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Woweeee!!!

Who needs Hollywood when you've got Church history??

Alex, you're a TROVE of amazing facts.

Thanks,

Sharon


Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Dear Sharon,
Shalom!

I just wanted to share with you one more thing.

I read about a Russian New Martyr who was himself a convert to Orthodoxy from Judaism, St Alexander Jacobson.

He was a physician and was sent to Solovki for his faith.

He placed icons over the beds of very ill persons and his piety was so deep and great that he Crossed himself and his patients continually.

When one person saw his surname, he asked him his religion. Alexander told him that he was an "Orthodox - Jew."

He is one of my favourite New Martyrs.

Ba shana haba Bi-Yerushalayim,

(I'm doing poorly in Latin, as you can see, but how is my Hebrew?)

Alex

True, although I view this as merely "paperwork". God is not bound by human pretensions and errors (not implying you believe He is).

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I am just wondering, however, if there would be more difficulty lifting a condemnation against someone when it was done by Ecumenical Council as opposed to an excommunication levelled by a bishop or the Pope?

Ultimately, no. It does present a "PR" problem in that some misguided persons may question all actions of ecumenical councils. That is an erroneous view of ecclesiology IMHO. I understand the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox are struggling with how to respond to this at the moment, anticipating reunion someday. I'm rally not certain how the RCC responds to this. My answer is more a "layman's take" on the issue.

Pax Christi,
John