ΤΗΕ ROLE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
The
"normal" Orthodox and the rest of the Orthodox faithful?
Well,
what is now the difference between the "normal" Orthodox
(the purified ones) and the rest of the Orthodox faithful? Do they
differ in the dogma (doctrine)? Of course not, because all of us
Orthodox generally believe in the same dogmas;
we
all know that be believe in the right way. We have our creed, and we
truly recite
it correctly (with no alterations, additions or subtractions).
Needless to say, it counts only for those who know it.
Suppose
now, we are in a church, 300 Orthodox people, and we participate in
the Divine Liturgy. Out of these 300, let us suppose only five are in
a state of illumination. They have gone through the purification
process, cooperating with the Divine Grace, and have been illumined
by the Holy Spirit; just five of them! The rest, in our hypothesis,
are not illumined. They actually have no idea about what purification
is, as is usually the case...
So,
the question is: Among these 300 Orthodox, how many are the "normal"
ones?
Unfortunately,
“normal” are only those five mentioned above. It is tough to
admit, but it is the bitter truth! And, if we consider how many of
all Greek Orthodox go to church every Sunday, we will figure out it
is a mere 3%. Out of this 3%, how many know what it means to be
purified from the passions, so they can get into this process? And
how many of them have been successfully purified, in order to be
"normal" after all.
Do
you see?... Going to church or acting
orthodox (rituals) is not the only important thing. For example,
many of us think it is enough and we are OK, when
we
light up a candle and regularly call a priest for the Unction or the
Holy Water Service. We may probably attend spiritual homilies
(sermons) and even let our children regularly attend Sunday school.
All these are religious activities, but, if we do not purify
ourselves from our sinful passions and reach the state of
illumination, we are actually not "normal", we cannot be
considered
true
members of the Church.
Purification
and illumination are in fact specific conditions we can find
ourselves in and can be easily recognized by experienced and
illumined spiritual Fathers. There are truly certain criteria,
according to which we can verify a person's mental health and its
degree
of restoration. Orthodoxy
is a medical science.
The Church is the only medical praxis of the human soul and has
doctors: the spiritual Fathers and a head-Physician,
Himself our Lord Jesus Christ!
In
the Church we talk about realities, not about ideas and philosophical
theories. Since the nous
is a natural organ of a human being, of every human
being here
on earth, not only of the Greeks or the Orthodox, but also of the
Muslims and the Buddhists and all people around the Globe, it is most
evident that all of us have the same need for purification and
illumination. And this, because all
people's nous is darkened.
f. Savvas Agioreitis
To be continued...
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