Hello everyone and Merry Christmas to those who will celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord in a few days.

Years ago when I first saw this video I was angry. I know now what actually bothered me the most. It was not so much the idea of converting Orthodox Christians to Roman Catholic Christians.

The problem with this video is the extreme comparison of the most solemn moment in the Orthodox Church year, the service on Holy Friday with a very festive service from Los Angeles. In all fairness I think comparing two services of the same basic content would be most productive. I would like to see how the Roman Church celebrates the moment depicted in the scene from Moscow. I would also like to see a very festive moment in Roman worship compared with a moment of the same content in the Russian Orthodox Church.

Let's be friends, please.

Michael

My dear irenaeus -

You and I are so close in belief. Actually, I am quite certain that a very large number of truly devout and obedient Roman Catholics and I would agree on almost every theological point we could discuss.

The "filioque" actually changes the nature of the Trinity. "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty...And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God...And in the Holy Spirit..." It is difficult to see how the Lord and giver of life can proceed through the Father AND Himself.

If my history memory is correct, the addition of "...and the Son" was made in Spain before the Great Scism. In the end I think we both believe "In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church."

With the single exception of the "filioque" I think it's fair to say all of us agree to the standards set in the Nicean Creed.

The Nicean Creed addresses all of your concerns I believe. At any rate, except for some rebels the Orthodox Church sees everything you cited as heresies the same as you.

Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428–431. The doctrine, which was informed by Nestorius's studies under Theodore of Mopsuestia at the School of Antioch, emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus. Nestorius' teachings brought him into conflict with some other prominent church leaders, most notably Cyril of Alexandria, who criticized especially his rejection of the title Theotokos ('Mother of God") for the Virgin Mary. Nestorius and his teachings were eventually condemned as heretical at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 and the Council of Chalcedon in 451, leading to the Nestorian Schism in which churches supporting Nestorius broke with the rest of the Christian Church.

Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius (ca. AD 250–336), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity ('God the Father', 'God the Son' and 'God the Holy Spirit') and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father. Deemed a heretic by the First Council of Nicaea of 325, Arius was later exonerated in 335 at the First Synod of Tyre,[1] and then, after his death, pronounced a heretic again at the First Council of Constantinople of 381.

This era begins with the First Council of Nicaea, which enunciated the Nicene Creed that in its original form and as modified by the First Council of Constantinople of 381 was seen as the touchstone of orthodoxy on the doctrine of the Trinity. At this point, though the emperors had already ceased to reside habitually at Rome, the church in that city was seen as the first church among churches[3] In 330 Constantine built his "New Rome", which became known as Constantinople, in the East. All of the seven councils were held in the East, specifically in Anatolia and the neighboring city of Constantinople.

irenaeus - I would like to respond to your citation all at one time, but knowing the limitations of this site I'll have to divide it up. Please understand I am not trying to fan the fire. I wish to present another point of view.

In the history of Christianity, the first seven Ecumenical Councils, from the First Council of Nicaea (325) to the Second Council of Nicaea (787), represent an attempt to reach an orthodox consensus and to establish a unified Christendom as the State church of the Roman Empire. The East-West Schism, formally dated to 1054, was still almost three centuries off from the last of these councils. Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches all trace their clergy by apostolic succession back to this period and the earlier period referred to as Early Christianity.

Hey, Hooooly -

I thought you had fallen off the flat face of the earth! You guys still think the world is flat, right?

I have wondered from the start why your image of a Swiss Guard is carrying a machine gun. Isn't that overkill seeing how the Vatican is surrounded by such a hostile nation as Italy? Or do you just have a need for violence?

I'm not bitter. I fail to see where you get that opinion. I'm angry that the Roman Catholic Church seems so pre-occupied with converting Orthodox Christians. Why don't you spend your time going after the really dangerous people out there like Moslems, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Evangelical Christians, etc.?

I wear a beard as a personal choice. You do believe in choice, yes? I'm old. I hate shaving because I get a very painful rash on my neck in the summer if I shave.

I was married for 23 years to a very good woman. I miss her all the time.

Are you married? If you are, I pray you respect and love your wife. If God blessed you with children I pray you are a good father.

Most of all, I wish you could get on with your life in a peaceful manner.

Hooley, it's been a while.

You said once "I personally have no interest or desire to visit an Orthodox, Protestant or a Jewish website. I have my place and that is among Catholics. Why someone would go to a site that is not of their own denomination and then make posts that may be/are insulting to the people at that site is, for me, beyond comprehension."

Alright, you don't visit websites of other faiths. That's reasonable. To expect anyone to not respond to slandar of their own faith on another website is different. If you were made aware of anti-Roman Catholic slandars made on other sites wouldn't you want to at least ask why?

I'd much rather have a civilized dialog with you. I believe our divisions are mainly political. Please try to show a little compassion to those Christians who are not members of your Church. I will do the same.

Some history for edification.

1. youtu.be/tirUy13Q_L8
2. youtu.be/h41JmCCH7AQ
3. youtu.be/XAJYdUW8DzY

"The noble Joseph, taking Thine all pure body down from the Tree and wrapping it in a clean winding sheet, enclosed it in a new tomb with sweet spices; yet Thou didst a rise on the third day, O Lord, granting great mercy to the world. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the radiance of Thy divinity; and when Thou didst raise up the dead from the nethermost depths, all the hosts of heaven cried aloud: O Christ our God, Bestower of light, glory be to Thee! Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amin.: Standing before the myrrh bearing women at the tomb, the angel cried: "Myrrh is meet for the dead, yet Christ hath shown Himself to be a stranger to corruption! But cry aloud: The Lord hath risen, granting the world great mercy!"
Although we are now well past Pascha, can we not agree on this:
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

Hello alinalotte, I'm not clear on what you mean. I am not familiar with the quotations you used. Would you kindly express your message in your own words so that others may better understand you?

I would also add that although I appreciate the little images - some are very cute - adding too many makes reading the message more difficult.

With respect and in Christ,

Michael