Eliot, you are correct at least in the ideal. Let us not forget that in some Orthodox jurisdictions, our Orthopraxy is conforming to ECUSA norms.
]]>All of these were the result of the actions of manipulators. They act outside as well as inside the Orthodox Church.
I believe Fr. Andrew heard of them. He calls them
great humanitarians.
]]>like Jenner, Wilberforce, Nightingale, Fleming or the admirable repentant figure of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, who through the blinding flash of Nagasaki saw the light of Christ.
We do not adapt the Church to the world (secularism), as Henry VIII did
Has he heard of that monstrostiy of Czar Peter, the Holy Governing Synod? The National Schism of Greece?…
Anglicans have produced no saints over nearly 500 years
Has he heard of William Wilberforce? Henry Thornton? The Wesleys?…
]]>We’re getting better:
]]>It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that the Archdiocese of New York of The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America, the Former Exarchate of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria has petitioned The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia to be received into its fold.
So that we are clear, the parishes being received were non-canonical Orthodox, not Anglican. Most of us come from the Roman Church though some of us have spent time in the Anglican Church, Episcopal, Continuing, or Charismatic Episcopal. We all became Western Rite Orthodox.
Helga: I have to admit that I do not understand those who direct people to work for their salvation in whatever group they happen to be in. It seems to me that they do not believe in and do not recognize the healing power of the sacraments of the Orthodox Church. This is really disturbing.
All of us should make the effort to “work out our own salvation” with “fear and trembling” .
Forget about being welcomed with open arms into the parish. We must strive to walk in the spirit of humility. We all (should) go to church hoping to attain eternal salvation; hoping to see the light of the Orthodox Resurrection. We must savor the beauty of the Liturgy and other services, musical compositions, vestments, icons, etc, through which the Orthodox Church tries to express the truth of the Christian faith. Discipline and perseverance will prove fruitful. One can easily achieve a basic understanding of the Russian or Greek language used during the Liturgy.
We must strive to acquire a better knowledge, appreciation and trust in the intercessions of the Mother of God and the saints. The saints were inspired by the Holy Spirit and “modern” saints were at all times in accord with the Tradition. They did not contradict the saints before them. Those who trusted their fallen mind and did not speak by the Spirit are the ones who led the Christians down the path of compromise, into this mess we find ourselves in today.
And why aren’t they prepared, Eliot? We have Church leaders who would tell them there’s no need to convert and that they should work for salvation in whatever group they happen to be in, and parishes that wouldn’t welcome them because they happen not to be fluent in Russian or Greek.
]]>….the real apostolic Church is not prepared to receive them???
They are not prepared to join the apostolic Church!
Why few disillusioned Anglicans will join the Orthodox Church
]]>The fact that we are called on to fast for half the year is another impossible barrier for most. For example, our whole ethos of preparation for communion, fasting, reading of prayers and confession, is alien to a group in which people are used to having a fried breakfast and then an hour or so later taking communion. It is clear to Orthodox (as also to many Anglicans) that our understanding of communion is totally different. For them it is a mere memorial with bread and wine, for us it is the burning presence of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Prayer, fasting, standing, confession – all these practices are alien to the Church of England and yet essential to the Gospel and therefore to Orthodoxy. Lifelong Orthodox actually believe in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation and Divinity of Christ, the Resurrection, the Ever-Virginity of the Mother of God, the Cross, Providence, holiness (the Holy Spirit acting in the material world), the saints, the angels, relics, icons and miracles. Anglicans have produced no saints over nearly 500 years (though a very few do speak of St Charles I) and most of them tell me that they are proud of this and that they do not believe in saints. True, we Orthodox are not always very devout in our Orthodoxy and not very punctual at our services, but we would not think of abolishing any of the beliefs of the Church or the practices of prayer, fasting, standing and confession. The Church is the Church, regardless of our human weaknesses. We do not adapt the Church to the world (secularism), as Henry VIII did and as Archbishop Rowan Williams is in fact allowing through weakness. In Orthodoxy, the world adapts to the Church, not the other way round.
[…]
Some, as we know, not only do join our Church, but also find their spiritual home with us and in due course become Orthodox. If you can accept us, as we are, welcome! But please do not come with your own agenda or else you will also be disillusioned.
Very well said, Isa. The difference between Canterbury and Rome is the difference between six and half a dozen. It’s a pity that the real apostolic Church is not prepared to receive them.
]]>RE Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury… tried to alleviate this problem by establishing a council to prevent divisiveness by setting standards in order for churches to remain members of the Anglican Church.
I wonder what those standards might be? Perhaps, “don’t ask, don’t tell (what the Anglican church down the road is doing)” would be near the top.
]]>LOL. it is not even guarenteed that they will be priests.
]]>On the other, given all that has happened in the ecclesiatical organization (communion is too strong a word) under Canterbury, what the hell have they been waiting for this long? Denying the Resurrection of Christ you can swallow, but not a bishop in a dress?
]]>There is much discontent within the Anglican Church — as a result of its implementation of ultra-liberal policies — causing many of its worshipers to drop out or convert to other religions.
Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury — the head of the Anglican Church — tried to alleviate this problem by establishing a council to prevent divisiveness by setting standards in order for churches to remain members of the Anglican Church. Some of the Anglicans were against having such a council, because they feared a small group of bishops would “control” all the churches. Consequently, the implementation of an anti-divisive council in the Anglican Church is itself causing divisiveness!
If it expects to continue to exist with any esteem, the Anglican Church must quickly stop implementing ultra-liberal policies.
]]>Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi said on Nov. 8, 2010 that the Vatican “can confirm that the constitution of a first Ordinariate is under study, according to the norms established by the Apostolic Constitution ‘Anglicanorum coetibus,’ and that any further decisions regarding this will be communicated at the proper moment.”
Source. CNA: Five Anglican bishops plan to join Catholic Church