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CLXXII. Letter of Theodoretus to Nestorius.
To the very reverend and religious lord and very holy Father, Nestorius, the bishop Theodoretus sends greeting in the Lord. Your holiness is, I think, well aware that I take no pleasure in cultivated society, nor in the interests of this life, nor in reputation, nor am I attracted by other sees. Had I learnt this lesson from no other source, the very solitude of the city2301 over which I am called to preside would suffice to teach me this philosophy. It is not indeed distinguished only for solitude, but also by very many disturbances which may check the activity even of those who most delight in them.
Let no one therefore persuade your holiness that I have accepted the Egyptian writings as orthodox, with my eyes shut, because I covet any see. For really, to speak the truth, after frequently reading and carefully examining them, I have discovered that they are free from all heretical taint, and I have hesitated to put any stress upon them, though I certainly have no love for their author, who was the originator of the disturbances which have agitated the world. For this I hope to escape punishment in the day of Judgment, since the just Judge examines motives. But to what has been done unjustly and illegally against your holiness, not even if one were to cut off both my hands would I ever assent, Gods grace helping me and supporting my infirmity. This I have stated in writing to those who require it. I have sent to your holiness my reply to what you wrote to me, that you may know that, by Gods grace, no time has changed me like the centipedes and chameleons who imitate by their colour the stones and leaves among which they live. I and all with me salute all the Brotherhood who are with you in the Lord.
minasoliman said:Dear Sin_Vladimirov,
The solution according to the Agreed Statements is neither. The only change is that rather than "Ecumenecity" we treat the last four councils as "Local" councils. There are so many local councils that haven't been accepted by the Universal Church. If we trully believe that the Universal Church continued to exist between Orientals and Easterns, the last four councils are not "ecumenical" but local, and you may continue to keep the faith of the last four councils. We already accept the faith, but its decrees require condemnation of our fathers, and we can't accept that. "Lifting of anathemas" is not uncanonical, and those councils can continue to be accepted even if anathemas are lifted.
Xrictoc anecti!
The Non-Chalcedonians reject all but the first three ecumenical councils and have a whole boatload of heresiarchs whom they regard as saints and Church fathers. Although much of their language sounds Orthodox, the totality of their Christology remains Monophysite and Monothelite, true to the teachings of their founders.
The history of attempts at rapprochement with the Non-Chalcedonians is tragic and has produced a number of Orthodox martyrs. Beginning in the 20th century, the ecumenical movement spawned new efforts in that direction, most of them under the auspices of the World Council of Churches.
The efforts have been marked by the intransigence of the Non-Chalcedonians, who argue that they are "Orthodox" and hold the same Christology we hold while at the same time refusing to acknowledge the last four ecumenical councils and to give up allegiance to their heresiarch founders.
The dialogues have also been marked by the rise of liberal Orthodox clerics and theologians who are willing to second-guess the Orthodox Fathers in order to achieve some sort of apparent "unity."
My own opinion is that we should not be in the business of negotiating with entire heretical sects as if the truth were a bargaining chip.
We should bring the Gospel of Christ to individuals.
If we convert them all, there will be no more non-Orthodox sects to worry about.
sin_vladimirov said:Thanks Minas,
Many mercies!
I have been reading the Orthodoxunity. Also, i have been reading Orthodoxinfo. I find them both very very informing. Orthodox infor does seem very militant, but (apart from personal disagreement with them on Oriental question) I do find it very informative.
I can not accept Oriental Orthodox as monophysites. Mya yes, Mono not.
Also, I can not but pray for soon and speedy solution to the issues dividing us.
I for one, am sick to the stomach of the injustice done towards my Coptic brethren by "Northern brethren".
Lord have mercy.
One of the reasons I think Nestorian groups are so small - besides the depredations of the Muslims and the Mongols - is that many of them realized their error and were able to accept the Chalcedonian Orthodox Christology. They saw that Chalcedon said what they really meant all along, that Christ has two natures but is really one divine Person.
Hopefully, the Non-Chalcedonians will come to that realization, too.
They [Nestorians] saw that Chalcedon said what they really meant all along, that Christ has two natures but is really one divine Person.
The Orthodox doctrine, as expressed at the Holy Council of Chalcedon, is that Christ has two natures inseparably united in one divine Hypostasis (Person) without mixture or confusion.
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