|
1 members (1 invisible),
330
guests, and
16
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums26
Topics35,219
Posts415,295
Members5,881
| |
Most Online3,380
Dec 29th, 2019
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 571
Member
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 571 |
Glory be to Jesus Christ! It is like we are at a coffee shop in Constantinople; this forum is cool. I learn new things every day  In Christ, Chief Sinner, Robert
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 118
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 118 |
If "we" were in a cafe house in Constantinopolis, we would be sipping on Greek brandy (or ouzo!), one of us would have made a really wry and smartaleck remark about this topic. and we would have moved far beyond this bit of sophistry to issues that really matter, such as: "How can we 'insert' more medical teams into the Sudan or Ethiopia?"
Modern and "struggling to be Christ-centered" Greek Orthodox CHRISTIANS do not waste their time on this sort of legalistic trivia.
On this issue---please!---let us follow the example of holy St. Peter!
Good health to all the brethren.
Bill
[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: Psalm 46 ]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 309
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 309 |
In fact, my friends, theological discussions in Constantinople were anything but "cool". They would usually result in brawls of the kind that Asterix fans are very familiar with....not that I'm complaining mind you. A good slugging out and fish flying over the place, puncturing the sound barrier with resounding splats, brings nostalgia trips to those of us who grew up very intimately with a small village of indomitable Gauls.
In IC XC
Samer
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,315 Likes: 21
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,315 Likes: 21 |
Dear Friends,
Yes, St Nicholas of Myra actually punched Arius the arch-heretic in the face. He felt that the censure pronounced against him by the First Council was rather insufficient, I suppose . . .
Then there was St Dioscoros of Alexandria who exchanged more than mere words with St Flavian of Constantinople.
Theology with some punch, eh?
Alex
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,775
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,775 |
We can't keep going back to the 'ancient sources' to determine what is right and what is wrong.
If we do this, we abnegate the reality of the Holy Spirit.
People get spooked about the "issue of blood". So, if the priest gets a sinus infection and bloody nose as a result of those damnable leaf spores during the Fall, then he can't celebrate the liturgy because of an issue of blood?
Give me a break.
If a woman has an "issue of blood" as a result of menstruation (created by God), then she is "unclean"?
Give me (and her) a break.
One's holiness is measured by one's love for God and one's love for one's neighbor (heard that before?!?!?). The rest is just legalistic hubris or out-and-out fakery to disenfranchise parts of the community of God's children.
We Christians believe that Christ died to save us from sin and its effects (VOLUNTARY offense against God); so why are some of us trying to disenfranchise some of God's people because of naturally occuring phenomena?
Get a grip, learn some biology, and forget the craziness: love ALL God's people, bleeding or not.
Blessings, y'all!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3 |
As for sex the night before Liturgy, there was talk about it awhile back here, and at least one line of thought was that it wasn't so much a matter of impurity, but of indulgence. We fast from food (another lawful indulgence) prior to the Eucharist. Strict fast includes not just food and wine, but sexual abstinence as well.
Cheers,
Sharon
Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com
Due to work, my wife and I live in separate locations during the week. We are together on Saturdays, Sundays.
Practicing this fast would be a bit hard.
How about that we are not able to be together during the week?
Or should we wait until after Sunday Liturgy only?
Abstaining from social activities on Saturday nights is hard too, since we are not together during the week.
Jon West
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,775
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,775 |
To 46 and Jon West, I'm with you both. Why, in heaven's name, are we getting caught up in this Victorian style abnegation of sexuality and tying it up with sin? (Despite the fact that documentary evidence showed that they were among the more 'kinky' of recent history.)
Interpersonal relations are critically important in God's scheme of things: "love one another", "don't commit adultery" etc. Why do we get hung up on sexuality and divorce it from the truly interpersonal spiritual and physical love that is characteristic of integral human beings?
It appears to be this attitude that inveighs against 'altar girls' or women serving in the sanctuary. While we can refer to the tradition to inform our judgements, we should also look at those elements that are of spurious nature (folk-theology) that cloud our understanding of the ability of EVERY human being to fulfill the promise of grace, service and response to the Holy Spirit.
The older I get, the more 'scared' I become of the realization of the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian community. Imagine. God Himself available to us -- upon request -- for help. Holy Hannah. It's to knock your socks off. But when I realize the incredible and beyond-comprehensible gift that has been given, I just submit to prayer and the Gospels, and do/think what I believe to be right in the understanding that the Holy Spirit will guide me and smack me upside the head with a 2x4 if I am heading in the wrong direction.
Blessings, y'all!
[ 11-11-2001: Message edited by: Dr John ]
|
|
|
|
|
