DOCSLIB.ORG

The Twain Shall Meet!

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Twain Shall Meet! The Twain Shall Meet! Fr. V.C. Jose Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel is an unparalleled cosmic Guru of the twentieth century who broke the barriers of time and space and attained the privileged position of a twentieth century Church Father of the oriental, Eastern, Roman Catholic and protestant Churches across the world. Fr. Dr. V.C. Samuel was born in a family owing allegiance to the Patriarchate of Antioch (Bava Kakshi). In the beginning Achen was an ardent advocate of Antiochene faith and was initially associated with the patriarchal faction as a re-interpreter of Indian Church history and was with Mar Yulios, Metropolitan at Manjinikkara Dayara. Samuel Achen however found that the positions held by Mar Yulios and the Patriarch was against the truth and opposed to historical facts. In his quest for certainly Achen discovered that the theory that the Malankara Orthodox Church was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch was a riddled with contradictions, contravenes the principles of early Christianity, was against the Christian spirit enshrined in the Bible and against the established norms of Church History. He therefore broke the conventional faith of his family and his allegiance to Antiochene faction. Leaving Manjinikkara he undertook several years of study in theology and Church History to conclude that the Malankara Church (Metran Kakshi - Allegiance to the Catholicos of India) is an independent, autocephalous church on Indian soil upholding and preserving the principles of church autonomy and autocephaly. His research was based on scientific and logical grounds rather than on blind beliefs or oral/baseless traditions, proving that the Indian Church, established by St. Thomas, was the independent and was historically free from foreign dominations. During the fifth century the unity of the church was first disturbed in the year 451 AD at the Council of Chalcedon. The Fathers of the Church could not arrive at a consensus or agree to preserve the unity of the church over the controversy of the divine / human nature of Jesus Christ. The decision of the council explaining the existence two separate natures in Christ led to the parting of ways of the early Christians. Those accepting the council decision were called Chalcedonians whilst those rejecting it were called Non-Chalcedonians. The two sides condemned and excommunicated each other and the church got divided for the first time in history. The Churches which rejected the council decisions were in time called the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the ones that accepted the decision were the Catholic Church and the Byzantine Churches. Later in the year 1054 AD over another controversy the Byzantine (Greek) and other Orthodox Churches presently called the Eastern Orthodox Churches split and left the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately from the fifth century onwards till the twentieth century the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches continued to view each other with suspicion and enmity, with the Chalcedonians calling the other as monophysites and the non-Chalcedonians calling other as diophysites. Nearly 1500 years after separation, during the twentieth century, Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel, of the Indian Orthodox church, after extensive research and deep study of the early councils, with special reference to the Council of Chalcedon established that there were not many differences between the positions of the Orthodox Churches. Petty social, cultural, political and other aspects more than theology played a significant part in the failure of the Council of Chalcedon. The book "Council of Chalcedon Re- examined" delves deeply into the ancient councils and the position of the Church Fathers. With this study Dr. V. C. Samuel cleared all doubts and established the fact that essentially there were no differences between Chalcedonians and Noon-Chalcedonians. As an authority on Christology, Achen became acceptable to church scholars in the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches alike. Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel is regarded as the greatest Christologian after the fifth century and it is our pride that this Cosmic Guru emerged from the great Indian soil which is one of the homes of Oriental Orthodoxy. Fr. Dr. v. c. Samuel who bridged the separation among Christian Churches after fifteen centuries was a great thinker, researcher and above all an intellect unparalleled. Samuel Achen always urged his students to think scientifically and make key inferences through keen observations and studies rather than simple acceptance of unsubstantiated beliefs. He was unwilling to endorse any school of thought or tradition without sufficient critical analysis. He understood that the first foreign contact of the Indian Church was with the Persian church in the fourth century AD. This was followed by its subjection to Roman Catholic Church in the fifteenth century. The Indian church was never under the Patriarchate till the oath of the Coonan Cross in the year 1653 AD. Studying and scrutinizing all the available documents and historical evidences Achen eliminated all illogical traditions, superficial personal attractions, allegiances to foreign heads. He proved with authenticity that Indian Church was independent and should govern itself with its own head, progress and prosper day by day on the Indian soil and elsewhere spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ by fulfilling the mission of Christ's Incarnation, developing its own unique style of orthodox theology and worship befitting the Indian heritage and culture, like other Orthodox Christian communities around the world. During the first four or five centuries the Church in the Mediterranean/ Latin world developed their own traditions, whilst the Greek Church in the East had their own. Although the common ground of faith binds these churches their practices differed influenced by their unique cultural and linguistic variations. The practices and traditions of the Greek Church were also adopted by many churches in the East. Samuel Achen opined that Christianity in India is mature and therefore, before adopting either Greek or Latin or any other traditions, we should analyse them critically. Simply copying of other churches’ traditions and other practices without scrutiny or study was unacceptable. The Indian Church had to evolve in the Indian context without losing common faith, heritage and beauty of Christianity. Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel never appreciated the Indian scholars and Church leaders who placed utmost admiration of Greek Orthodoxy. As an oriental Orthodox theologian Dr. V. C. Samuel Achen knew the strength of Oriental Orthodoxy. Whilst he was the greatest defender of Oriental Orthodoxy he also taught us the place of Malankara Orthodox in the Indian sub-continent and in the world Christianity. In the year 1989, I came across some people of the Ahmadiya movement who claimed that the tomb of Jesus was in Kashmir. They believed that Jesus did not die on the cross, but became unconscious on the cross and was laid in the tomb. His disciples, they said his body from the tomb and when Jesus became conscious made him escape to Kashmir in India. In Kashmir they said that Jesus led a normal life for several years and died a natural death and was buried in a tomb that is still in Kashmir. They argued that if this tomb was tested and the story confirmed the very foundations of Christianity would be shaken. I was till then unaware of this sect and teachings therefore I wrote to Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel for clarification. In his reply Achen explained that any theory should be based on scientific grounds with the scriptures of concerned religions being taken into consideration. He reasoned that the picture of Jesus in the Gospels is different from the picture of a prophet or a Siddha. Understanding the Bible is required for the appreciation of either the person of Christ or his teaching as given in New Testament. Dr. Samuel continued to explain with the story of Jonah taken as a parable with Jonah being swallowed by a whale and being belched out alive on the third day. Jesus rose again after his death on the third day. That Jesus died needs no proof for if he lived on earth, He has definitely died. The New Testament sees that death to be an event where God manifests His love for mankind. "A hanged man is accused by God" (Deuteronomy 21:23) and a hanged man is a criminal and is therefore accursed. Whilst Jesus was crucified he was not a criminal yet for our sins, for our salvation he died on the cross and God demonstrated his love by raising him from the dead. In the year 1981, as a Pre-University student, I had the opportunity to listen to the talks of Rev. Fr. Dr. V. c. Samuel at St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Bangalore, where I attended the church services. The messages of Samuel Achen were extremely simple, touching and practical. His concern for the younger generation was aptly demonstrated when he used to summarize his Malayalam talk in English to ensure that the children did not miss the essence of the day's sermon. This gesture of concern for the children and those who did not fully comprehend Malayalam touched me. The messages of Achen were always filled with immense love, concern and affection. It had a cooling / soothing effect on me which with the passage of time turned to admiration of the man, his genius and his mastery over History and his insight into events that were almost as old as Christianity itself. After I reached the seminary I was delighted to learn that Samuel Achen was the Dean of the seminary faculty. I was overwhelmed for the greatest teacher of my teens Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel Achen the master of Christology and Church History was my teacher.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Role of Syriac in India Before the Portuguese Period
    ARAM, 21 (2009) 289-321. doi: 10.2143/ARAM.21.0.2047097 CLASSICAL SYRIAC AS A MODERN LINGUA FRANCA IN SOUTH INDIA BETWEEN 1600 AND 20061 Dr. ISTVÁN PERCZEL (University of Tübingen & Central European University, Budapest) I. INTRODUCTION: THE ROLE OF SYRIAC IN INDIA BEFORE THE PORTUGUESE PERIOD In South India there lives one of the most ancient Christian communities of the world. According to its own founding traditions it consists of two ele- ments: a majority descending from autochthonous Indian populations, among whom the first members were converted – according to tradition – by the Apostle Saint Thomas, and a minority descending from Syrian colonists who – once again according to the local tradition – arrived in India through the sea routes from Persia using the monsoon winds. These two communities are called the Northists (Vadakkumbhagar), that is, the autochthonous Indians, and 1 In whatever new material is presented in this study, the author has no personal merit. This material is the fruit of the joint efforts of a team, which, recently, has founded an Indian Asso- ciation for the Preservation of the Saint Thomas Christian Heritage. Unfortunately, each and every one of those who are working in the folds of and for this Association cannot be remem- bered by name. To mention only a few among many, particular gratitude is due on the part of the author to the following: to Mar Aprem, Honorary President of the Association, to whom he owes all his knowledge on the Chaldean Syrian Church in Thrissur and its antecedents, as well as on its documents; to His Beatitude, Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of India, who gave him access to Syrian Orthodox collections and inscrip- tions and who graciously allowed their publication; to Cardinal Joseph Varkey Vittayatthil and Bishop Thomas Chakiath, who gave him access to the Syro-Malabar collections; to the Prior and the Librarian of Saint Joseph’s Monastery Mannanam, Frs.
    [Show full text]
  • Bonner Querschnitte Bonn Profiles – Press Reports
    Bonner Querschnitte Bonn Profiles – Press Reports Phone: +49 / 4106 / 804806; Fax: +49 / 4106 / 804807 E-Mail: [email protected]; http://www.bucer.org/bq.html Released for free complete or partial reproduction A joint platform for the following Bonn organi- BQ 369 – No. 33/2015 zations on the basis of the Evangelical Alliance: Commission for Religious Opening of the new Armenian Genocide Freedom of the German and the Austrian Evangelical Museum in Byblos Alliance www.ead.de/akref Culture and Science Publ. Schirrmacher brings greetings from the General www.vkwonline.com Secretary of the WEA Giving Hands – (Bonn, 01.09.2015) On the occasion of the opening of the new Genocide Museum in International Charity Byblos, Lebanon and the official centennial commemoration of the Armenian genocide www.gebende-haende.de held by the Armenian Orthodox Church, the World Evangelical Alliance assured the Help Worldwide – gathering of patriarchs International Charity and leaders of churches www.hilfe-weltweit.de from the Middle East that Institute for Prolife and Family they can count on the Studies solidarity and support of www.bucer.de/ilfw the WEA. In an appeal, signed by the General International Institute for Islamic Studies of the World Secretary of the WEA, Evangelical Alliance Bp. Efraim Tendero (The www.islaminstitute.net Philippines), and presented by Thomas International Institute for Religious Freedom of the Schirrmacher, the WEA World Evangelical Alliance challenged Christianity www.iirf.eu from the entire world to work together to prevent Martin Bucer Seminary www.bucer.org the complete expulsion of Thomas Schirrmacher bringing greetings from the WEA Christian churches from Pro Mundis e.
    [Show full text]
  • First Page Vol 4.Pmd
    Martyrs, Saints & Prelates of The Syriac Orthodox Church Volume IV Cor-Episcopo K. Mani Rajan, M.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D. J. S. C. Publications Patriarchal Centre Puthencruz 2016 Blank Dedicated to the blessed memory of Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (AD 1933 - 1914) Patriarch of Antioch & All the East Martyrs, Saints & Prelates of The Syriac Orthodox Church (Volume IV) Cor-Episcopo K. Mani Rajan, M.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D. First Edition 2016 Copyright Reserved All rights reserved. No reproduction or translation in whole or part is allowed without written permission from the author. Price Rs. 90.00 U.S. $ 10.00 Typesetting and Cover Design by: Santhosh Joseph Printed at: Dona Colour Graphs, Kottayam Published By: J. S. C. Publications MD Church Centre, Patriarchal Centre Puthencruz, Kerala, India Phone: + 91 484 2255581, 3299030 Copies: 1000 iv Contents Apostolic Bull ................................................................ vii Preface ...........................................................................ix Acknowledgement ..........................................................xi Abbreviations used ........................................................ xiii 1. St. Simeon, the Aged & Morth Hannah .................. 01 2. St. Joseph of Arimathea ......................................... 03 3. St. Longinus, the Martyr......................................... 05 4. Sts.Shmuni, her seven children and Eliazar ........... 07 5. St. Evodius, The Patriarch of Antioch, Martyr .......... 11 6. St. Barnabas, the Apostle .....................................
    [Show full text]
  • SEIA NEWSLETTER on the Eastern Churches and Ecumenism
    SEIA NEWSLETTER On the Eastern Churches and Ecumenism _______________________________________________________________________________________ Number 187: April 30, 2011 Washington, DC Death of the Major Archbishop of state. "I was deeply saddened to hear of the the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church The Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern death of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Ma- Catholic Church, traces its origin to St. jor Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly. I Thomas the Apostle. The Vatican made the offer you, the clergy, religious and lay faith- HURCH LEADERS ARE MOURNING Syro-Malabar Church self-governing in ful of the entire Syro-Malabar Church my THE DEATH OF CARDINAL VARKEY 1992, but retained the right to decide on deepest condolences and the assurance of CVITHAYATHIL , HEAD OF THE SYRO - administrative matters for Syro-Malabar my prayers. I recall with gratitude the car- MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH . dioceses outside Kerala. dinal's dedication and service to the Syro- The cardinal, who headed the Syro- The late cardinal was ordained major Malabars and to the universal Church. I Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam- archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in join you and all who mourn him, including Angamaly, collapsed while celebrating 1997, when the Eastern church was divided the members of the late cardinal's family, in Mass April 1 and was rushed to a nearby over its liturgical patrimony and the bi- commending his soul to the infinite mercy hospital, where he died, reported the Asian shops were divided into two camps. of God our loving Father. To all assembled church news agency UCA News. The 84- In 2006, the cardinal reiterated his call for the solemn funeral liturgy, I cordially year-old prelate had suffered from heart for more rights for Syro-Malabar Catholics.
    [Show full text]
  • 9783631654606 Toc 003.Pdf
    Table of Contents General Introduction .................................................................................................15 List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................21 Part 1 The Position of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on Ecclesiology in her ecumenical Relationship with the Catholic Church ...................................23 Chapter 1: The Ecclesiology of the Church of St Thomas Christians in the pre-Portuguese period ...........................................27 1.1 The Areas of Agreement with the Catholic Church ...................................... 27 1.1.1 The Origin of the Church of St Thomas Christians ..........................28 1.1.2 The Faith and Practice of the Church of St Thomas Christians ......38 1.1.3 The Absence of Division in the Church of St Thomas Christians till the Arrival of the Portuguese Missionaries ...............41 1.1.4 The alleged Antiochian Relation of the Church of St Thomas Christians .......................................................................44 1.1.5 The hierarchical Relation and ecclesial Affinity with the Church of the East: No Obstacle to the Identity and administrative Autonomy in the Church of St Thomas Christians ...........................50 1.1.6 Mar Thoma Margam (the Way of Thomas): the ecclesial Patrimony of the Church of St Thomas Christians ...........................63 1.1.6.1 The Development of the indigenous ecclesial Identity of the St Thomas Christians .....................................65
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded for Personal Non-Commercial Research Or Study, Without Prior Permission Or Charge
    R Knight, Sarah (2019) Narratives of religious identity: the self-perception of the Jacobite Syrian Christians of Kerala. https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/34855/ Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. Narratives of religious identity: the self-perception of the Jacobite Syrian Christians of Kerala Volume I Sarah Knight Thesis submitted for the Degree of PhD in the Study of Religions 2019 Department of the Study of Religions and Philosophies School of Oriental and African Studies University of London Abstract This thesis examines the question of the religious self-definition of the Jacobite Syrian Christian community in Kerala. The leading question is: to what extent does the indigenous narrative of that community about their religious identity differ from existing dominant historical accounts? It examines texts in Malayalam from the Jacobite Syrian Christians, particularly the unpublished 18th century Mathai Vettikkunnel manuscript, in order to investigate the narrative of their religious identity, in the context of existing scholarly discourse.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of the Ecclesiology and the Political Theology of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Autoceph
    The development of the Ecclesiology and the Political Theology of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church in response to Muslim Christian relations in the contemporary context of modern Greece and Turkey until 2014 Nikolaos-Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos Heythrop College, University of London PhD September 2015 1 Abstract Muslims and Christians have been in a challenging symbiotic existence for a long period in many parts of South-Eastern Europe and the Middle East (Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria). The relations of Christian and Muslim communities of each south-eastern European country are unique because of the diverse political, cultural, and socio-economic background of each nation, which however influences one another despite an often shared Ottoman background. The present study investigates the relations between Muslim and Christian communities in the contemporary context of modern Greece and Turkey, which have received many political, governmental, cultural, geographical, and religious influences leading them to the present relational shape. The thesis proposes that a distinct ecclesial development has taken place in the contemporary status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church in response to Muslim- Christian relations in modern Turkey and Greece, especially after the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832 and the Republic of Turkey in 1923. In addition, the thesis investigates the modern historical context of the States of Greece and Turkey especially as it relates to the minority question under the light of reciprocity and the International Treaties, Conventions, and the Declaration of Human Rights. Greece, where the prevailing religion is Eastern Orthodoxy, accommodates within its borders an official recognised Muslim minority based in Western Thrace as well as other Muslim populations located at major Greek urban centres and the Islands of the Aegean Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • The Church of the East
    THE CHURCH OF THE EAST The Church of the East is currently the only complete history in English of the East Syriac Church. It covers the periods of the Sas- sanians, Arabs, Mongols, Ottomans, and the twentieth century, with information about the Syriac, Iranian, and Chinese documentation of this unique and almost forgotten part of Christendom. “This is an important book. It tells the story concisely of the ‘Church of the East’ . established in east Syria but principally in Parthia beyond Rome’s eastern frontier.... It was associated with the doctrinal view of the deposed patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, and was known as the Nestorian Church.... Today, it has survived as a small minority in parts of Persia and Iraq, and it has more adherents in the US than in its ancient homeland.... This is the best short history of the Church of the East to date . a fine, scholarly work, bringing to the notice of students the wealth of the spiritual and theological legacy as well as the sheer missionary drive of this now half-forgotten Church. As a book it will not easily be replaced, and it is a credit to its authors and publishers alike.” W. H. C. Frend, University of Cambridge “There has long been a need for a reliable book in English on the history of the Church of the East which also gives good coverage to the position of this ancient Syriac Church in the context of modern ecumenical discussion. It is most welcome that this need is now met by Baum and Winkler in this translation of their German book.” Sebastian Brock, University of Oxford “Baum and Winkler have done us good service in providing this easily accessible account of the Church of the East ..
    [Show full text]
  • 5Th Sunday After Pentecost
    EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS PARISH UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1967- 2019 Парафія Воздвиження Чесного Хреста УКРАЇНСЬКА КАТОЛИЦЬКА ЦЕРКВА PARISH BULLETIN № 31. SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019 A.D. th All Saints Sunday Today’s Gospel is one of the most tragic of any and all of 5 SundayНеділя afterВсіх Святих Pentecost Scripture because it really, in a nutshell, shows how people’s lives are lost. They’re lost by just living their life, not thinking of God, doing what they want to do, and then they die. And most of them will not know what they have missed until the Judgment. What a tragedy. This tragedy is happening in our lives too. Every time that we choose the wrong way, we are like the people or the Geresenes because we are losing an opportunity for sanctity, for blessedness. Saint Peter seized upon these opportunities for blessedness. The Lord said, “Who does everybody think I am?” So the Apostles say, some say you are John the Baptist, some say Elias, one of the prophets. Simon HOLY MYSTERIES Peter with courage seized on the moment and said, You are the Christ. CONFESSION: Now, it doesn’t matter that later on he obviously 30 minefore the Divine Liturgy or by wavered in his faith. He’s human. But when he could, he appointment did what was right and that is what made Peter great. HOLY COMMUNION: for the sick, by appointment, any time We must, when we can, do what is right. Because there are so many times we do what is wrong, we must seize BAPTISM: by appointment MARRIAGE: six months notice should upon the moment.
    [Show full text]
  • G H H H HH H H H Ignatius Zakka I Iwas We Extend Our Apostolic
    PATRIARCHAL ENCYCLICAL ˆ ˋ ˎˆ ˆ ˎ ˆ ˋˎij ˆˋ ˋ ˓ˆ ˋij ˎˋˆ ˋ ˎ ˑİ ˘ˆ ˋ ˏ ˎˍˋ In The Name Of The Self-Existent Eternal, Omnipotent and Almighty God Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Patriarch Of The Apostolic See Of Antioch And All The East Supreme Head Of The Universal Syriac Orthodox Church The Thirteen Hundred Years Commemoration For the Passing Away of St. Jacob of Edessa (708+) unto the heavenly Abodes The Apostle Paul says: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith”. (Hebrews 13:7) We extend our apostolic benediction, best wishes and greetings to our brothers, His Beatitude Mor Basselios Thomas I, Catholicos of India, the Eminent Metropolitans; our spiritual children the venerable diocesan vicars, Very Reverend and Reverend priests, monks, deacons, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox people. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen. Dearly beloved… after inquiring about your welfare, we ask the Lord Almighty to keep you in perfect health of body and soul and grant you success in all your endeavors. On the occasion of the thirteen hundredth year for the passing away of St. Jacob of Edessa unto the heavenly abodes, it pleases us to declare this year, 2008, as the year of St. Jacob of Edessa throughout our Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. As we issue this Apostolic Encyclical, we would like to contemplate on the glorious life of this saint: St.
    [Show full text]
  • Collected Writings on Orthodox Christianity Various Aspects of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches ______
    Collected Writings on Orthodox Christianity Various Aspects of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches _____________________________________ GEORGE ALEXANDER OCP Publications www.theorthodoxchurch.info Also by George Alexander Orthodox Church of the East in the Twenty first Century: Challenges and Opportunities Living Conditions of the Migrant Workers in the Construction Sector Forest Management: Aspects of Community Participation The Orthodox Dilemma An OCP Publication Copyright © OCP Publications and George Alexander 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright owners. OCP Publications Alappuzha District Kerala India First Edition November 2014 Second Edition June 2016 OCP Publication is the publication division of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society. The OCP Publications name and logo belongs to OCP Society. Cover Page: Hagios Demetrios Church, Thessaloniki, Greece You can write to us [email protected] [email protected] Visit us at www.ocpbooks.simplesite.com www.theorthodoxchurch.info IBAN- 9781365153198 Disclaimer This book contains collected writings of different authors on the various aspects of Orthodox Christianity. Individual authors are only responsible for their contributions and not for the entire publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites or their content that does not belong to the publisher. Preface & Acknowledgement I am happy to present the second edition of this book, which consists of selected reflections, articles, interviews and letters by various authors on different topics related to Orthodox Christianity. This material was prepared in connection to my work and experiences with Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE, a Pan-Orthodox organization, were I have been one of the founders.
    [Show full text]
  • MARTYROLOGY the Demographics of Christian Martyrdom, AD 33–AD 2001
    Part 4 MARTYROLOGY The demographics of Christian martyrdom, AD 33–AD 2001 People will do to you exactly what they did to me. —Jesus to his disciples (John 15:21, Contemporary English Version) We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ. —Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:5, Contemporary English Version) I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne... And I heard the number of the sealed: 144,000. —Revelation 6:9, 7:4, RSV; Sealing of the Martyrs Martyrdom is a charism of the Spirit. —C. H. Pinnock, Flame of love: a theology of the Holy Spirit, 1996 Demographics is both a science and an art. Part 4 applies this knowledge to a startling phenomenon: the killings of 70 mil- lion Christians across the centuries and in every country. The data are sufficiently dense, detailed, and incontrovertible that this Part arrives at firm totals and trends. Even ongoing rates of martyrdom are calculated, which bishops, evangelists, for- eign missionaries, clergy, church leaders, as well as layper- sons should be prepared to face. The demographics of Christian martyrdom, AD 33-AD 2001 AN OVERVIEW OF MARTYRDOM Graphic 4-1. Location of the 76 worst situations of mass martyrdom in Christian history (all with over 100,000 martyrs each). This section of the survey presents the evidence for the startling conclusion that, over the 20 centuries of the Christian faith, some 70 million Christians have been murdered for that faith and hence are called martyrs.
    [Show full text]