Being a Marine vs. Being Orthodox: Which First?

Ephraem · Post by **Ephraem** » Wed 19 January 2005 3:55 am

Has anyone authored a synopsis or overview of Orthodox teachings on war and military service through the ages? I'd be very interested in a work on this subject.

While reading Tertullian's text "On Idolatry" he comes out flatly against the military in the context of Christian life. "There is no agreement between the divine and the human sacrament (or "military oath"), the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness. One soul cannot be due to two masters--God and Caesar."

"No dress is lawful among us, if assigned to any unlawful action."

"...likewise, a centurion had believed, still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier."

(Also, if you are wondering, Tertullian explicitly states that this applies to all soldiers, whether or not they are required to participate in the sacrifices of the Roman cult.)

Nektarios · Post by **Nektarios** » Fri 21 January 2005 11:54 pm

Orthodoxy and the Marine Corps, is a hard mix. its like Bacardi 151 and vodka mixed. :mrgreen:

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sat 22 January 2005 12:08 am

The Virtue of War: Reclaiming the Classic Christian Tradition of East and West.

I have seen more but I don't know where to look for them (again).

Nektarios · Post by **Nektarios** » Mon 7 February 2005 1:18 am

To answer the question of this topics title, I say Orthodox first then the Marine Corps. Marine corps aint getting me into Gods' Kingdom.

Orthodoxia E Thanatos.

In Christ
Nektarios

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Mon 7 February 2005 8:34 am

Saint Basil the Great, my patron, has given rules when someone goes to War and kills. He has placed out 2 conditions, one was to go to war (just plain out bloodshed and fighting) which he gave a rule of no communing for 10 years. If it is a defensive war, (defending a country from invaders) and kills, it's 5 years of no communing. But today, not many priests anywhere keeps this realisation of Saint Basil's strictness in the spiritual life seriously... War is not a funny matter, and God does not bless it.

Ephraem · Post by **Ephraem** » Fri 11 February 2005 10:19 pm

romiosini wrote:
Saint Basil the Great, my patron, has given rules when someone goes to War and kills. He has placed out 2 conditions, one was to go to war (just plain out bloodshed and fighting) which he gave a rule of no communing for 10 years. If it is a defensive war, (defending a country from invaders) and kills, it's 5 years of no communing. But today, not many priests anywhere keeps this realisation of Saint Basil's strictness in the spiritual life seriously... War is not a funny matter, and God does not bless it.

Romiosini, if you have the opportunity, would you indicate where in St. Basil's texts does he indicate these rules? In his Letter 188 (to Aphilochius) he counsels three years of abstention from communion for those whose "hands are not clean"-- and by this I assume he means killing in war, which he addresses immediately prior.

Here is a short examination of some of the views of the Church Fathers on military service:
http://www.tertullian.org/lfc/LFC10-12_noteE.htm