Our Relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit

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nutroll

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We do pray to the Holy Spirit.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life - come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
 
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Jacob4707

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We do pray to the Holy Spirit.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life - come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

The prayer that always follows "O Heavenly King":

"All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake."

is also possibly addressing the three members of the Trinity, isn't it? ("Lord," "Master," and "Holy One")

and some view "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal" as also referring to and praying to the three members of the Trinity, IIRC.
 
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Andrew21091

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There is also the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian to the Most Holy Spirit that can be found in the Jordanville Prayer Book.

"O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on Thy sinful servant and pardon my unworthiness, and forgive me all the sins that I humanly committed today, and not only humanly but even worse than a beast - my voluntary sins, known and unknown, from my youth and from evil suggestions, and from my brazenness, and from boredom. If I have sworn by Thy Name or blasphemed it in thought, blamed or reproached anyone, or in my anger have detracted or slandered anyone, or grieved anyone, or if I have got angry about anything, or have told a lie, if I have slept unnecessarily, or if a beggar has come to me and I despised or neglected him, or if I have troubled my brother or quarrelled with him, or if I have condemned anyone, or have boasted, or have been proud, or lost my temper with anyone, or if when standing in prayer my mind has been distracted by the glamour of this world, or if I have had depraved thoughts or have overeaten, or have drunk excessively, or have laughed frivolously, or have thought evil, or have seen the attraction of someone and been wounded by it in my heart, or said indecent things, or made fun of my brother's sin when my own faults are countless, or been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I cannot remember - for I have done all this and much more - have mercy, my Lord and Creator, on me Thy wretched and unworthy servant, and absolve and forgive and deliver me in Thy goodness and love for men, so that, lustful, sinful and wretched as I am, I may lie down and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, praise and glorify Thy most honourable Name, with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever, and for all ages. Amen."
 
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paleodoxy

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Remember, too, that the Jesus Prayer is a Trinitarian prayer, and the Holy Spirit is in it, too:

"Oh Lord [no one can call Christ Lord except by the Holy Spirit] Jesus Christ [direct invocation of Christ], Son of God [Fatherhood implied], have mercy on me a sinner."
 
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SpyridonOCA

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I was reading the Orthodox Church by Sergei Bulgakov and was bothered that he refers to the Holy Spirit as an "it" that is the love shared between the Father and the Son, rather than the third person of the Trinity. I understand now why he is considered a controvercial figure.
 
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Jacob4707

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I was reading the Orthodox Church by Sergei Bulgakov and was bothered the he refers to the Holy Spirit as an "it" that is the love shared between the Father and the Son, rather than the third person of the Trinity. I understand now why he is considered a controvercial figure.

That sounds like Western/Augustinian influence to me, from what I've briefly read about the origin of this idea that the Holy Spirit is generated from or is an expression of the love between the Father and the Son. If what you wrote about Bulgakov is correct and is not taken out of context, then I think his teaching would be deemed aberrant, if not heretical, from the perspective of the EOC. But I can't say for sure.
 
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paleodoxy

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That's not the only problem with Bulgakov. He holds to the anamnesis of the soul (this was prominently expressed in his essay in Dan Clendenin's book, "Eastern Orthodox Theology"). He also has a sub-Orthodox view of the role of the Saints in our salvation, asserting that God is not as approachable to us as the Saints, and thus we need to come under their cover. This seems to take the unknowability of God's Essence further than the Orthodox take it, and turns the Saints into Mediators, not merely Intercessors. Platonism comes out full bore in Bulgakov.
 
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Jacob4707

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He also has a sub-Orthodox view of the role of the Saints in our salvation, asserting that God is not as approachable to us as the Saints, and thus we need to come under their cover. This seems to take the unknowability of God's Essence further than the Orthodox take it, and turns the Saints into Mediators, not merely Intercessors.

That sounds like he's confusing Mt. Zion with Mt. Olympus.
 
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paleodoxy

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You're right, though. He's very Augustinian, too. Augustinianism and Platonism very much go together. We often forget this because Western theology has followed Aristotle since Anselm and Aquinas. Although Evangelicalism is taking a very postmodern turn right now, which may change things. Rome still seems comfortable with Aristotle, though.
 
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Akathist

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This just goes to show that it is important not to read things as if they are the fullness of truth but to be critical when reading books and to consult our Spiritual Fathers/Mothers as needed.

To the OP: Before I was Eastern Orthodox I was in many different protestant churches. Except for the pentecostal church I rarely heard mention of the Holy Spirit outside of a bible quote once in a great while.

Now it is great to see the prayers to each part of the Trinity in my prayer book. To hear the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" named over and over in our services. I agree with you that this is important.
 
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