10- “Who is for us” The first part is specific to the divinity of Jesus. The next part concerns his humanity: “He who for our sake came down from heaven.” […]
This is the faith of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The definition of the Fourth and Sixth Councils was negative (1) because the human mind is incapable of understanding
The aim of studying this material is: to become acquainted with the Orthodox doctrines, that is, the true truths of the Christian faith that the Apostles preached and taught.
In the incarnation everything is realized. Or rather, God Himself, who is everything, is present. Instead of symbols and figures, instead of shadow, He comes in Him.
Saint Hilarion was born in the city of Poitiers (France) around the year 315, and he descended from a noble pagan family. He converted to Christianity and was baptized
المسيح إله تام وإنسان تام، وحّد في شخصه جوهر الألوهة وجوهر الطبيعة الإنسانية التي اتّخذها كلها، جسداً ونفساً ناطقة، أخذها كلها لكي يقدسها. والحقيقة انه كان كاملاً، أي حائزاً الطبيعة الإلهية كلها، واتخذني بكلّيتي، أي اتخذ الطبيعة الإنسانية كلها. فوحّد الكل بالكل لكي يمنح الخلاص للكل، أي للطبيعة كلها، لأن ما لا يُتّخذ لا يشفى.
We have seen that the nature of man itself was transformed, as a result of the fall. Consequently, Adam passed on to his descendants a heavy legacy, for he bequeathed to them a sick and worn-out nature, whose lot is death and corruption. So how can the descendants of Adam, that is, all of humanity, be saved?
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 »
يُفترض بكهنة المسيح ألا يبشِّروا، من منبر الوعظ على الأقل، بأفكارهم الخاصة لأن الأيدي تُوضع عليهم في الكنيسة للتبشير بكلمة الله. فيُسلَّم إليهم إنجيل يسوع المسيح وتُودع عندهم الرسالة الخالدة والفريدة. لذلك يُنتظر منهم نشر “الإيمان الذي أُعطي للقديسين” وحفظه.
The life of prayer is our personal, conscious life in God, because everything, our being and our movement, enters into it. All of our lives and relationships are with God
Chapter Five: Liturgy, prayer, and our personal life Continue reading »
1- The importance of rituals, their principle, and their nature in the church. We belong to the church by rituals in general, that is, by a set of symbols and movements (from candles, incense, and cycles).
Chapter Three: Belonging to the Church through rituals Continue reading »
