tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1908072176406124456.post5166859015810580513..comments2024-02-03T17:54:52.026-08:00Comments on Eastern Christian Insights: Walking on the Water: Orthodox Homily for the Ninth Sunday After PentecostFather Philip LeMastershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802162495250481325noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1908072176406124456.post-9237679816535610402015-07-30T23:19:03.087-07:002015-07-30T23:19:03.087-07:00Kathleen, greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus ...Kathleen, greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to look for a friendly, canonical, Eastern Orthodox parish that serves in English or, at any rate, in a language you understand. I don't know if you live near an Orthodox Christian parish. If there is only one within driving distance, even if they serve in Greek or a language you do not understand, I would still recommend that you go to that church.<br /> Why would I say that? We Orthodox Christians believe that the Orthodox Church is that church which directly descends from the Apostles whose missionary work started in Jerusalem and eventually has spread throughout the world. Our bishops can historically trace their line of ordination back to the Apostles. Our bishops are consecrated to service as modern day apostles through the laying on of hands of at least two, or usually three bishops whose lineage of consecration descends from the Apostles to the present day as I already noted. You will recall that the Apostles themselves also established bishops, overseers of the local flocks of Christ<br />throught the "laying on of hands." The ORthodox Church continues this tradition to the present day.<br /> Even more importantly, we believe that we have not changed the doctrine and teachings that the Apostles taught and believed and that they received directly from Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ! Thus, the Orthodox Church has, and never has had a need for the Reformation or any other innovation to the faith handed down by the Apostles. Instead, we have kept the path of salvation faithfully, neither changing the ecclesiology or, as I repeat for emphasis, the teaching that Christ entrusted to his holy Apostles.<br /> In conclusion, I encourage once again to seek out an Orthodox parish where you can worship the Lord according to the way of life and faith he taught to his holy Apostles. Forgive me if this suggestion strikes you as presumptuous. I only desire to help you "work out your salvation" as St. Paul instructed us to do.<br /> With best wishes and prayers that God guide you,<br /> John S.JRCShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850601640098404778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1908072176406124456.post-23875525389648505582012-08-06T08:58:02.371-07:002012-08-06T08:58:02.371-07:00The blog post is very helpful for me because I am ...The blog post is very helpful for me because I am leaving the Episcopal Church. I am Church homeless again, but I believe this time around, I have more confidence in finding a new Church home.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08308330484838261553noreply@blogger.com