It has become very clear to me that there is a great deal of confusion in this section of CF as to what Orthodoxy, aka the Eastern Orthodox Church, teaches and exactly what it is.
Love dictates that we Orthodox tell you the truth about us, about our church, about our beliefs.
There are LDS people on this site who have claimed that their church, the LDS church is true Orthodoxy and that it is the Restoration of the Original Church, founded by Christ, and the Apostles after 33AD. We Orthodox are here to tell you that the Church founded by Jesus Christ in 33AD, through the authority of His Chosen Apostles, has not gone anywhere, has not been removed from the Earth, nor has it ever fallen into some sort of apostasy. The history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is clearly defined, and it is supported by Catholic historians and scholars, Protestant historians and scholars, and also secular historians and scholars. Orthodox cities and churches of vast historical significance, can be located and visited! J Orthodox teaching and true, unbroken, Apostolic succession can be objectively and thoroughly verified.
To my fellow posters: If you are Catholic or Protestant, please do not debate what we are saying here. We have a duty here, to tell the LDS people, the truth and any differences between our Church and yours are a different discussion altogether. For the purposes of this site, we need to stand unified in this particular matter. What we are saying here, in this context, is not directed at you. The whole history of Christianity holds many implications for all of us, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. Each must weigh it in his/her own conscience and faith, but let no one say that the LDS Church is the restoration of Christs church. In this matter, let us, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, agree on this:
Canon VII of the Third Ecumenical Council
"Let no one be permitted to bring forward, or write or compose a different faith besides that defined by the holy Fathers who assembled with the Holy Spirit in the city of Nicaea. And whoever dares to compose a different faith, or present, or offer [one] to those wishing to turn to the knowledge of the truth let such, if they be bishops or belong to the clergy, be alien bishops from the episcopate, and clerics from the clergy--and if they be laymen, let them be given over to anathema."
Anathema is how Orthodoxy has preserved its Apostolic succession and teaching from the earliest times of the Church. The Church is a hospital for those that are spiritually sick and heresy is viewed as a spiritual sickness. Those that are within the Church must be protected against false teaching which leads us into spiritual error, and then, spiritual sickness. We believe that our salvation is at stake!
Orthodoxy is Christs church and has existed since the beginning of Christianity. Acts 11
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Jesus said:
Matthew 16
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
History places Peter as the Bishop of Rome, First among Equals. There were many (and still are) other Bishops who held equal power in the Church to direct it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This Apostolic succession of the Priesthood has continued today, unbroken through the Ordination of the Church and through the laying on of hands. Every Orthodox priest living today, can trace his spiritual authority directly back to the Apostles. The Roman Catholic Church, although no longer in communion with us, also can trace their spiritual authority back to Peter.
For the LDS to claim that we no longer exist, or that we need a Restoration is simply untrue. And I believe it is only because Orthodoxy is relatively new to the West, only a few hundred years in America. It has been called Americas Best Kept Secret. The Orthodox do not engage in the same evangelical style of missions and so this is another reason why many have never even heard of us.
(Its also quite rare for us to engage in debates or discussions outside of our own forum here at CF! LOL! The Ancient Way is our forum if you would like to Come, and see! J You may not debate there, according to forum rules, but youre certainly welcome to look around and read all the threads and send me a pm with any questions.)
Although Orthodox Christianity itself prevents us Orthodox from ecumenism with other faiths, and traditions, we certainly do care about you and this does not mean we cannot be friends on an individual level. We simply cannot and are forbidden to compromise on what we believe and hold to be true.
We believe in the Nicene Creed. We believe in the infallibility of the Holy Bible. We believe that Holy Tradition is based upon the Bible and must never depart or be separated from it.
The Orthodox Church has a very wise saying: We know where the Church is, but we do not know where it is not. This means that we do not speculate about where the Holy Spirit is or is not. We simply say that the Orthodox Church contains the fullness of the Christian Truth. We also say, We believe what all Christians, everywhere, have always believed, at all times. This means that the Nicene Creed is very central to our faith and we cannot compromise on that.
I would also like to address this issue of the LDS claiming that we Orthodox have taught that men can become gods. This is untrue. Orthodoxy does not teach this and never has. We believe that man can become godly or holy, through a long process of sanctification, but at no time do we believe that men become divine or gods in themselves. This is a heresy in the view of the Orthodox. The Orthodox doctrine of Theosis has never taught that men , or women for that matter, become gods. It only teaches that we must become sanctified and godly and that after death, the soul will be united with God.
I hope that you will receive these Truths in the spirit they are given. They are not given as a harsh criticism of you and your church. We are simply defending our own Faith. It is One Faith, and it has always been One Faith, since 33AD.
In love, we proclaim to you that Orthodoxy is:
Jude, Chapter 1:
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Love dictates that we Orthodox tell you the truth about us, about our church, about our beliefs.
There are LDS people on this site who have claimed that their church, the LDS church is true Orthodoxy and that it is the Restoration of the Original Church, founded by Christ, and the Apostles after 33AD. We Orthodox are here to tell you that the Church founded by Jesus Christ in 33AD, through the authority of His Chosen Apostles, has not gone anywhere, has not been removed from the Earth, nor has it ever fallen into some sort of apostasy. The history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is clearly defined, and it is supported by Catholic historians and scholars, Protestant historians and scholars, and also secular historians and scholars. Orthodox cities and churches of vast historical significance, can be located and visited! J Orthodox teaching and true, unbroken, Apostolic succession can be objectively and thoroughly verified.
To my fellow posters: If you are Catholic or Protestant, please do not debate what we are saying here. We have a duty here, to tell the LDS people, the truth and any differences between our Church and yours are a different discussion altogether. For the purposes of this site, we need to stand unified in this particular matter. What we are saying here, in this context, is not directed at you. The whole history of Christianity holds many implications for all of us, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. Each must weigh it in his/her own conscience and faith, but let no one say that the LDS Church is the restoration of Christs church. In this matter, let us, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, agree on this:
Canon VII of the Third Ecumenical Council
"Let no one be permitted to bring forward, or write or compose a different faith besides that defined by the holy Fathers who assembled with the Holy Spirit in the city of Nicaea. And whoever dares to compose a different faith, or present, or offer [one] to those wishing to turn to the knowledge of the truth let such, if they be bishops or belong to the clergy, be alien bishops from the episcopate, and clerics from the clergy--and if they be laymen, let them be given over to anathema."
Anathema is how Orthodoxy has preserved its Apostolic succession and teaching from the earliest times of the Church. The Church is a hospital for those that are spiritually sick and heresy is viewed as a spiritual sickness. Those that are within the Church must be protected against false teaching which leads us into spiritual error, and then, spiritual sickness. We believe that our salvation is at stake!
Orthodoxy is Christs church and has existed since the beginning of Christianity. Acts 11
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Jesus said:
Matthew 16
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
History places Peter as the Bishop of Rome, First among Equals. There were many (and still are) other Bishops who held equal power in the Church to direct it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This Apostolic succession of the Priesthood has continued today, unbroken through the Ordination of the Church and through the laying on of hands. Every Orthodox priest living today, can trace his spiritual authority directly back to the Apostles. The Roman Catholic Church, although no longer in communion with us, also can trace their spiritual authority back to Peter.
For the LDS to claim that we no longer exist, or that we need a Restoration is simply untrue. And I believe it is only because Orthodoxy is relatively new to the West, only a few hundred years in America. It has been called Americas Best Kept Secret. The Orthodox do not engage in the same evangelical style of missions and so this is another reason why many have never even heard of us.
(Its also quite rare for us to engage in debates or discussions outside of our own forum here at CF! LOL! The Ancient Way is our forum if you would like to Come, and see! J You may not debate there, according to forum rules, but youre certainly welcome to look around and read all the threads and send me a pm with any questions.)
Although Orthodox Christianity itself prevents us Orthodox from ecumenism with other faiths, and traditions, we certainly do care about you and this does not mean we cannot be friends on an individual level. We simply cannot and are forbidden to compromise on what we believe and hold to be true.
We believe in the Nicene Creed. We believe in the infallibility of the Holy Bible. We believe that Holy Tradition is based upon the Bible and must never depart or be separated from it.
The Orthodox Church has a very wise saying: We know where the Church is, but we do not know where it is not. This means that we do not speculate about where the Holy Spirit is or is not. We simply say that the Orthodox Church contains the fullness of the Christian Truth. We also say, We believe what all Christians, everywhere, have always believed, at all times. This means that the Nicene Creed is very central to our faith and we cannot compromise on that.
I would also like to address this issue of the LDS claiming that we Orthodox have taught that men can become gods. This is untrue. Orthodoxy does not teach this and never has. We believe that man can become godly or holy, through a long process of sanctification, but at no time do we believe that men become divine or gods in themselves. This is a heresy in the view of the Orthodox. The Orthodox doctrine of Theosis has never taught that men , or women for that matter, become gods. It only teaches that we must become sanctified and godly and that after death, the soul will be united with God.
I hope that you will receive these Truths in the spirit they are given. They are not given as a harsh criticism of you and your church. We are simply defending our own Faith. It is One Faith, and it has always been One Faith, since 33AD.
In love, we proclaim to you that Orthodoxy is:
Jude, Chapter 1:
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
