The Reformed Ninja

Following upon the previous article's  discussion of the ritual anathemas called to be pronounced annually on all non-Eastern Orthodox Christians, the question of the Sigillion of 1583's authenticity, especially with its anathemas, involves a few key details which, if glossed over, will lead to an erroneous conclusion regarding the canonicity of its contents. A helpful study of this was done in 2011, entitled, "The 'Sigillion' of 1583 Against 'the Calendar Innovation of the Latins': Myth or Reality?"  This 2011 study contains many valuable details that help to establish the question of the authenticity of the anathemas.  Regarding the occasion of the study, the bishop (Cyprian of Oreoi) who wrote this oft-cited study that purportedly showed the Sigillion was a "forgery," was part of a "non-canonical" Orthodox group called "the Holy Synod in Resistance." This group dissolved in 2014 when it joined another independent Ort...

What is the significance of, and upon what ground does Gregory Palamas establish, both his soteriology and his ascetical theology of hesychasm? The answer may come as a surprise. Gregory Palamas teaches of the blessed virgin Mary: “She alone forms the boundary between created and uncreated nature, and no one can come to God except through her and the mediator born of her, and none of God’s gifts can be bestowed on angels or men except through her. As in the case with lamps on earth constructed of glass or some other transparent material, it is impossible to look at the light or enjoy its rays except through the lamp, so it is beyond the reach of all to look upwards to God or be helped by Him to make progress in any direction, except through the Ever-Virgin, this God-bearing lamp who is truly radiant with divine brightness.” (The Homilies, "On the Entrance into the Temple," 53.37, pg 431; cf. Homily 37.15, 17, 18, pgs 296-297) The relevant portion of Homily 37, "On the D...

Two principle quotations from Irenaeus give the strong appearance of a high Mariology. The question remains: How high? Let us first give the two quotations: 1. “Eve was disobedient; for she did not obey when as yet she was a virgin. And even as she, having indeed a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless as yet a virgin... having become disobedient, [Eve] was made the cause of death, both to herself and to the entire human race ; so also did Mary, having a man betrothed [to her], and being nevertheless a virgin, by yielding obedience, become the cause of salvation, both to herself and the whole human race .” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies , Book 3, Chapter 22, Paragraph 4) 2. “And thus, as the human race fell into bondage to death by means of a virgin, so is it rescued by a virgin ; virginal disobedience having been balanced in the opposite scale by virginal obedience.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies , Book 5, Chapter 19, Paragraph 1) The first thing to note is the use of typology and recapitu...

Cyprian’s treatise, On the Unity of the Church , is a fascinating window into mid-3rd Century Church dynamics. Written in 251, it immediately followed upon the heels of the recently enthroned Roman emperor Decius’ persecution of Christians. The persecution lasted for over a year, ending with the fortuitous death of Decius himself. Briefly, and without putting too fine a point on it, what caused the Christians to be persecuted was that they, along with all other Roman citizens (Jews being exempted), were to give ritual, sacrificial tribute to Decius, one which included the acknowledging of the validity of the pagan gods. Many faithful Christians died for refusal to comply, a good number went into hiding, and another number lapsed in their faith by participating in the sacrificial tribute.  Among those who lapsed in their faith, many sought readmittance into the Church. This created no small controversy, with a famous presbyter and theologian named Novatian famously speaking out aga...