Dear Αριψαλιν,
It really has nothing to do with Iraq at all. For Americans (as for some others) the flag is a symbol of patriotic pride and so standing for it is a sign of respect for the State and its institutions.
We all owe a debt of gratitude …
Dear Egy,
Yes you do, for the very good reasons that Κηφᾶς has given.
Our whole allegiance is given to Christ, but we have His warrant that we give the respect to Caesar that is his due; let us do that. It is only if and when the State demands we …
Dear Vassilios,
As always, your posts make us think. I guess what Mina found problematic was this way of going about dealing with the problem. That said, there is clearly a problem in some cases, and the dealing with it is not the easiest of things…
Dear Κηφᾶς, Dear Mina,
I note with interest the way this atheist manages to spread discord even here; truly it is the work of the Evil One.
As Κηφᾶς rightly says, this is a site where free expression is encouraged; how unlike what our critics say…
Dear Filobateer,
Happy to be of service.
I would note, though, that nearly all our evidence for this comes from none Coptic sources, and even the best of these still leave the impression that Theophilus was just trying to do St. John Chrysostom do…
Dear Κηφᾶς, Dear Mina,
You are surely both right. And to your excellent examples might I be permitted to add three more?
We read in St. Paul's letters:
"He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He s…
Dear Karas7,
If that is what was meant then I fear that our sister is close to a heresy known as subordinationism, which held that God was superior to the other parts of the Trinity. This is not so, and it is not the teaching of the Church. The gre…
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I suspect the best thing we could all do is to pray for this man, and for the many like him. Whilst Our Lord brings peace and love and salvation, this man, and others, bring nothing but tired old arguments that …
Dear Gregory,
It is as well to remember that back then many people were not Christian, so many of the future mothers of the Saints were married off by their families to non-Christian men; many of the latter later became Christians under the influen…
Dear Κηφᾶς, Dear Mina,
Just one question which rather tends to agree with what you both say - 'why would anyone want to spent 10 minutes watching this instead of praying?'
Just a thought!
In Christ,
John
Dear Gregory,
Whilst not wishing in any way to dissent from the account you recommend, especially given its provenance, matters were a little more complex than the space available to the bishop perhaps allowed.
Abba Theophilus was increasingly wor…
Dear Κηφᾶς,
Thank you. I try always to remember that we are all God's children, and to comprehend what Our Lord meant when he told us to do that hardest of things - to love our enemies. I know that to hate them is actually to harm oneself; we becom…
Dear EpNomos EnTaio,
Yes, I have read similar things, and there is a long history of Christians reacting to Islam in this way. Indeed,,as some of you will know, there is a legend that the Prophet (pbuh) took his view of Christianity from a Nestoria…
Dear Mike,
Κηφᾶς has provided us with a very important posting in what he has written.
We might also note that both Origen and St. Isaac do not pronounce with certainty; that is left to those inferior in spiritual knowledge and humility. They both…
Dear Mike,
The text has to be read in context, and clearly Our Lord is saying that if you do something even for one of these people, you do it for Him.
Who are our brothers? Well, obviously, our fellow Orthodox Christians; and charity would sugges…
It seems as though we are in agreement with your excellent points, Κηφᾶς. I am grateful to you for helping us to make the differentiation between the sin and the sinner.
Kerestina is certainly correct to say that just because some Muslims have no …
Dear Mike,
You ask very interesting questions, and make excellent comments - so you witness well to the Lord, if I might be allowed to say so; I am grateful for the contributions which you make here.
Do we believe that only Orthodox Christians wil…
Dear Vassilios,
Professor Dawkins would be well advised to hope that God is not displeased with him!
Fortunately for the Professor, our God is not the God he encountered as a Protestant, but is rather a God of love and mercy, who gave His only-be…
Dear Nate,
You have been on a long and difficult journey, and still have a ways to go; but if the Lord has guided you here, you may be sure it was of a purpose; what that purpose is you will find out in His good time - but be assured of our prayers…
Dear Mike,
There is every reason to think that when the Lord harrowed hell he brought to salvation all those who were worthy.
Of course, before the preaching of the new covenant, most of the world was unaware of the God of Abraham, although there …
Dear Mike,
I don't think you have said anything wrong.
Even now, not all the world knows about our God; that is why mission matters. Indeed, not every country has a chance to participate in Orthodox worship; which is, again, why mission matters.
…
In the UK the Anglican Church will not allow the marriage of cousins; indeed there is a long list of people who cannot be married in Church. For example, you cannot marry your step-father, because although there is no biological relationship between…
Dear bentBABAyasooa,
To mourn someone you loved and who brought joy to your life and the lives of others is only natural; you miss him. But I am sure that he would not want to have brought sorrow into your life, and would not like to see you in sor…
I would second what was just posted about the Armenian Liturgy and chanting; profoundly beautiful and deeply moving.
I recently went with other members of my Church to the first Oriental Orthodox Festival at the Coptic Cathedral in Stevenage in the…
Dear Mina,
I wonder if it is that, or whether it is simply that his Church is exercising an economy? We have to remember we don't know all the circumstances - but I am still, like you, a little surprised if it is as stated. But let us not rush to j…
Dear Κηφᾶς,
How very pertinent and how very difficult to answer is your important question.
The short and honest answer is that I do not know why God saves those who have not been part of His Church; indeed, I do not know that He does - I only kno…
Dear Mina,
When you write
when you say 'sacramental communion' that means The Church rit..?
you are indeed right. As to how those outside the Church can be saved, only He who makes these decisions knows that; His wisdom and compassion are infinite …
Dear Vasillios,
I suspect it is much better! ;)
As St. Paul told those Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:5-7):
13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
13:5 does not behave rudely, does not…