Month: June 2015

Social Trinity?

Steve Holmes has a post worth reading, reflecting upon the recent book, One God in Three Persons: Unity of Essence, Distinction of Persons, Implications for Life. The book in question seeks to defend the ‘eternal submission of the Son to the Father,’ a controversial theological position that nonetheless plays an important role in many contemporary defences of complementarianism. The book presents an assortment of theological, exegetical, and historical arguments for the position, from a number of writers who advocate various—and occasionally opposing—forms of the doctrine.

Holmes is fairly scathing in his treatment of the book, not merely on account of his principled opposition to complementarianism, but also on account of his theological concerns as a leading Trinitarian scholar (I recommend that anyone interested in Holmes’ perspective on the current state of Trinitarian theology read his book The Quest for the Trinity: The Doctrine of God in…

February 27 is the Commemoration Saint Thalelaues the Hermit of Syria

“Saint Thalelaeus lived during the fifth century. He was a native of Cilicia (Asia Minor), became a monk at the monastery of St Sava the Sanctified, and was ordained presbyter there. Later on, he moved to Syria, not far from the city of Habala, he found a dilapidated pagan temple surrounded by graves, and he settled there in a tent. This place had a rough reputation, since the unclean spirits residing there frightened travellers and caused them much harm.
Here the monk lived, praying day and night in total solitude. The demons often assailed the saint, trying to terrify him with sights and sounds. But by the power of God the saint ultimately gained victory over the power of the Enemy, after which he was troubled no more. He then intensified his efforts even more: he built a hut…

February 22 is the commemoration of St Baradates (Baradatus).

St Baradates (died circa 460) was a hermit who lived in the Diocese of Cyrrhus in Syria, and whose bishop, Theodoret, called him “the admirable Baradates.” Baradates lived in a tiny hut, too small for him to stand upright, and he wore a leather garment that exposed only his mouth and nose. He was said to have been very learned, particularly in theology. Emperor Leo wrote him, asking his advice regarding the Council of Chalcedon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baradates

Saint Baradates the Syrian began to live as a desert-dweller in a hut near Antioch. He then built a stone cell upon a hill, so cramped and low that the ascetic could stand in it only in a stooped position. It had neither window nor door, and the wind, rain and cold came in through the cracks, and in summer he was not protected from…

So I’m sure we all know about the debate of Creation vs. Evolution. You will meet different Orthodox Christians say different things — some are ardent Creationists, some are ardent Evolutionists, and some don’t really care and don’t think it matters either way.

If you really consider the theological implications that evolution would have for Orthodoxy, rather than just throwing it in as a different beginning, and read what the Fathers have to say about Genesis, you will clearly see that evolution is in fact wholly incompatible with Orthodox Christianity. There are many issues here: the Fathers accepted the Scriptures as is — they didn’t think themselves wiser than God’s revelation. Many Fathers insisted that we not deny the literal/historical level. The Fathers, without exception as I far as I know, therefore accept the timeline of Genesis as literal, which leaves not nearly enough time for evolution to have occurred…