EO understanding of the supernatural.

This is a thread I posted that gives the Coptic Church's position on some of that.

Coptic Church essay on the Charisms, martyrdom and Ecclesiology

True Counterphobia said:

Thank you for sharing. It is a view that I do not disagree with, not to say I would have seen it precisely that way before reading it, but it sheds enormous light on the Fruit of the Spirit and it finds me well.

I might follow up asking about angels, demons, and the divine counsel next.

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Well on things like Demons their might be some range of opinion but I haven't studied it exactly. But I know the Church does tends to go with some of the common default interpretation where most of Christianity sees them as fallen angels etc. The only thing is the Ethiopian Church was officially part of the Coptic church where the Copts schooled their clergy, picked their patriarch etc. until sometime around 1900-1920, where they became self governed etc. But anyway they do represent an aspect of the Coptic heritage etc. Basically the Coptic church for a long time sort of saw all of Africa as its jurisdiction but especially North Africa. Anyway the Ethiopians do have in their Bible canon the Book of Enoch which gives a different origin on demons that they came from the Nephilim.


On Angels and the Divine Counsel I'm going to guess that you might be looking for something along the lines of Michael Heisner (who I'm a fan of). I don't know of anything like that... but I haven't exactly looked hard etc. And I'm not Egyptian there might be something. But much of the Church is focused on works that help your personal piety so I don't have a lot of expectation of some big work that has escaped my notice.


There was one EO teaching I read about that was very interesting concerning Angels and their differences with humans. It mentioned that Angels were allowed to be tempted once but then "vouchsafed" from such temptation, because they were created Exnihlo. But humans being created in the image of God were given free will so until the End of the Age we will be tempted. It was an interesting insight, though because sometimes the issue of free will can come up with some issues like Universal Reconciliation/ Salvation, where the concept of Satan and the fallen angels etc. has some bearing (e.g. One can say if this is really true then why hasn't it happened with this group of beings?)


Other than that I can't think of anything for the moment.

My view is that the supranatural is the 'natural' state of affairs in the Church, given that the Church is theanthropic, being the body of the God-man Jesus Christ.

there is a podcast on ancient faith radio that has this as its focus, called the Lord of Spirits by Frs Andrew Damick and Stephen De Young, Ph.D..

and just a point of clarification is that we believe angels have free will.

True Counterphobia said:

I understand this to be true as I have not more than 2 minutes ago just read a portion of St. Augustine's work on the creation of angels and humans having said such.

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yep, the reason that once they fall that's it for them is because of their immateriality, not because they lack free will.

True Counterphobia said:

How does the EO Church see things that are in no small sense unexplainable as to coincidences, miracles, prophesies, and else that has to do with a spiritual, yet somewhat not understood nature?

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we see them as miracles and prophecies, but only after the Church has taken a look at them.

These things are all a part of our reality. However, we don't go looking for them. We aren't "sign chasers" as I was when I was a pastor. The same could be said about angels and demons. They're a part of our reality. Our prayers mention both as a potentially ever present part of our world. I think you will just find less emphasis on these things because we see and accept them as an ever present reality.

ArmyMatt said:

there is a podcast on ancient faith radio that has this as its focus, called the Lord of Spirits by Frs Andrew Damick and Stephen De Young, Ph.D..

and just a point of clarification is that we believe angels have free will.

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I second this recommendation! Very, very informative podcasts.

Most of these threads deal with the supernatural :

Making The Sign Of The Cross (Orthodox Videos)

Your View on The Aerial Toll Houses (Orthodox Only Please)

Demonic attacks during prayer. What the Fathers teach us about fighting against them (Video) Repost

Eastern Orthodox Exorcism Videos


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True Counterphobia said:

@ArmyMatt,

I have listened to the podcast that was for Dec. 25th, the last podcast they have done so far. I am wondering if angels in the context of EO tradition is just that they are stars and nothing more than that. That there are not really "beings" who act on the earth but are simply celestial bodies. This raises all kinds of questions for me like, "What does it mean that Jesus was God?" for example because if angels are just stars, then God is in some manner of speaking just the same only bigger and as such I feel this sort of robs Christ of his ability to do literally supernatural things like raise someone from the dead and such. It is very vexing for me. Any answers would be welcomed.

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no, they are real beings. earlier podcasts make it clear.

For in depth information on the angels in addition to the podcasts mentioned above I'd have to recommend either the book, or audio book by Mother Alexandra called "The Holy Angels". It does cost money, but it can be found at the links below.

Livres audio et plus | Votre premier livre est gratuit! | Audible.ca

https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Angels-Mother-Alexandra/dp/0932506100