I would like to learn more

[ikonographics]

Gwendolyn,
here are a couple of articles that might interest you:
The significance of the "antilytron"
The juridical mentality of the West annuls Christ’s sacrifice

 

[Josiah14]

Gwendolyn,
here are a couple of articles that might interest you:
The significance of the "antilytron"
The juridical mentality of the West annuls Christ’s sacrifice

I dont think Gewendolyn was asking for an exortation against Western views of the Cross...

I think she was asking for an explanation of how the Eastern Orthodox Church views the Cross.

 

[Josiah14]

[/list]I would like to learn more about the Orthodox understanding of this mystery. Do you have any articles I could read?

I didnt find an article.

I did find a podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko:
Understanding The Cross Of Christ - Fr. Thomas Hopko Lectures - Ancient Faith Radio

 

[Macarius]

[/list]I would like to learn more about the Orthodox understanding of this mystery. Do you have any articles I could read?

Athanasius "On the Incarnation of Christ"
Melito of Sardis "Paschal Homily"
Irenaeus of Lyons "On the Apostolic Preaching"

An excellent summary is written by Clark Carlton (the only time I recommend him) in his book The Life

I'll look for online links to the first three, as there are probably free online translations - try google books for them.

 

[Barky]

Mankind has free will (no predestination, prophecies are an exception)


"God" cannot "know" the future (if he did, then whats the point in creation? it'd be like watching a bad movie over and over again, you know it sucks and whats going to happen, so why bother?), He may however with full knowledge of past and present, make a VERY educated guess as to what will happen in the future.

The relationship between our free will and God's Omniscience is a mystery. We know we have free will, we know God is omniscient, how the two intermingle is not explicitly given to us. We Orthodox are ok with such mysteries.

 

[Macarius]

I fixed the links to two of the above, but the second one is only excerpts (not the full text). They are excellent and relevant to the topic, but obviously a complete text would be preferable. The third work I cannot find online in any readible translation... You can purchase all three from St. Vladimir's Seminary Press in their popular patristics series, which is superb.

 

[snowbirdling]

Just out of curiousity, lets say that even if it was like "watching a movie" for God... why would it be a bad movie? Isn't the story of the world ultimately redemption and unity with God for those who love Him? That is a merciful and wonderful thing, isn't it?!

 

[silouanathonite]

yeah, it is a tough concept to wrap one's noggin around, because we exist within time (being created) and we have a God who exists outside of time and yet interacts within time.

when you get some time, here is a pretty good podcast that deals with what you are asking:

Predestination - Speaking the Truth in Love - Ancient Faith Radio

I just listened to this podcast 2 days ago and it was a wonderful explanation although some it was a little over my head. I would probably have to listen to it a couple times.

 

[katherine2001]

It may be a little over your head (and probably over mine), but Fr. Hopko does the best at explaining things so that the average person can understand. He has a lecture on CD called "Word of the Cross" that he gave in 1989 that I think is his best of the ones that I've heard from him (and I have heard a lot of his lectures).

 

[Macarius]

It may be a little over your head (and probably over mine), but Fr. Hopko does the best at explaining things so that the average person can understand. He has a lecture on CD called "Word of the Cross" that he gave in 1989 that I think is his best of the ones that I've heard from him (and I have heard a lot of his lectures).

I love that lecture.