It is interesting that when one feels to be in the right they may make "judgments" , and these "judgments are considered for righteousness sake, and good, but, when the opposition disagrees, and make their own judgments they are considered to be sinning and are called unorthodox.
Ekaterina, you should read the scriptures on how God speaks of His hatred of heresy and sin, as well as what the Holy Fathers, and the Canons, the Ecumenical councils say. The sin is not just condmned but so is he who remains in his sin unrepentent. But heresy is not the same kind of sin as stealing, or murder, or adultery, it is worse. Although Heresy is a sin as well, but some sins are personal, but heresy is a rejection of Gods revealed word. His command that we believe certain things in order to be saved.
Heresy in not simply a mistake, 2+2= 5, this is a mistake. Heresy is an anathama. If one accepts heresy, such as ecumenism, which has been anathamatized, then they are accursed, hence the meaning of the word. Do you recall the anathamas that are repeated to the faithful in the church on Orthodoxy Sunday?
By the way, I do not hate anyone, nor do I feel anger towards anyone. I repeat to you what the fathers say concerning those in heresy.
Saint Athanatius states that heresy is "the mire of irreligion" and "impious" and "who's opinions we hold in execration" [i.e. to declare accursed, to call all evil upon it, to curse, to detest utterly]
The Scriptures- Saint Paul's letter to the Galatians:
"But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached let him be accursed"
George,
No, I did not say that ROCOR is a woman lusting after a woman because ecumenism is not a Church and therefore not a "she", but one lusting after alien gods, as ancient Israel often did.
And, no, what I have written was not to cause "rancor and insult", but taking biblical language to discribe the modern situation. Would you then say that the Scriptures and Fathers of the Church that use words such as Anathama, impiety, contaminated, execration, heresy being demonic, loathsome, evil, towards heresy and those who follow it are full of "rancor and insult".
To repeat the words of Saint Ignatius of Antioch a disciple of Saint John the Theologian:
"If, then, those are dead whho do these things according to the passions, how much worse if, with bad doctrine, one should corrupt the faith of God for which Jesus Christ was crucified. Such a man, for becoming contaminated will depart into unquenchable fire; and so will any one who listens to him."
These things I say are not said because of the lack of love but because of love.
paul
