Traditional Orthodox Churches in North Carolina

[TomS]

Tom,

You use the word Church to refer to anything that calls itself Orthodox. I use the word to refer to those who truly hold the Orthodox Faith.

And who is the judge of that?

[Joseph]

Chrysostomos,

From your spiritually superior position you have not only put me in my place but also succeeded in ignoring all the teachings of the Fathers and Councils concerning heresy.

[Chrysostomos]

Joseph,

As to your comment: "From your spiritually superior position"

I respond: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!

As to your comment: "but also succeeded in ignoring all the teachings of the Fathers and Councils concerning heresy."

I respond: Through applying the therapy prescribed by the church, I will not have ignored it, but God willing, not fallen into it. If I have fallen, may I be illumined and see my many errors, both voluntary and involuntary, and take action to correct them.

Pray for my illumination, as I pray for yours.

Your fellow Orthodox struggler in Christ,

Rd. Chrysostomos

[Joseph]

Chrysostomos,

I have observed that the Pope also is very humble, pious and spiritual. But of what value is spirituality if the truth of the Church is ignored or betrayed?

You seem to imply that spirituality, on the one hadn, and standing up for the faith and rejecting heresy, on the other hand, are somehow incompatible. Was St. Nicholas, St. Athanasios, St. Mark, St. Maximos, St. Basil and all the holy Fathers of the Councils less than spiritual in their fights against heresy and their refusal to have communion with heretics?

I would be interested to know what you think of the teachings of the Councils that Papal and Monophysite doctrines are heretical and communion with them is forbidden. Do you agree with the teachings of the Councils on these issues?

What meaning do you attach to the words of St. Mark of Ephesus that Holy Scripture and all the teachings of the Fathers and Councils teach us to flee from heresy and have no communion with it?

[Chrysostomos]

Joseph,

The value of spirituality, true spirituality, as advocated by the Church Fathers, is that which leads to perfection. First though, we must go through the process of purification and illumination. This is not taught by the Protestants, nor the Catholics. The Catholics condemned St. Gregory Palamas and sided with Barlaam. Their therapy, as well as the Protestants, is completely different than the one above.

How can I, who has not yet been purified, profess to speak as if I have illumination? I dare not even address perfection.

St. Nicholas, St. Athanasios, St. Mark, St. Maximos, St. Basil, and many others, not only were purified, and illumined, but no doubt achieved perfection.

My fellow struggler, I am so far from their position. Therefore I cannot speak with the same certainty nor authority as them.

My best course of action, is to continue on the path that I mentioned in my previous note to you. To partake of our Lord, and attend as many services as I can. To read the lives of the Saints, the early Church Fathers, the Holy Bible, and as Elder Ephraim stated, applying what I have read. To yearn to receive the tongues of fire and to live the mysteries of God.

In addition to that, to pray. Which includes the Jesus prayer and to pray for those who's authority I am under. My Bishop is better prepared than I to address those issues that constitute heresy than I. If you wish to ridicule me for this, then please do so. I have far greater sins in my life, that weigh like an anchor on me, and based upon what I have read, and what I have seen my Bishop and Metropolitan espouse, I do not consider us to be in heresy.

As to your questions as to the councils, as to whether I agree with them - yes.

As to your question in regards to the statement of St. Mark of Ephesus....

Holy Scripture teaches us, our Lord Jesus in fact, that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our body, mind, heart and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This from the mouth of God is the greatest of all commandments. I must confess before you and all who read this, that I fall very short of these two commandments. Therefore, I choose to focus on the path, and God willing, be able in this lifetime to accomplish the two commandments. God willing, may I be able to flee heresy when I see it, or better yet, flee anything that seperates me from the love of God.

Your fellow struggler in Christ,

Rd. Chrysostomos

[jimhuffman]

First, thanks to all who have made suggestions or offered thoughts -- whether here or through private messages. They are deeply appreciated.

When discussing "picking and choosing," a thought came to mind. For me -- and anyone else coming as a convert to Orthodoxy -- isn't it at the base a matter of "picking and choosing" a Bishop, at least in America? How do we ever avoid the problem of private interpretation?

I'm genuinely baffled by this. I know a little of the jurisdiction problem here, and I'm not throwing stones at anyone. But until that problem is resolved, how can it be anything but a matter of private interpretation?

in Christ,

Jim Huffman

[Ekaterina]

Jim:

Forgive us rather sinful Orthodox people. We should know better but we all too often fall prey to worldly maifestation of power and it's brother ...discord. It is all very confusing to the simple person, the one trying to follow in the foot steps of Christ. Instead we are reduced to choosing between Bishops and even priests. That is why I said you have to choose for yourself. Follow your heart and your concience.

I recently left a parish because my heart told me it was not a place where one could find Christ. I know Josef B will accuse me of being "Protestant", but then he has not walked in my shoes. I am now in a parish where I do not feel a "threatening presence", where the spirit of Christ exists.

Attend the churches, learn the teaching and let Christ guide you to where you need to be. The choice is yours and yours alone.

God Bless,
Katya