purifyingnous

Posts Tagged ‘saints’

Romans 16

In Christian life, People, Romans, ecclesiology, history on February 9, 2009 at 10:34 pm

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia[a] to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman.[b] Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The[c] churches of Christ greet you.

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus[d] Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Even at the beginning of the Church, it’s as if Paul’s talking to the Church like they have everything they need in the Christian Faith.  There is nothing to add to it or subtracting from it.   We must be faithful to the holy Orthodox Faith.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.[e]
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.[f]

I love benedictions.  :-)

Saint George

In People on April 18, 2008 at 9:26 pm

I suppose the  most common objection other than the Orthodox belief about the Theotokos is the veneration of saints.

 

We don’t know why St George should be considered so special. We are to worship ONLY the three in one God., God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

 

   Matt.4:10   Then Jesus saith unto him,” Get thee hence , Satan: for it is written:   Thou shalt worship the Lord they God, and him only shalt thy serve.”   

 

             

 

So, it comes that most people believe that the Orthodox Church teaches people to worship saints.  That is aboslutely not the case.  We give honor to saints as holy people who have served God.  Just as God asks us to honor our parents, we should also honor our spiritual parents. 

 

As for the objection: Why do you pray to saints?  We ask them for their prayers for us.  They are actively worshipping before the throne of God, and that includes prayer.  Why would I want them to not pray for me?  If someone asks you to pray for them, are you really going to refuse and tell them that since they have direct access to God, they can pray for themselves?  It’s the same thing, the saints just happen to be dead, but they are much closer to God than we are, so that’s got to count for something.