Something you should know about me

[Mathaytace_Christou]

Hello my Orthodox Brothers.

I feel that because I will be discussing Theology with you, that I should tell you something about myself that may come up in later discussions.

I am Orthodox, but I am also Anglican.

I believe that the Anglican bodies are part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and fully Orthodox, the Church Christ put on earth.

My reasoning for this is that Christianity was in England in the 300's. England was not under Rome's Authority until later. England had its own liturgy, its own bishops and fully part of the Church.

During the English "Reformation", I don't believe that the English Christians Reformed the Church, but Restored it. I believe that it was a Return to the Orthodox Church, the Church established by Christ.

I know that many of you will disagree with me. I am fine with that. Many of my Anglican Brothers do as well.

But I also know of Ukranian Orthodox Bishops who believe this. They affirm that the Anglican Churches are Fully part of the Orthodox Church.


My goal in posting this is not to start trouble or be an apologist. I simply believe you may want to know.

May God Bless you Richly in Christ's Peace!

(Note: I am not part of ecusa, while there are true Christians in that denomination, I do believe it is verging on apostasy)

 

[Philip]

Out of curiosity, how do you reconcile the 39 Articles with Orthodoxy. In particular,

XXII. Of Purgatory.
The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.​

Doesn't this contradict the Seventh Council?

 

[Mathaytace_Christou]

Out of curiosity, how do you reconcile the 39 Articles with Orthodoxy. In particular,

XXII. Of Purgatory.



The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.


​

Doesn't this contradict the Seventh Council?

I have actually recently been considering the differences between the two (which I believe are minor)

And for the most part, have found myself leaning more towards the Eastern Faith. The Thirty-Nine Articles have problems.

I still consider Anglicanism to be a part of Orthodoxy, but am finding faults.

The main reason I find myself in Anglicanism is the more ecumenical Spirit. The Eastern Orthodox Churches in my area are very exclusive (For example the Greek Church holds a belief that only Greek Orthodox Christians are Saved.

To be honest, I may find myself in an Eastern Church soon. My father is considering the priesthood in the Ukranian Church. Seeing as he holds similar ecumenical beliefs, I would feel more comfortable I guess.

I do make it clear however, that I am an Orthodox Christian. This is the Church established by Christ.

(I guess I am just an Orthodox who prefers English Rite and Practice)

 

[Mathaytace_Christou]

Actually, I was wrong about something.

The Greeks in my area say only Orthodox Christians are truly Christians.

The Russians in my area are the ones who say Russian only.

Although I believe the Orthodox Church to be the Church established by Christ, I do believe that Catholics and Protestants are Truly Christian.

 

[Peter]

Mathaytace,

I certainly don't want to discourage you in your journey. But in order to be truely Orthodox, one must accept all things Orthodox. We who are converts, must make a complete break with our old ways of doing and thinking. Just as a man must give up girlfriends when he marries, we must have no other union but the Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarch. This may be a hard pill to swallow. But take it from someone who has walked that path, it's worth it.

Peace.

Peter

 

[Mathaytace_Christou]

I am on a journey. And I have come a long way. I am not a convert from anglicanism, but from fundamentalism. I am on a steady evolution, and am moving further towards the Eastern Churches.

But I still do not understand completely why Anglicans are not considered Orthodox. The differences in doctrine are not large, and I believe they have a valid episcopate from that of The 1st generation Church.

I know of a parish that is under a Ukranian Orthodox Bishop, that follows the 1928 BCP in its Divine Liturgy.

I simply believe that Anglicanism is the English Rite of the Orthodox Church.

BUT, I do see myself perhaps moving in a more Eastern Direction.

I ask for prayer that God will Lead me to where He wants me to be.

 

[Reader Nilus]

Yes there are Western Rite Parishes that use the 1928 BCP with modifications. But these Western Rite Parishes are Orthodox and not Anglican, in that all of Orthodoxy is held and affirmed by them. Orthodoxy does not believe in the so called branch theory that was and is taught by some Anglo-Catholics.
The Anglican Church whose archbishops spend more time denying fundamental Christian truths such as the Virgin Birth, then defending the faith once delivered, are hardly Orthodox.
I was an Episcopalian and I know that Anglicans may have good form, but there is no doctrine, no truth that they will defend.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Mathaytace_Christou]

Yes there are Western Rite Parishes that use the 1928 BCP with modifications. But these Western Rite Parishes are Orthodox and not Anglican, in that all of Orthodoxy is held and affirmed by them. Orthodoxy does not believe in the so called branch theory that was and is taught by some Anglo-Catholics.
The Anglican Church whose archbishops spend more time denying fundamental Christian truths such as the Virgin Birth, then defending the faith once delivered, are hardly Orthodox.
I was an Episcopalian and I know that Anglicans may have good form, but there is no doctrine, no truth that they will defend.
Jeff the Finn

I am not a member of one of the liberal branches you mentioned.

My church is much more conservative.

What I would love is a Western Rite Church in my area. But that is not the main reason I attend an Anglican parish.

I would love to attend one of the EASTERN Orthodox (Anglicans are western, but Orthodox) Churches in my area, but I would not feel welcome. I believe Protestants and Catholics to be Christian, they do not.


I feel at Home with my English Orthodox Brothers.



I pray for Unity among Christ's followers.

I would appriciate your prayers, that I may find a Church.

 

[ufonium2]

I would love to attend one of the Orthodox Churches in my area, but I would not feel welcome. I believe Protestants and Catholics to be Christian, they do not.

Are you sure about this? I'm very new to Orthodoxy, and I must admit it hasn't come up in my experience, but the Orthodox Church accepts (Trinitarian) baptisms from other churches, so I assumed other denominations were indeed considered Christians. Somebody with a better understanding, please help!!???

 

[nicodemus]

I would love to attend one of the Orthodox Churches in my area, but I would not feel welcome. I believe Protestants and Catholics to be Christian, they do not.

Regardless of the beliefs of parishioners at a particular parish, the Orthodox Church is the one you should attend. As jeffthefinn said, many Anglicans deny basic fundamental teachings of the Church...not only that, they have elected bishops that flagrantly ignore teachings of the Church and consider the spread of those heresies to be a part of their espiscopal mission!

 

[Stone_Lock_Comanche]

Yes people from denominatons can have a true love for God But dont know the true essence of the father and dont recieve his divine mysteries which are so uplifting and clarifying. However the majority of these believers are not christian. Pray for fire in their hearts so they can awake.

 

[Mathaytace_Christou]

Regardless of the beliefs of parishioners at a particular parish, the Orthodox Church is the one you should attend. As jeffthefinn said, many Anglicans deny basic fundamental teachings of the Church...not only that, they have elected bishops that flagrantly ignore teachings of the Church and consider the spread of those heresies to be a part of their espiscopal mission!

The Ecusa verges on apostasy.

I am not a part of ecusa.

I belong to the Reformed Episcopal Church.