Questions to Mor Ephrem about Monophysites and Monophysitism

Mor Ephrem · Post by **Mor Ephrem** » Sat 1 May 2004 12:56 am

Dear my servant,

It is really rather easy. The Antiochians, not surprisingly, have fallen into heresy (come on, do you really think people who can't figure out the meaning of "autonomy" have a clue about the finer points of theology?). We still hold out hope, however, that just as the rest of the EO have not anathematised them, so as to encourage them to come back on the less than perfect but better than nothing royal path, our relationships with the EO will serve to bring them to the truth, supposedly offered on this site in the form of quality, satisfying swigs (HA!).

Thank you!

Vicki · Post by **Vicki** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:00 am

Dear Mor,

Why do Monophysites take their shoes off on entering their temple? Do they REALLY think they are on hallowed ground with only 3 Ecumenical Councils?

Vicki

bogoliubtsy · Post by **bogoliubtsy** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:06 am

Vicki wrote:
Dear Mor,

Why do Monophysites take their shoes off on entering their temple? Do they REALLY think they are on hallowed ground with only 3 Ecumenical Councils?

Vicki

Dear Gospodin Ephrem,
Vicki brings up a very interesting question. Did you know that your Church only accepts 3 of the Oecumenical councils? Does this mean that you do not believe in the use of icons since this was decided on once and for all by a later Oecumenical council? My cousin Larry went to an OO(Oriental Orthodox) Church once and said that he is pretty sure you were influenced by the Muslims and that your services are "different". Is this true? Also, back to the original question that you didn't answer: Do you call Mary the Theotokos in your services?

Sincerely,
The pitiful sinner.

Mor Ephrem · Post by **Mor Ephrem** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:06 am

Dear Vicki,

We know we are on hallowed ground, for the altar is like the bush, and the mysteries are fire that doesn't consume, and so, like Moses, we take off our shoes. This has never been done in any of the EO churches I've visited. The onus is on you to defend yourselves: in spite of your belief (however erroneous I think it is) that your churches are holy, how can you continue to pollute them by wearing shoes in them that have been polluted by walking on the average American streets, littered as they are by trash, animal droppings, road kill, and, worst of all, THE HERETICS?

Vicki · Post by **Vicki** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:09 am

Dear Mor,

Do the Monophysites have monks and monasteries like ROAC and GOC?

Moreover, DO the Monophysites put on BASKETBALL Tournments like the GOA does?

And, have you any catechumens, and do they depart during the Litany of the Catechumens? :mrgreen:

Vicki

Mor Ephrem · Post by **Mor Ephrem** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:12 am

bogoliubtsy wrote:
Did you know that your Church only accepts 3 of the Oecumenical councils?

Thank you, Captain Obvious!

Does this mean that you do not believe in the use of icons since this was decided on once and for all by a later Oecumenical council?

We believe in, use, and venerate icons, but I've seen Jordanville and St. Nicholas Cathedral in DC...come on, guys, let's not get too crazy about this stuff.

My cousin Larry went to an OO(Oriental Orthodox) Church once and said that he is pretty sure you were influenced by the Muslim and that your services are "different". Is this true?

Did you know that, while Syriac chant has a distinctively Semitic sound, almost "tribal" in tone, Byzantine Greek chanting (snake chant, according to some OCA friends) sounds eerily similar to the call of a muezzin from his minaret? Makes you wonder, doesn't it??

Also, back to the original question that you didn't answer: Do you call Mary the Theotokos in your services?

I choose to defer this question for the time being, it's still pretty early on in this conversation for such things to be discussed...

bogoliubtsy · Post by **bogoliubtsy** » Sat 1 May 2004 1:12 am

Vicki wrote:
Dear Mor,

Do the Monophysites have monks and monasteries like ROAC and GOC?

Moreover, DO the Monophysites put on BASKETBALL Tournments like the GOA does?

And, have you any catechumens, and do they depart during the Litany of the Catechumens?
Vicki

Vicki raises another interesting question. If you do indeed have basketball tournaments like the GOA, do you remove your shoes while playing? If so, does this not hurt? Also, doesn't this place you in communion with the GOA? Perhaps only if you are playing basketball in the same league, or if you are trading players to each others teams.

Thank you.