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Holy Fathers of 4th Ecumenical Council Ocala, July 15, 2007 Today, we commemorate the 618 Bishops and Holy Fathers who convened the 4th Ecumenical Council in the year 431 A.D. at Chalcedon, a city outside of Constantinople. I think we remember, that there are 7 Ecumenical Councils, in which all the ancient 5 Dioceses, or Patriarchates were represented; that is, Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt. These Councils were convened, to interpret and register the Dogmas of the Church, being that some verses of the New Testament were undefined, and erroneously taught be eloquent Bishops and Priests, only because, they voiced their opinion regarding the interpretation of Bible passages. Their teachings were heretic, and thus, posed great dangers for the Church, being that they indoctrinated so many of their followers. All these 7 Ecumenical Councils, were held during the first 8 Centuries of Christendom, and were convened in and around Constantinople. It is noted, that most of our Christian Theology emanated from the East, that is, Asia Minor, today's Turkey, the Middle East and the northern part of Africa. Theology came from the East, whereas Rome in the West, was largely responsible for the implementation of the rules. Until 1054 A.D. it was the One, Holy, Catholic, (that is, "universal,") and Apostolic Church. But, the Pope's Emissary, Cardinal Humbert laid the Bull of excommunication of the Eastern Church on the Holy Altar of Haghia Sophia, during the Liturgy on July 20th, of that year. Thus, the East had no choice. The 4 Patriarchates, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria met, and counter-excommunicated the Pope and His Church. The four Ancient Patriarchates of the East have remained united since the founding of the Lord's Church in 33 A.D., until the present day. That is why, I was so perplexed on Wednesday, July 1 0th as to what the Pope's reasoning was, to make the statements that he did. And at a time, when we are seeking to come together. I read to you the Letter I sent to our local Editor of the Daytona's News Journal I also sent a copy to our Archbishop, and to all our Metropolitans, of America hoping that they use their high position to express the truth. People have to be informed and enlightened. If there is no answer to the Pope's statement registered, people will believe what they have read. During the past generations, great strides were made in the Roman Catholic-Eastern Orthodox Church Consultations. But now, I presume that the timetable will be pushed far into the future, because of the Pope's unfounded statement. We have to be very proud of being Members. of the Body of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which has kept the fullness and the purity of the Christian Church, for over 2000 years, in complete unity, and undivided. It is the Holy Spirit, described as the Comforter, which the Lord promised before His Ascension, that as the Comforter, would be the Overseer of the Church, so that the Church would be kept infallible, as had happened during the Seven Ecumenical Councils. It is so important for us to study the Scriptures. It is then, that we can realize the great beauty of the Church, for which the Lord gave His Life. Just listen to the last two verses of the Apostle St. Peter's 2nd Epistle: "Above all, you must understand, that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the Prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy, never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" 2 Peter 20-21. These prophecies, or teachings, were inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that they became part of the Divine Tradition, and therefore they are infallible, as opposed to the personal interpretations of individuals of the various Denominations, that are so fragmented. We do remember, that immediately after His Holy Resurrection, the Lord appeared in the midst of His Disciples, even though the doors and windows were secured, and blessing them He said: "Peace be unto you; receive the Holy Spirit; Whosoever sins you forgive shall be forgiven, and whosoever sins you will not forgive, they shall not be forgiven.." John 20:22.In the Holy Scriptures we read that the white Dove depicts the Holy Spirit. We see it, when the Lord is Baptized in the River Jordan, by St. John the Baptist. In the 1St Chapter of St. John's Gospel, verses 32-34, the Baptist St. John gives this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from Heaven as a Dove, and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except, that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'the Man on whom you see the Spirit as a Dove come down and remain , is He, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit! I have seen this, and I testify, that this is the Son of God." I'm sure that we understand the clarity of the Gospels, when the Baptist St. John differentiates between "Baptisms," when he states, that God had sent him to baptize with water, which was only a symbolic -cleansing, whereas, Jesus was to Baptize with the Holy Spirit to grant salvation to the believers. Thus, the Holy Spirit as a Dove, was visibly present during the Lord's Baptism. Another important point we discern, is the persistence of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned in verse 32, the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove remained on Jesus. And since that time, as the Comforter, has remained, and never left the Church as Her Overseer. The Dove is also recognized as a symbol of peace, when we see the Dove holding in its beak a small olive branch, This is reminiscent, that the destructive deluge in the days of Noah had come to an end, because the Dove was able to break off an olive branch, to show Noah, that the catastrophic deluge was over. Genesis 8:11. Besides the portrayal of the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove, we see in the Scriptures the portrayal of Jesus as the Lamb of God. In the 1St Chapter of St. John's Gospel, verse 29, the Baptist seeing the Lord Jesus approaching him for His Baptism states: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!" The lamb is perhaps the most beneficial of all the animals for humankind. It is gentle, it is humble, it is not cunning or scheming. It symbolizes the simplicity of the Lord. When mature, the lamb gives its wool to provide clothing to warm humans. Symbolically, in order to bring protection and warmth to the souls of humans, Jesus shed the mantle of Heaven and the robes of glory to walk as Man among humans. He discounted His sacrifice and gladly accepted the fact, as He stated: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head!" Matthew 8:20 At a most critical time, we see the Lord silent as the lamb, fulfilling the Prophecy of Isaiah, who foretold the abuse and sufferings of the Lord at His trial. Over 800 years before Christ, we read in Isaiah's Old Testament Book, Chapter 53, verses 7 and 8, the following: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb before the shearer is dumb, He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation justice was denied Him." What a supreme example for all, when in this life we seek to avenge ourselves, reflecting very little of the forgiving, patient, and loving attitude of our Lord. "Jesus was our Passover Lamb, Who sacrificed Himself for us" states St. Paul in his 1St Corinthians 5:7. In St. Peter's 1st Epistle, 1:18-19 we read: "For you know, it was not with perishable things, such as silver or gold, that you were redeemed from the empty way of life, handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect." Of course St. Peter was addressing the Hebrews. Though we can never attain the perfection of Jesus, each of us knows perhaps, certain spots and blemishes, which we could remove from our life, and thereby strengthen our testimony. From the earliest days of Biblical history, the docile lamb has been the vehicle of repentance through which, men offered their sacrifice. Representing innocence, the sacrificial lamb symbolized man's confession, that he had destroyed innocence in his own life and needed forgiveness. It also meant a definite sacrifice of a person's material possessions. Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us, as quoted from St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians. And in His own sacrifice, the Lord prayed for the forgiveness of those, who were destroying the world's purest embodiment of innocence. His Sacrifice negates the need for any further animal sacrifices, but appeals to all of us, to present ourselves to Him, as "living sacrifices." Romans 12:1 Our inexhaustible spiritual treasure as Orthodox Christians is constantly flowing from the teachings and the sacrifices of the Holy Fathers of our Holy Church, whom we honor today, who helped lay firm the sub-foundations and foundations of our Holy Church, and who bequeathed to us, this incomparable spiritual Treasure. Let us prove ourselves worthy of their toils. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas
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