[boatbums]

When the Protestants, even one particular sect of them, subscribe to the overwhelming teaching of the Holy Fathers on the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, or on the necessity of good works for salvation, or on the hierarchical and sacramental nature of the Church, then, dear, you can begin to compare the revolting heresies of Luther to the differences we Catholics have with the Holy Orthodox Church, or pretend that there is any illumination occurring in Protestant hearts.

Well, thank you, dear, but if you were really familiar with the majority of the early church fathers, you would acknowledge that they did NOT hold to those tenets you claim they do. One of THE most important ones being that salvation is by grace through faith alone APART from works. What you call "revolting heresies" of the Reformers such as Martin Luther CAN be traced back not only from many early church fathers but, critically, the Bible which states such in unequivocal terms. That the church of Rome perverted that doctrine and formalized it at Trent is revolting to me as well as, I am sure, the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul even calls it an "accursed" gospel. Scripture overrules what man's traditions have invented.

[annalex]

they did NOT hold to those tenets

Salvation is by grace alone while both faith and works are divine gifts in us constituting human response to grace.

[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,) [6] And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus. [7] That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; [9] Not of works, that no man may glory. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them. (Eph 2)

Show me a Father of the Church who taught salvation by faith alone in which good works play no role, but rather are a mere consequence of faith, and we can discuss if he meant the same thing as Luther or not.

Then, show me where Bible Alone is taught by the Fathers. Or where the Eucharist is taught to be a memorial snack rather than the sacrifice of Christ. Or where priests are taught to be merely pastors who explain the Bible. Or where saints are not to be venerated.

Till such time, stop whitewashing the Protestant error, buttering up to the Orthodox and slandering both Churches in the process.