Ignorance of the Faith
The great challenge for Orthodoxy in the near future is not to find new and better ways of adapting to the dominant culture by assimilation and thus becoming "relevant"; the challenge is to establish and maintain genuine continuity with the Saints and Fathers of the past. This means more education, for ignorance of the Faith among many Orthodox today is appalling and is the single greatest factor in the crisis we are now facing.
—Fr. Alexey Young (now Hieromonk Ambrose), Book Review of Facing East and The Faith, in Orthodox America (Feb., 1997)
This statement really applies to the Indian Orthodox Church, and reflects that this dilemma we face is not unique to our Church alone. As one of the Achens shared yesterday, it's both intellectual feeding as well as spiritual.
Unfortunately, that same website where I found this also blasts any point of discussion that will unite Christians, and strongly labels the Oriental Orthodox as heretics. The humility that is the core essence of Orthodoxy is lost .. which is sad. Jesus Himself wrote so many parables on those who assume they have a ticket to heaven ... and yet, the "holy" continue to not pay attention. Very saddening reflection on Christianity in general :(
—Fr. Alexey Young (now Hieromonk Ambrose), Book Review of Facing East and The Faith, in Orthodox America (Feb., 1997)
This statement really applies to the Indian Orthodox Church, and reflects that this dilemma we face is not unique to our Church alone. As one of the Achens shared yesterday, it's both intellectual feeding as well as spiritual.
Unfortunately, that same website where I found this also blasts any point of discussion that will unite Christians, and strongly labels the Oriental Orthodox as heretics. The humility that is the core essence of Orthodoxy is lost .. which is sad. Jesus Himself wrote so many parables on those who assume they have a ticket to heaven ... and yet, the "holy" continue to not pay attention. Very saddening reflection on Christianity in general :(
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