The Historic Church: An Orthodox View of Christian History

Chapter discussions and book or film reviews of Orthodox Christian and secular books that you have read and found helpful. All Forum Rules apply.
Post Reply
fschmidt
Newbie
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri 27 May 2016 9:34 am
Faith: Old Testament
Contact:

The Historic Church: An Orthodox View of Christian History

Post by fschmidt »

This is my favorite book on Christian history.

User avatar
Maria
Archon
Posts: 8428
Joined: Fri 11 June 2004 8:39 pm
Faith: True Orthodox Christian
Jurisdiction: GOC
Location: USA

Re: The Historic Church: An Orthodox View of Christian History

Post by Maria »

Thanks for your recommendation.

Personally, I am skeptical of this author, Fr. John Morris, who serves as an Antiochian Priest, as he is an avowed ecumenist and Fullbright Scholar.

I have conversed with Father John Morris over at another forum. He is one of those who does not like ecumenical dialog with Muslims, but he is fine if his bishops and his Antiochian patriarch engage in this ecumenism for the sake of peace. Thus, Father John Morris distinguishes between true ecumenism and false ecumenism, both of which are misnomers. Note that both true and false ecumenism fall under the heresy of Pan-Ecumenism, and there is a huge difference between the heresy of Pan-Ecumenism and Missionary work. In the heresy of Pan-Ecumenism, people of different faiths gather together to seek common ground and to establish a one world religion. In Missionary work, the emphasis is to convert the heart, mind, and souls of those who will listen to our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, as He is One with the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Re: Ecumenical Prayer Services = False Ecumenism

Although Father John Morris does not like common prayer services between Orthodox Christians and other "Christians" such as Roman Catholics and Protestants, and although he labels such prayers (such as an Ecumenical Vespers Service) as False Ecumenism, Father John Morris stays in communion with his Antiochian Patriarch who does engage in such behavior, and who is an avowed ecumenist. Furthermore, Fr. John Morris stays within World Orthodoxy, which has communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch (EP) and the Patriarch of Moscow (MP), both of whom have engaged in such Ecumenical Vespers Services, and both of whom are avowed Ecumenists.

In fact, both the EP and the MP have joined (or have sent delegates) to have joint prayer services with the Pope of Rome and with all world religions including Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, etc. These inter-faith prayer services have been held historically at both Ravenna and at Assisi. Do an Internet search (duckduckgo.com) for World Prayer Services, but also see the link below where both the Pope and the EP are photographed together with the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Cyril.

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/09/20/ ... ars-peace/
Image

Pope Francis salutes Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Cyril Aphrem Karim, as he arrives to the Sacro Convento of Assisi, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Pope Francis has chatted with leaders and representatives of many religions at a gathering to pray for peace in Assisi, the home town of St. Francis. Christians will pray in St. Francis Basilica, while those from other religions will pray in different locations in the Umbrian hill town that for centuries has drawn those admiring the peace-advocating saint who abandoned wealth for an austere existence of preaching tolerance. (Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool.)

If a person is in communion with Ecumenists, whether it is labeled as False or True Ecumenism, then that person has fallen into the heresy of Pan-Ecumenism.

For example, one of the attributes of the heresy of Pan-Ecumenism is its opposition to the Traditional Calendar (the Julian Calendar). Historically, it can be proven that the intent of ecumenists in establishing a worldwide New Calendar was to celebrate the common feast day of Christmas and Easter with Western Christians, which would facilitate the development of a one-world Christianity, which would be major step toward a one-world religion. Nevertheless, the move to have a common day of Easter/Pascha failed within one year after the forced imposition of the New Calendar in 1924 due to problems with the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. Typically, the Holy Fire does not materialize when the Church does not follow the Julian Calendar. Thus, ecumenists have not realized all their goals yet and Orthodox Christians world wide still celebrate Pascha according to the Julian Calendar. At the latest Great Council of Crete in 2016, a common celebration of Easter was on the table again, but this was pulled at the last minute due to the opposition from many in the Baltic and Russian Orthodox Christian countries.

Ecumenism also espouses the acceptance of a common baptism. For example, almost all Roman Catholics and Protestants have water poured over them. Their form of Baptism is deficient as they are not completely immersed three times. Even in the World Orthodox Churches under the EP and the MP, children and adults have water poured or splashed over them. Rarely do Orthodox Churches have a proper baptismal font where a person (baby, child, or adult) can be totally immersed three times. Yet, these Protestants and Roman Catholics are received by most World Orthodox bishops and priests with Chrismation, not Holy Baptism.

Now note that Father John Morris uses the New Calendar, labels True Orthodox as schismatics, and follows his bishop's orders in Chrismating all Protestants and Roman Catholics who were sprinkled or splashed with water, or who only had a single immersion.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

User avatar
Maria
Archon
Posts: 8428
Joined: Fri 11 June 2004 8:39 pm
Faith: True Orthodox Christian
Jurisdiction: GOC
Location: USA

Re: The Historic Church: An Orthodox View of Christian History

Post by Maria »

TOPIC CHANGE: I have split this thread into a new thread dealing with Fundamentalism.

http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 718#p69718

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

Post Reply