August 15, 7533
Scripture repeatedly states: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”(Psalm 110:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10) But it also says: “Perfect love casteth out fear.”(1 John 4:18) These statements are not contradictory; they describe different stages of spiritual growth. A house must be built starting with the foundation, not the roof. The journey…
Since the fall of human nature and the rupture between man and God, a longing for the lost paradise has been hidden deep within the souls of men. The curse, imposed as a punishment for the fall, often acts as a remedy for the soul, reminding each person of that blessed life and delight, of…
Our Lord Jesus Christ shed His precious blood to deliver the human race from corruption and death, in order to restore fallen man to his former blessedness. He brought to earth His teaching, which contains everything necessary for the salvation of the human soul. If the mark of the Antichrist were more dangerous than the…
According to the explanatory dictionary of S.I. Ozhegov, a dogma is “a fundamental principle in religious doctrine, regarded (by the Church) as immutable truth and not subject to criticism.” It is often said that the only reason for breaking church communion can be dogmatic distortions, i.e., distortions in the foundations of the faith. This argument…
Why are “dogmas” necessary? Is the moral teaching of the Gospel not sufficient? We believe in God, but why this heap of incomprehensible and unnecessary dogmas, which the mind can neither accept nor comprehend? “God is one and triune.” Two hypostases, indivisible yet distinct. What is the need for all this? And in general, “what…
What is the Creed? The Creed is a brief yet precise exposition of the Christian faith, composed by the Holy Fathers. The first brief Creed was composed by the Holy Apostles themselves at their Council in Jerusalem in the year 50. Later, at the First Ecumenical (Nicene) Council in 325, which assembled to affirm the…
We should not presume to take God’s judgment into our hands. We do not know who will perish or who will be saved—that is God’s domain: “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.”(James 4:12) We should focus on our own salvation: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”(Philippians…
It is quite common to hear statements like this: “I am Orthodox, baptized, but I don’t go to church. I don’t trust priests. But I believe in God in my soul. I wear a cross. I’ve been taught not to steal or wish harm on others. I believe that’s enough. After all, the main thing…
By George Neminuschy Foreword In this article, we shall attempt to uncover and articulate a direct link between the original attribute of Christ’s Church—its catholicity, or sobornost—and that which is referred to as communal life when speaking of Old Belief. We will not engage in an “apologia for Old Belief,” nor will we offer criticism…
By Archpriest Andrey Marchenko “And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and hymn Thy most honorable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (from the rite of the Divine Liturgy). One of the most precious gifts bestowed upon the Church is sobornost—conciliarity or spiritual unity….