THE HOLY CHURCH IS THE ARK OF SALVATION

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

THE HOLY CHURCH IS THE ARK OF SALVATION

As Orthodox Christianity continues the divine celebration of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ we recall the Biblical account of Noah and the Ark told in the Old Testament. As Noah preached righteousness, suffered unjustly, and rescued those who were with him, so also does our Risen Lord Christ. Christ descended to those in darkness and death that Light might shine on them and that He might deliver them from eternal death. The Great Flood is an Old Testament mystery of the salvation of the human race. Noah was saved from a godless society–not so much saved from the water, as through the water, from evil. For through the water of BAPTISMs the Resurrected Christ, having taken His place in Heaven itself, gives us a clean conscience. The Holy Apostle Peter says, "There is also antitype which now saves us–BAPTISM not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST" [1 Peter 3:21].

Noah was known as a man of faith. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. The Holy Apostle Paul describes how faith works in his epistle to the Hebrews. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" [Hebrews 11:1]. This of course is not a definition of faith as it is a description of how it works, especially during hard times. "Things hoped for" and "not seen" is a vision of the future,have encouraged people of God throughout history: the invisible is often more real than the visible.

"Thus the Lord God looked upon the earth and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh corrupted their way on the earth. Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them, behold I will destroy them with the earth…Whatever is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My COVENANT WITH YOU AND YOU INTO THE ARK–YOU, YOUR SONS, YOUR WIFE AND YOUR SONS WIVES WITH YOU…THUS NOAH DID ACCORDING TO ALL THE LORD GOD COMMANDED HIM, SO HE DID…THEN THE LORD GOD SHUT HIM IN THE ARK…" [Genesis  6:12-7;16]. "The earth was corrupt…and filled with unrighteousness" because of man’s WILLFUL REFUSAL TO BECOME RIGHTEOUS THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Their unrighteousness was their own fault (through them") for they had every opportunity to repent.

According to Orthodox Tradition the Ark was a type of the Theotokos [Mother of God] with Christ and the Church in her womb. The flood waters were a type of Baptism, in which we are saved [1 Peter 3:18-22]. The Lord God closed the door of the Ark, for He is the Judge and determines who is in and who is out. The people on the outside were going their usual manner of life–buying, selling, eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage–BUT THEY WERE INDIFFERENT TO GOD AND HIS GRACE. The Great Flood caught them unawares, but it was too late for them to respond. So it will be on the Great Day of Judgment. "God remembered Noah" and SAVED HIM FROM THE FLOODWATERS. Noah was saved because God remembered him. This remembrance IS SALVATION.

The Church is frequently depicted as a ship, a New Ark of salvation. The depiction of the Church as a ship is an old metaphor and with Christ AT THE HELM holding the RUDDER, THE RUDDER IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IS THE BOOK WHICH CONTAINS THE HOLY CANONS WHICH DIRECTS THE CHURCH IN THE PROPER MODE OF CONDUCT AND CONFESSION OF FAITH. At the bow of the ship are Saints Peter and Paul are lifting the anchor which is shaped in a three pronged end, signifying belief in the Holy Trinity. Behind them are the Holy Fathersof the Church, Saint John Chyrsostom, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Athanasios of Alexandria, and Saint Nicholas of Myra, with multitude of other Holy Fathers, and Mothers, Martyrs, etc. are surrounding an altar. The Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove hovering above the ship. At the top right, the destination of the ship is depicted as a white city (presumably the New Jerusalem). Inside the Ark is the Most Holy and Ever-Virgin Mary, and in front of her are the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This all symbolizes the bosom of the Holy Church, both Triumphant and Militant (i.e., in Heaven and on earth).

On the bottom of the icon the enemies of Christ and His Church; that is, ALL WHO HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST HER AND PERSECUTED HER, FOR IF ONE FIGHTS AGAINST THE CHURCH, HE IS FIGHTING AGAINST CHRIST HIMSELF. From left to right, Antichrist is depicted as a king on his horse and behind him is an old man with a crown on his head, signifying Israel with the star of David on his crown, holding a bag of gold. He has his arm around the harlot of the Apocalypse, with her cup in her hand. Below the Antichrist are those who will fight for him. Antichrist is going to come from Jewish lineage, and will reign in Jerusalem and will want all to submit to him. Those who do not will be persecuted. This is the symbolism of those who are under the caption called Antichrist and his Minions.

Next to him to the right is a dreadful looking beast, which is called New Age. New Age is a revival of PAGANISM presented with NEW PACKAGING. IT ENCOMPASSES THE OCCULT, WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REVERENCE FOR CHRIST. Also depicted is the Pope, with a long, hooked rod, trying to pull down the bow, either to capsize the boat or REDIRECT IT IN A DIRECTION CONTRARY TO THE DIRECTION THAT CHRIST IS STEERING THE ARK. When the present day papacy came into being around the year 1054, the Pope proclaimed himself AS THE VICAR OF CHRIST AND ALSO CHRIST ON EARTH, THUS FIGHTING AGAINST THE TRUE CHRIST. Next to him are other heretics who threatened the unity of the Church over the centuries.

Salvation is within the Orthodox Church and everyone who is onboard will be saved. The New Ark of Christ, the Holy Church cannot be destroyed or sunk by her enemies and heretics. Jesus said, "I will build My CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT" [Matthew 16:18]. The Church rests upon the true confession of faith, the true Rock and foundation of the Church is, of course, Christ Himself. The Church rests upon this Rock by her UNCHANGING FAITH, HER CONFESSION. With this faith as the FOUNDATION, "the gates of Hades," the power of death, are powerless against her. The Church is the body of Christ, the Divine-human ORGANISM, and to her comes the call of Jesus for the WHOLE OF MANKIND TO ABIDE WITH HIM AND IN HIM [Ephesians 1:23].

"The New Testament Church is the new planting of God, the Garden of God, the Vineyard of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, by His earthly life, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection, introduced into humanity NEW GRACE-GIVING POWERS, a New Life which is capable of great fruitfulness. These powers we have in the Holy Church which is His Body. The Church of Christ RECEIVED ITS EXISTENCE WITH THE COMING TO EARTH OF THE Son of God, "when the fullness of the time was come" (Galatians 4:4), and with HIS BRINGING OF SALVATION TO THE WORLD.

"The beginning of its existence in its COMPLETE FORM AND SIGNIFICANCE, WITH THE FULLNESS OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, was the DAY OF PENTECOST, after the Holy Ascension of the Lord. On this day, after the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles, in Jerusalem there were baptized three thousand men. And, further, the Lord each day added those being saved to the Church. The name "church" which belongs to every Christian community, even of a single house or family, indicates THE UNITY OF THIS PART WITH THE WHOLE, WITH THE BODY OF THE WHOLE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

"Being "the body of Christ," the Church "increaseth with the increase of God" (Colossians 2:19). Comparing the Church with a building, the Holy Apostle teaches that its building is not completed, but continues: "All the building fitly framed together unto a holy temple in the Lord" [Ephesians 2;21]. Through the Church is accomplished "the dispensation of the fullness of times" foreordained by the Father, so that "He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth" (Ephesians 1:10).

"The CHURCH IS OUR SPIRITUAL HOME. As with one’s own home–and even more than that–A CHRISTIAN’S THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS ARE CLOSELY BOUND WITH THE CHURCH. IN IT HE MUST, AS LONG AS HE LIVE ON EARTH, WORK OUT HIS SALVATION, AND MAKE USE OF THE GRACE-GIVEN MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION GIVEN HIM BY IT. IT PREPARES ITS CHILDREN FOR THE HEAVENLY HOMELAND.

As to how, by Grace of God, spiritual rebirth and spiritual growth occur in a man, in what sequence these usually occur, who hindrances must be overcome by him on the way of salvation, how he must combine his own indispensable labors with the Grace-given help of God–special branches of theological and spiritual learning are devoted to all these matters. These are called "moral theology" and "ascetic theology." The Lord Jesus Christ is the "Founder" of the Church. Christ is also the Foundation of the Church, its CORNERSTONE: "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" [I Corinthians 3:11]. He also is its HEAD. God the Father "gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all" [Ephesians 1:22-23]. As all the members of our body comprise a full and living organism which depends upon its head, so also the Church is A SPIRITUAL ORGANISM IN WHICH THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE THE POWERS OF CHRIST DO NOT ACT. It IS "FULL OF CHRIST" (Saint Theophan the Recluse).

Christ Himself is the INVISIBLE Chie Bishop of the Church. The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, an Apostolic Father, calls the Lord the "Invisible Bishop" (Greek: EPISKOPOS AORATOS). Christ is the High-Priest of His Church, as the Apostle Paul explains in the Epistle to the (Hebrews 7:23-25).

The Orthodox Church of Christ REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE YET ANOTHER HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN THE FORM OF A "Vicar of Christ on earth," a title given in the Roman Catholic church to the Bishop of Rome. Such a title does NOT correspond either to the word of God or to the universal Church consciousness and tradition; IT TEARS AWAY THE CHURCH ON EARTH FROM IMMEDIATE UNITY WITH THE HEAVENLY CHURCH. A VICAR IS ASSIGNED DURING THE ABSENCE OF THE ONE REPLACED, BUT CHRIST IS INVISIBLY PRESENT IN HIS CHURCH ALWAYS.

The REJECTION by the ancient Church of the view of the Bishop of Rome as the Head of the Church and Vicar of Christ upon earth is expressed in the writings of those who were active in the Ecumenical Councils. The Ninth Article of the Symbol of Faith (The Creed) indicates the four basic signs of the Church: "We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church." These attributes are called ESSENTIAL, that is, WITHOUT WHICH THE CHURCH WOULD NOT BE THE CHURCH. [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

This holy Ark, the Church of Christ, is the only means of salvation. The purpose of the ship or Ark, just in the case of Noah, is to "keep us alive." Noah and his family entered the Ark, which typifies SALVATION. Noah was saved because GOD REMEMBERED HIM. The floodwaters brought death but it also brought cleansing of all evil and sin that had prevailed in the world. There are no other means of getting across to the other side because there is only one Ark of Salvation and the only way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, all the righteous men and women of God who possess all the spiritual requirements to be passengers on this holy Ark will indeed come to rest in His Heavenly Kingdom. Remain inside our Holy Orthodox Church and obedient to Christ’s commandments and "well-pleasing to God" [Genesis 6:9].

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Glorious Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
Father George