On the Incarnation – Chapter 11 Text 1. When God the Almighty One was making mankind through His own Word, He saw that they, owing to the limitation of their nature, could not of themselves have any knowledge of their Creator, the Incorporeal and Uncreated One. He took pity on them, and did not leave […]
The Encomium of St Severus upon the Archangel Michael contains some interesting material which is well worth study. An encomium, in this context, is essentially a form of homily which praises a particular saint or angelic being. In this case St Severus is concerned with the Archangel Michael, and his encomium was preached on the […]
On the Incarnation – Chapter 10 Text Now in truth this great work was peculiarly suited to God’s goodness. 1. For a king, having built a house or a city, if he finds it attacked by bandits because of the carelessness of those who live in it, does not neglect it and ignore the situation, […]
We noted in Post 1 that until the most recent times all mainstream Christian worship was liturgical to a great extent. It followed a predetermined order and structure, often with well-established content that congregations would have been used to participating in. Of course the majority Anglican tradition remained manifestly liturgical. So too did the Catholic […]
I was at a liturgical service some years ago. It began with the president or leader of the service offering a prayer, and after his prayer was completed the congregation responded with their agreement in the word, Amen. A hymn was sung by the congregation and then another man with some responsibility in the congregation […]
On the Incarnation – Chapter 9 Text 1. For the Word had seen that there was no other way that the corruption of men could be undone except by the necessary condition of death. It was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and the Son of the Father; and so for this […]
On the Incarnation – Chapter 8 Text 1. For this purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial Word of God came into our world, even though he was not far from us before. For no part of Creation is left without Him: He has filled all things everywhere, remaining present with His own Father. […]
I am often engaged in conversation with Protestants and Evangelicals of various different backgrounds, and almost invariably the discussion will come down to a difference of opinion about authority. In one form of words or another we will be asking each other – on what basis do you believe what you say you believe? With […]
On the Incarnation – Chapter 7 Text 1. But just as this consequence must needs hold, so, too, on the other side the just claims of God lie against it: that God should appear true to the law He had laid down concerning death. For it were monstrous for God, the Father of truth, to […]
On the Incarnation – Chapter 6 Text 1. For this cause, then, death having gained upon men, and corruption abiding upon them, the race of man was perishing; the rational man made in God’s image was disappearing, and the handiwork of God was in process of dissolution. 2. For death, as I said above, gained […]