I have no other choice than to go to the Old Calendar Church under Cyprian, since they are the only Church in Sweden who follows the Canons of the Holy Catholich Church, both in general and local Councils. But by doing this I do not follow the advise my spiritual father gave me, and this pains me since humiity and obedience are so central for a good orthodox life. But should I not aboy the canons that, for an example, forbid the use of the Gregorian Calendar when it comes to the Menaion or the Paschalion? My obedience must first be to the canons, or am I in a state of delusion?
Can anyone give me advise?
Moderator: Mark Templet
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OrthodoxyOrDeath
Nikodemos,
My advise is for you to find a true spiritual father according to your conscience - that is, he upholds Orthodoxy. You may find him in another country but there is no reason why you cannot visit him for the Mysteries and do reader services at home. Don't feel you must attend the Cyprian church because it is the only "traditional" church around - you have complete freedom to do as you must.
I my view
I have a good experience of the True (old calendarist) orthodox Church of Greece. Yesterday I received a mail from Bishop Ambrosius who solved many of my questions about obedience. Of course, obedience must first be to the Holy Canons of the Church. As I understand the difference between GOC and this Church is that it is if the other orthodox churches have grace or not. I wonder, do you think that the Patriarch Diodoros I of Jerusalem had grace or not?
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OrthodoxyOrDeath
Nikodem,
I do not believe bishops, priests, and layman who are heretics or knowingly/uncaringly commune with heretics have the Grace of the Church - in other words, they are not the Church. We have always believed this and all of the saints, holy fathers, and councils emphatically declare it.
This is not a condemnation we have bestowed on them, but only a necessary recognition of the choices they have made in opposition to the Church, so that we can continue our own struggle.
About grace
Dear Orthodoxy or Death
First I must write that I respect GOC and ROAC, even though I do not fully understand this position about grace.Of course a heretic have no grace, this I understand, but I thought that only a synod could decide this question, not laymen? There are many anti ecumenists in the EP, have they lost grace simply because they have communion with other Churches who are ecumenistic? Of course I dont want to be in communion with those who preach ecumenism or modernism, but I cannot judge others who fight within the official churches.
As I understand it, all greek bishops except one changed to the new calendar after the freemason Miletius changed the calendar. Then, later, some came back. Does this mean that they "lost grace" and then gained it again? Isnt this true for matthewite bishops to? The monks on Athos, are they too without grace (those who do not beong to the Esphigmenou monastery)? For me the miracle of the Hoy Fire in Jerusalem revealed that the Jerusaem patrirchate have grace. And since Diodoros I bessed Cyprianos, why cant I go to this Church?
With respect
I wish you a good lent
Nikodemus
Thank you
Thank you for these links to books. I actually already have one of these books in my home, that I bought in a bookstore in Stockholm, Against False Union. But as far as I remeber, the author Kalomiros dont discuss questions of grace in the official Churches in this book. But perhaps he do so in touchstone, which I will read with great interest. I guess you have had to answer similar questions before. I come back to you when I know more about these issues.
Writing could be a passion
With best wishes and thak you for this forum and your time
Nikodemus