence of God, but only knows the uncreated actions of God, that is, His effects. However, the Church tradition and the Holy Bible speak of specific appearances of God, the most important of which was His appearance to Abraham in the form of three angels. The Church Fathers say that this event is the first appearance of the Holy Trinity in the Old Testament.
The Church is of course “apostolic,” but it is also patristic. It is essentially the “Church of the Fathers.” These two “characteristics” cannot be separated, and because it is “patristic,” it is truly “apostolic.” The witness of the Fathers is more than a historical feature, more than a voice from the past.
Chapter Seven: Saint Gregory Palamas and the Tradition of the Fathers Continue reading »
“آباء الكنيسة” لم يتصرفوا كأفراد فقط، بل كرجال كنسيين، بالنيابة عن الكنيسة وباسمها. فهم الناطقون باسم الكنيسة ومفسِّرو إيمانها وحافظوا تقليدها وشهود حقيقتها وإيمانها ومعلِّمون بارزون، وعلى هذا الأساس يقوم سلطانهم!
Chapter Six: The authority of councils and the tradition of the fathers Continue reading »
The problem of the correct interpretation of the Bible remained acute until the fourth century during the Church’s conflict with the Arians, and it did not lessen in intensity than it was in the second century during the resistance of the Gnostics, the Sabalians, and the Montanists. All parties to the conflict resorted to the Bible, to the point that the heretics cited—and still do—its chapters and verses and resorted to its authority.
Chapter Five: The mission of tradition in the ancient church Continue reading »
Christ himself belongs to this community as its head, not only as Lord and Master. He is not above the Church or outside it, for the Church is in him. The Church is not merely a community that believes in Christ and walks in his footsteps or according to his commandments, but rather the community that resides in him and in which he resides through the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Four: The Church: Its Nature and Mission Continue reading »
The Church is the work of Christ on earth and is the image of His presence and dwelling in the world. When the Holy Spirit descended on the Church on the Day of Pentecost, which was represented by the Twelve and those gathered with them, He entered the world to dwell among us and to make His work more effective in us than before.
Chapter Three: The catholicity of the Church Continue reading »
The Bible does not contain all the historical, legislative and devotional texts that exist, but rather a select few of them. This select few became authoritative through their use - especially in the liturgy - in the community and through the value given to them by the Church.
Chapter Two: Announcement and Interpretation Continue reading »
