Patriarch Germanos V Concening the"Name-Worshippers"

[Fr. Panagiotes]

So, another question presents itself: Should Orthodox Christians also avoid the term "YAHWEH" and "I am Who am," and prefer the simple phrase: "the Lord God."

As far as I know, every icon of our Lord Jesus Christ contains the words "I AM" in the halo (most usually in Greek). So, I would not think the Church shies away from proclaiming Jesus Christ as the I AM of the Old Testament. What language it is proclaimed in should not make any difference.

The use of "YAHWEH" is based on the Old Testament text used by the Rabbis of a reformed Judaism. This text which is known as the Masoretic text contains the Hebrew word יהוה. Rabbis in Germany convinced Martin Luther to use this text and thus was born the modern question of how these four Hebrew letters should be pronounced.

This word does not occur in any extant Greek manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments. The word "Lord" - Κύριος is used in its place. This Hebrew word appears in Jewish magical papyri. Jewish physicians, who were sorcerers, made special efforts to learn this name, which was believed to possess marvelous powers of healing. The "Name-Worshipping" Heresy has ancient links to Gnostic Judaism and its magical use of the supposed name of God.

I believe that as Orthodox Christians we should remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers and avoid the use of any transliteration of the Hebrew.

[Priest Siluan]

So, another question presents itself: Should Orthodox Christians also avoid the term "YAHWEH" and "I am Who am," and prefer the simple phrase: "the Lord God."

As far as I know, every icon of our Lord Jesus Christ contains the words "I AM" in the halo (most usually in Greek). So, I would not think the Church shies away from proclaiming Jesus Christ as the I AM of the Old Testament. What language it is proclaimed in should not make any difference.

The use of "YAHWEH" is based on the Old Testament text used by the Rabbis of a reformed Judaism. This text which is known as the Masoretic text contains the Hebrew word יהוה. Rabbis in Germany convinced Martin Luther to use this text and thus was born the modern question of how these four Hebrew letters should be pronounced.

This word does not occur in any extant Greek manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments. The word "Lord" - Κύριος is used in its place. This Hebrew word appears in Jewish magical papyri. Jewish physicians, who were sorcerers, made special efforts to learn this name, which was believed to possess marvelous powers of healing. The "Name-Worshipping" Heresy has ancient links to Gnostic Judaism and its magical use of the supposed name of God.

I believe that as Orthodox Christians we should remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers and avoid the use of any transliteration of the Hebrew.

Thank you dear Father Panagiotes, you are right completely.

[Maria]

So, another question presents itself: Should Orthodox Christians also avoid the term "YAHWEH" and "I am Who am," and prefer the simple phrase: "the Lord God."

As far as I know, every icon of our Lord Jesus Christ contains the words "I AM" in the halo (most usually in Greek). So, I would not think the Church shies away from proclaiming Jesus Christ as the I AM of the Old Testament. What language it is proclaimed in should not make any difference.

The use of "YAHWEH" is based on the Old Testament text used by the Rabbis of a reformed Judaism. This text which is known as the Masoretic text contains the Hebrew word יהוה. Rabbis in Germany convinced Martin Luther to use this text and thus was born the modern question of how these four Hebrew letters should be pronounced.

This word does not occur in any extant Greek manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments. The word "Lord" - Κύριος is used in its place. This Hebrew word appears in Jewish magical papyri. Jewish physicians, who were sorcerers, made special efforts to learn this name, which was believed to possess marvelous powers of healing. The "Name-Worshipping" Heresy has ancient links to Gnostic Judaism and its magical use of the supposed name of God.

I believe that as Orthodox Christians we should remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers and avoid the use of any transliteration of the Hebrew.

Dear Father Panagiotes,

Father Bless!

Thank you. I certainly agree with you and appreciate your scholarly answers which were very helpful.

I did not know that the MP and the OCA have followers of the Name-Worshipping heresy.
Do you have any documentation?

A Greek Orthodox priest from GOARCH told his bible class in 2000 that at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Monastery in Arizona (under Archmandrite Ephraim GOARCH) during a priest's retreat, the monks and visiting Greek Orthodox priests would gather around in a circle under the stars around midnight to say the Jesus Prayer. That seemed to be a very strange practice. I have since then lost contact with that priest as he moved back to the East Coast of the USA. He seemed to be enamored with Archimandrite Ephraim.

We have a private forum here where you can share more information about HOCNA's involvement.
Here is the recent thread about HOCNA: http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... =30&t=9479
If you cannot access that thread, please ask our Admin Dr. Jonathan Gress for access.
Here is his link where you may obtain his PM address: http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/me ... le&u=16437

Respectfully in Christ,
Maria

[Vladimir Moss]

The modern revival of the name-worshipping heresy is owing to "Bishop" Gregory (Lurye) of St. Petersburg, who tried hard to impose it on ROAC in 2001, but eventually failed and was condemned in 2005. However, name-worshipping has infected the Lamians in the person of Bishop Nektary of Olympus, and may, as Fr. Panagiotes says, have infected HOCNA, with whom Bishop Gregory was (or is) close.

[Cyprian]

If I may add:

In the writings of St. Jerome, the saint refers (on multiple occasions) to Greek manuscripts of his day that expressed the Hebrew four-letter Tetragram in the ancient characters rather than simply substituting "Kyrios."

Also, we know that the Church has found it useful to transliterate words from the Hebrew on occasion. For example, the Church frequently chants 'alleluia' (allelu-Jah), which is Hebrew for "praise Jah." Another one that immediately comes to mind is: "Agios, Agios, Agios, Kyrios Savaoth." Sabaoth is Hebrew for "hosts," i.e. Kyrios Savaoth is "Lord of hosts."

Let's not fall prey to the temptation of becoming LXX-only fanatics the way some Protestants become KJV-only fanatics.

Amen! (another word currently in use which is derived from the Hebrew).

[Maria]

If I may add:

In the writings of St. Jerome, the saint refers (on multiple occasions) to Greek manuscripts of his day that expressed the Hebrew four-letter Tetragram in the ancient characters rather than simply substituting "Kyrios."

Also, we know that the Church has found it useful to transliterate words from the Hebrew on occasion. For example, the Church frequently chants 'alleluia' (allelu-Jah), which is Hebrew for "praise Jah." Another one that immediately comes to mind is: "Agios, Agios, Agios, Kyrios Savaoth." Sabaoth is Hebrew for "hosts," i.e. Kyrios Savaoth is "Lord of hosts."

Let's not fall prey to the temptation of becoming LXX-only fanatics the way some Protestants become KJV-only fanatics.

Amen! (another word currently in use which is derived from the Hebrew).

Words often creep into another language.

It always fascinated me how many Traditional Catholics used to claim that they loved the Latin Mass, but were floored when they discovered that it contained the Greek "Kyrie Eleison."

[Maria]

I think there are "Name-Worshippers" to-day, also among so called "True Orthodox Christians". This is very sad. Who belongs to them ?

Sad to say but a few of the HOCNA hierarchs and clergy support this heresy which is also supported by the Moscow Patriarchate and the OCA.

Father Bless!

I just found MP Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev's 1999 presentation, an excerpt from which I have quoted in the private forum, that supports your statement above. Click this link: http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 410#p52410

If you need access to this private forum, please contact jgress, our friendly administrator.