Sabbath Day - Orthodox

[Union With Christ]

Jesus said all the law hangs on two commandments. If we are striving to keep those two then we are keeping the Sabbath.

Matthew 5

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

[Union With Christ]

Maybe you might want to get a copy of this book or see if your university library could get it. I have not read it but I would think Fr James probably discusses the sabbath:

surprised by christ - Google Search

Sounds interesting. I have a couple of books on my list right now but maybe I will have to add this one.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

I have Fr. James’s audiobook Surprised by Christ, man I had to speed it up because he reads very slowly.

 

[Union With Christ]

The Sabbath Day

This is the problem I am having. I am finding various answers online. Did you read this article:

Keeping the Sabbath While Worshipping on Sundays – The Morning Offering

 

[Hermit76]

This is the problem I am having. I am finding various answers online. Did you read this article:

Keeping the Sabbath While Worshipping on Sundays – The Morning Offering

Yes, have you ever thought of contacting Abbot Tryphon for clarification?

 

[Hermit76]

This is the problem I am having. I am finding various answers online. Did you read this article:

Keeping the Sabbath While Worshipping on Sundays – The Morning Offering

Contact the Abbot through this contact page. Ask him for clarification. I'm not sure you're going to get satisfaction here.
Contact – ~All-Merciful Saviour Monastery~

 

[prodromos]

Matthew 5

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

So, are you in Christ? If so He has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. If not, then by all means try to do what the Jews were never able to.

 

[Nick T]

I think you're looking at this from too much of a legalistic perspective. Abbot Tryphon is not saying anything different from what others have said on this thread. "Keeping" the Sabbath here does not mean imitating the Jews but rather acknowledging its sanctity as the Church teaches us: relaxing our fasting, attending Vespers, remembering Christ's rest in the tomb, and praying for the dead.

This doesn't mean you can't do anything else to mark it if you want to: prayer and good works are great every day of the week, and especially so of course on the second most important day! But we do not observe a legalistic "rest" in the sense I think you seem to want us to. That aspect of the Law has been fulfilled in Christ.

 

[Union With Christ]

Yes, have you ever thought of contacting Abbot Tryphon for clarification?

I actually emailed Ancient Faith Ministries yesterday about the article but they have not yet responded.

I don’t think I have the contact information for Abbott Tryphon.

 

[Union With Christ]

So, are you in Christ? If so He has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. If not, then by all means try to do what the Jews were never able to.

Verse 19 says to do and teach the commandments.

 

[Hermit76]

I actually emailed Ancient Faith Ministries yesterday about the article but they have not yet responded.

I don’t think I have the contact information for Abbott Tryphon.

I gave you a link for the monastery contact. They'll help you.

 

[Hermit76]

I think you're looking at this from too much of a legalistic perspective. Abbot Tryphon is not saying anything different from what others have said on this thread. "Keeping" the Sabbath here does not mean imitating the Jews but rather acknowledging its sanctity as the Church teaches us: relaxing our fasting, attending Vespers, remembering Christ's rest in the tomb, and praying for the dead.

This doesn't mean you can't do anything else to mark it if you want to: prayer and good works are great every day of the week, and especially so of course on the second most important day! But we do not observe a legalistic "rest" in the sense I think you seem to want us to. That aspect of the Law has been fulfilled in Christ.

This is perfect

 

[Union With Christ]

I think you're looking at this from too much of a legalistic perspective. Abbot Tryphon is not saying anything different from what others have said on this thread. "Keeping" the Sabbath here does not mean imitating the Jews but rather acknowledging its sanctity as the Church teaches us: relaxing our fasting, attending Vespers, remembering Christ's rest in the tomb, and praying for the dead.

This doesn't mean you can't do anything else to mark it if you want to: prayer and good works are great every day of the week, and especially so of course on the second most important day! But we do not observe a legalistic "rest" in the sense I think you seem to want us to. That aspect of the Law has been fulfilled in Christ.

I don’t believe that the law has been abolished. The Apostle Paul said to uphold the law:

Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

 

[Union With Christ]

I gave you a link for the monastery contact. They'll help you.

Thank you very much I will definitely contact him.

 

[prodromos]

Verse 19 says to do and teach the commandments.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

 

[Nick T]

I don’t believe that the law has been abolished. The Apostle Paul said to uphold the law:

Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

Where did I say anything about abolished? I said fulfilled. As Christ said in the verses you quoted he came to fulfil the Law. You should follow God's Law in its fulfilled and spiritual manner, as revealed by Christ himself and taught by his apostles and his Church. Not through imitating the Jews who still follow the shadow of the law without Christ to illuminate and guide them.

 

[Union With Christ]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

Yes, and if you love God and neighbor you will keep the Ten Commandments.

 

[Union With Christ]

Where did I say anything about abolished? I said fulfilled. As Christ said in the verses you quoted he came to fulfil the Law. You should follow God's Law in its fulfilled and spiritual manner, as revealed by Christ himself and taught by his apostles and his Church. Not through imitating the Jews who still follow the shadow of the law without Christ to illuminate and guide them.

You seem like you are kind of dancing around the issue here. So are we required to keep the Ten Commandments as Christians?

 

[Nick T]

You seem like you are kind of dancing around the issue here. So are we required to keep the Ten Commandments as Christians?

Yes- but in a fulfilled and spiritual manner.

So for example:
We observe the commandment not to have other gods and worship idols, but we honour icons because of Christ's Incarnation.
We observe the commandment to sanctify the Sabbath, but by honouring Christ and his rest in the tomb in the ways I mentioned above as well as celebrating his Resurrection and sanctification of the Lord's Day (Sunday).
We observe the commandments against coveting our neighbour's wife and goods but also extend it to avoid all forms of lust and material attachments.
We observe the commandment not to murder but also extend it to avoid all hatred.
ect.


We observe all the commandments, but only in the way that Christ and his apostles taught us to.

 

[Union With Christ]

I believe in keeping the Ten Commandments.

Also the Orthodox Priest did not answer my email today.

I don’t think this is a good fit for me.

I will probably attend the Messianic Church instead. Even though I disagree with them on Annihilation they may be a better fit for me as a sabbath keeper.

I do really like the music on Ancient Faith Radio.

But I don’t think we are on the same page on our beliefs.