Over The Rooftops with Fr Emmanuel

 

 

Fascinating and Well-done Blog:

 

http://orthodoxwitness.org/over-the-rooftops/

THE CREED OF 1 NICEA (AD 325)

THE CREED OF 1 NICEA (AD 325)

 

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.  By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth.  Who for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was incarnate and was made man.  He suffered and the third day he rose again, and ascended into heaven.  And he shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead.

And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost.

And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not, or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change or conversion—all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes them.

THE CREED OF 1 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 381)

THE CREED OF 1 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 381)

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.  Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.  He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father.  And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead.  Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.  And [we believe] in one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, [and] we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

THE CREED OF CHALCEDON (AD451)

 THE CREED OF CHALCEDON (AD 451)

Following the holy Fathers we teach with one voice that the Son [of God] and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same [Person], that he is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, very God and very man, of a reasonable soul and [human] body consisting, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood; made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted; begotten of his Father before the worlds according to his Godhead; but in these last days for us men and for our salvation born [into the world] of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God according to his manhood.

This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son [of God] must be confessed to be in two natures, unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, inseparably [united], and that without the distinction of natures being taken away by such union, but rather the peculiar property of each nature being preserved and being united in one Person and subsistence, not separated or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten, God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Prophets of old time have spoken concerning him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ hath taught us, and as the Creed of the Fathers hath delivered to us.

These things, therefore, having been expressed by us with the greatest accuracy and attention, the holy Ecumenical Synod defines that no one shall be suffered to bring forward a different faith, nor to write, nor to put together, nor to excogitate, nor to teach it to others.  But such as dare either to put together another faith, or to bring forward or to teach or to deliver a different Creed to such as wish to be converted to the knowledge of the truth, from the Gentiles, or Jews or any heresy whatever, if they be Bishops or clerics let them be deposed, the Bishops from the Episcopate, and the clerics from the clergy; but if they be monks or laics: let them be anathematized.

THE COUNCIL OF 2 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 553)

THE COUNCIL OF 2 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 553)

Convoked in AD 553 during the reign of the emperor Justinian, this council confirmed Ephesus’ and Chalcedon’s teaching on Christ’s two natures and condemned the “Three Chapters,” which were writings with Nestorian leanings.  The emperor himself confessed his faith in the famous Church hymn “Only Begotten Son and Word of God,” which is still sung during the Divine Liturgy.

The council's dogmatic formulas are found in two sets of anathemas.  The Capitula of the Council comprise fourteen anathemas, the first ten of which give precising definitions of the hypostatic union, the last four of which condemn the writings of assorted heretics (most notably Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret, and Ibas, men whose works are known collectively as the "Three Chapters").  The Anathemas against Origen comprise fifteen dogmatic formulas all condemning the bizarre teachings of Origen, an influential heretic whose dates are AD 185-232.

 

THE CREED OF 3 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 680-681)

THE CREED OF 3 CONSTANTINOPLE (AD 680-681)

Defining all this we likewise declare that in him are two natural wills and two natural operations indivisibly, inconvertibly, inseparably, inconfusedly, according to the teaching of the holy Fathers.  And these two natural wills are not contrary the one to the other (God forbid!) as the impious heretics assert, but his human will follows and that not as resisting and reluctant, but rather as subject to his divine and omnipotent will.  For it was right that the flesh should be moved but subject to the divine will, according to the most wise Athanasius.  For as his flesh is called and is the flesh of God the Word, so also the natural will of his flesh is called and is the proper will of God the Word, as he himself says: “I came down from heaven, not that I might do mine own will but the will of the Father which sent me!” where he calls his own will the will of his flesh, inasmuch as his flesh was also his own.  For as his most holy and immaculate animated flesh was not destroyed because it was deified but continued in its own state and nature, so also his human will, although deified, was not suppressed, but was rather preserved according to the saying of Gregory Theologus: “His will [that is, the Savior’s] is not contrary to God but altogether deified.”

We glorify two natural operations indivisibly, immutably, inconfusedly, inseparably in the same our Lord Jesus Christ our true God; that is to say a divine operation and a human operation, according to the divine preacher Leo, who most distinctly asserts as follows: “For each form does in communion with the other what pertains properly to it, the Word, namely, doing that which pertains to the Word, and the flesh that which pertains to the flesh.”

For we will not admit one natural operation in God and in the creature, as we will not exalt into the divine essence what is created, nor will we bring down the glory of the divine nature to the place suited to the creature.

We recognize the miracles and the sufferings as of one and the same [Person], but of one or of the other nature of which he is and in which he exists, as Cyril admirably says.  Preserving therefore the inconfusedness and indivisibility, we make briefly this whole confession, believing our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of the Trinity and after the incarnation our true God, we say that his two natures shone forth in his one subsistence in which he both performed the miracles and endured the sufferings through the whole of his economic conversation, and that not in appearance only but in very deed, and this by reason of the difference of nature which must be recognized in the same Person, for although joined together yet each nature wills and does the things proper to it and that indivisibly and inconfusedly.  Wherefore we confess two wills and two operations, concurring most fitly in him for the salvation of the human race.

These things, therefore, with all diligence and care having been formulated by us, we define that it be permitted to no one to bring forward, or to write, or to compose, or to think, or to teach a different faith.  Whosoever shall presume to compose a different faith, or to propose, or teach, or hand to those wishing to be converted to the knowledge of the truth, from the Gentiles or Jews, or from any heresy, any different Creed; or to introduce a new voice or invention of speech to subvert these things which now have been determined by us, all these, if they be Bishops or clerics let them be deposed, the Bishops from the Episcopate, the clerics from the clergy; but if they be monks or laymen: let them be anathematized.

THE CREED OF 2 NICEA (787)

THE CREED OF 2 NICEA (AD 787)

To make our confession short, we keep unchanged all the ecclesiastical traditions handed down to us, whether in writing or verbally, one of which is the making of pictorial representations, agreeable to the history of the preaching of the Gospel, a tradition useful in many respects, but especially in this, that so the incarnation of the Word of God is shown forth as real and not merely phantastic, for these have mutual indications and without doubt have also mutual significations.

We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic Church (for, as we all know, the Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, and on the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God, of the honorable Angels, of all Saints and of all pious people.  For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honorable reverence (ἀσπασμὸν καὶ τιμητικὴν προσκύνησιν), not indeed that true worship of faith (λατρείαν) which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious custom.  For the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented.  For thus the teaching of our holy Fathers, that is the tradition of the Catholic Church, which from one end of the earth to the other hath received the Gospel, is strengthened.

Thus we follow Paul, who spake in Christ, and the whole divine Apostolic company and the holy Fathers, holding fast the traditions which we have received.  So we sing prophetically the triumphal hymns of the Church, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem.  Rejoice and be glad with all thy heart.  The Lord hath taken away from thee the oppression of thy adversaries; thou art redeemed from the hand of thine enemies.  The Lord is a King in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more, and peace be unto thee forever.”

Those, therefore who dare to think or teach otherwise, or as wicked heretics to spurn the traditions of the Church and to invent some novelty, or else to reject some of those things which the Church hath received (for example, the Book of the Gospels, or the image of the cross, or the pictorial icons, or the holy relics of a martyr), or evilly and sharply to devise anything subversive of the lawful traditions of the Catholic Church or to turn to common uses the sacred vessels or the venerable monasteries, if they be Bishops or Clerics, we command that they be deposed; if religious or laics, that they be cut off from communion.

THIS WEEK IN ORTHODOXY

Orthodox
News
Worldwide


Click Here:
http://myocn.net/orthodox-christian-video-programs/orthodox-news-worldwide/


Youtube: January 16, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPnJgzbOt-0

THE DIVINE LITURGY of the ORTHODOX CHURCH of ANTIOCH in ENGLISH

I play this video all the time while at home. High quality audio. May God bless you as you increasingly learn the Divine Liturgy.

CLICK HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VNdXMFleBM

ORTHODOX OPPOSITION TO THE CITIZEN'S CARD IN GREECE

The 24 Elders of Mt Athos who are spiritual children of Elder Paisios, and 14 Bishops, as well as many Orthodox Christians are opposed to the introduction of "New World Order" tactics, a Citizens Card, to create a tyrannical government that can control whether you can buy and sell. Listen to Fr. Peter explain what is happening in Greece and what is coming to the world near you.

www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/postcards/the_citizens_card_and_orthodox_opposition_in_greece_part_1

ALL ABOUT THE FEAST OF FEASTS

Simply Super!!! A website dedicated to everything Pascha.

AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION of HOLY PASCHA and the RESURRECTION of CHRIST!!!
Click on: www.feastoffeasts.org

THE ONE TRUE CHURCH

How can the Orthodox Church make the claim that they ARE "The One True Church". Listen to Fr. Thomas Hopko explain these claims.

Click on:
www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/the_one_true_church

MY JOURNEY INTO THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Pittsburgh's Jewish-born Nathanael Kapner tells his story of how he became a believer in Jesus Christ, and then how he found the fullness of the Christian Faith in the Orthodox Church.

5 Minute Video Testimony:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hjf4AUeBRc

TRANSFIGURATION OF PLACE

Listen to this thought provoking lecture by Fr. Stephen Damick on what you can do to transfigure your town or city to the Glory of God!!!

Click Here:
 www.ancientfaith.com/specials/st-tikhons_fall_lectures/transfiguration_of_place