www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Orthodox-Catholic Reconciliation

Remie,

This was attempted not long ago (intercommunion of Churches between the Melkites
and the Antiochian Orthodox) and I believe there was pressure from both Rome and Antioch for this to be dropped. Again, around the issue of the Papal Claims etc
Someone else on the board could probably fill in the details of this.

Peace,
Brian

Orthodox Catholic, you said that the Byzantine marriage bonds occur after death. What about Matt. 22:30, "in the resurrection there is neither marrying or giving in marriage, but are like the angels." Don't this rule out the possibility of there being marriage for eternity?

P.S. If a man gets married after his wife dies will he have more than one wife for eternity? hehe. Thanks.

(not occurs after death. I meant lasts until after death.)

Dear Brian and Remie,
Unfortunately, I don't have the details, but rumor says that some officials at the Vatican weren't very keen on the idea, but than again this is rumor. That's why I guess, Gregory the III is asking for Greek Catholics to unite (Slovaks, Romanians, Rusyns, Hungarians, Ukies, etc.) I think he's got something up his sleeve.
Lauro

Dear Theosis,

Yes, we mean spiritual bond that persists after death, very much, although not exactly like, when the priestly character lasts for all eternity.

A novel I once read described a couple where the woman was very religious but her husband not at all.

Their little girl would say prayers out of her prayerbook for her father's conversion - and this standing over his bed - and then would bend down to look into his eyes and see if there was any noticeable change in him . . .

One Sunday, on her way to Mass, the man's wife turned to him and told him God would find a way to bring him to heaven after all.

"Because if you aren't there, it just won't be 'heaven!'"

Alex

Thanks, Alex! But what about the person who has been married after the death of the first spouse? Do those other bonds last also? If so, how? Thanks!

Dear Theosis,

I'm sure that spiritual bonds between married people continue to exist, even when someone has been married more than once!

Why shouldn't they?

Again, we're not talking sex - not in the next life when people are calm and resting .

It is like the bonds existing between brothers and sisters.

St Thomas More was married twice.

I visited the reconstructed Church (bombed in WWII) where he spent every Friday and Sunday attending services.

His two wives are buried in the same tomb there and a poem he wrote to both of them is engraved in stone.

(Of course, when he wrote it, his second wife was still alive as she outlived him following his martyrdom).

His poem is beautiful and he talks about how he loves both his wives equally, not knowing whom he loves best - and remember that he was then speaking of his first, by then, deceased wife.

And he ends with the wish to spend heaven in the company of both.

Alex

Thanks, Alex. I had quesiton on the concept of "theosis" now. Since theosis is partaking of the Lord's "divine energies not his essence" would that mean we would get to create worlds like he does, and work miracles, etc? Do all the things God does with God working through us instead of us being God be nature. Thanks!

That sounds like Mormonism to me! I mean us becoming gods and rulin' our own little mini-universes.

You're right that what the above poster posted was Mormon-sounding.

Theosis means we become divine by GRACE (ie we are still humans, but filled 100% with God) while God is God by NATURE (he cannot cease being God).

St. Gregory Palamas was the one who most clearly explained the difference between God's essence (what he is in himself; his nature) and his energies (grace; God going outside of himself and acting in the universe). Essence is unknowable becuase God is transcendent. Energy is knowable. Both are God. Without the distinction, we could not truly become one with God.

In Christ,

anastasios

Extremely debatable. A problematic theology in many ways. St. Gregory Palamas, like most theologians however wise, did not possess the charism of infallibility. Palamism is not dogma, however much it may be presented as such nowadays. :p

God is simple. There is no plurality in God except the Trinity. My 2 cents' worth, fwiw.



ZT

CIX!

An Oecumenical council declared and affirmed it, that is enough for me! :p

in Domino,

Edward

Don I am anxious to hear the rest of the story.
Pat :rolleyes:

OC,

Your first paragraph I'm not sure I know what it implies? But I'm a firm supporter of the Bishops granting annulments to couples who's marriages are in a state of turmoil. I don't understand this modern western concept of "getting married" till we no longer desire to be married. But nor do I see the health in couples staying married who are at each others throats.

The story is often told about kids who don't want their parents to divorce. Hmm. Their is another story out there less told if ever - kids (children not adults) that wish for their parents to divorce. My word doesn't have to be taken on it though - you can ask my brother.

As for your second paragraph, I too have raised the "nonsensical(ness)" of Catholic concept of "annulments." How can the Catholic Church report where a marriage lies, if it in essence doesn't know?

Justin