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To: Kolokotronis; MarMema; AnalogReigns; jude24
Lest there be any misunderstanding, Lukaris was condemned by the Pan Orthodox Council at Jerusalem in 1672 as was Calvinism generally.

I am aware of that, certainly.

Though technically I believe (and here I offer correction humbly, and admit that I may be mistaken) that the Patriarch Cyril Lukaris, a much-beloved Anti-Turkish Patriot of the Greek Church, was never himself condemned; but rather, certain portions of his Confessions were rejected.

However, unless the 1672 Council is elevated to the status of the Seven General Councils, it seems to me that what we have here is a case of Dueling Patriarchs -- the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has offered his Confessions; and the Patriarch of Jerusalem has, in council with largely Middle-Eastern Bishops (The decisions of the Council were only later transmitted to Great Russia, or am I mistaken?), rejected them -- long after the Ecumenical Patriarch was murdered by Turks, and thus unable to defend his Confessions.

This would seem, at least to me, to raise two questions:

But we regard works not as witnesses certifying our calling, but as being fruits in themselves, through which faith becomes efficacious, and as in themselves meriting, through the Divine promises, that each of the faithful may receive what is done through his own body, whether it is good or bad."

I don't have a great many problems with this quotation. We Protestants will also agree, with the Orthodox and the Bible, that "Faith without Works, is Dead."

Indeed, provided that our mutual conception of the relation between Works (which are indeed "fruits in themselves", I wholly agree) and Efficacious Faith are understood in the light of the Old Orthodox "Canon to Jesus":

...Then, in that case, I should have no objection whatsoever to Eastern Orthodox Theology on Faith and Works.

Indeed, I don't think that any Calvinist would object.

Best, OP

76 posted on 01/20/2006 3:41:13 AM PST by OrthodoxPresbyterian (We are Unworthy Servants; We have only done Our Duty)
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To: OrthodoxPresbyterian

Bookmarked.


88 posted on 01/20/2006 6:27:12 AM PST by AlbionGirl ('If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law. "- Churchill)
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