CHURCH AND DIVINE EUCHARIST according to Saint Irenaeus

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

CHURCH AND DIVINE EUCHARIST according
to Saint Irenaeus.
By Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, Hierotheos

Saint Irenaeus is A SUCCESSOR OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, and his teaching on the subjects at which we are looking has great importance. It is important for us Orthodox, because, WE BELIEVE THAT THE TRUTH OF THE FAITH DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE TIME — WHICH MEANS THAT THE REVELATION (APOCALYPSE) IS NOT ALTERED WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME – BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE HERETICS, WHO THINK THAT ORTHODOXY HAS BEEN REMOVED FAR AWAY FROM THE SIMPLE TEACHING OF THE HOLY APOSTLES. However, the Holy Fathers, while they used different terms which prevailed in their time, nevertheless remained faithful to the Revelation (Apocalypse), precisely because THEY HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE, THEY USED THE SAME METHOD OF CURE, which is PURIFICATION OF THE HEART, ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS AND THEOSIS (DEIFICATION).

Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, lived in a difficult period for the Church, in the second half of the Second Century after Christ. The situation was critical, because, on the one hand, the Apostles and their successors were gone, and on the other hand, various heretics, the Gnostics, had appeared, who maintained that they had “hidden knowledge” and “hidden secrets” which they alone had received from the Apostles. This constituted a great danger for the Church. Saint Irenaeus lived in this crucial period. He had the advantage of being a personal EYE-WITNESS OF THE APOSTOLIC MEN, since he knew Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, who was a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. With this advantage he confronted Gnosticism with strength and courage.

According to Saint Ieranaeus, the Apostolic Tradition CONSTITUTES THE ONLY GUARANTEE OF THE DIVINE REVELATION (Apocalypse). This Apostolic Tradition COMPRISES THE CHURCH AND ALL THAT COMES TO BE AND EXISTS IN THE CHURCH, THAT IS TO SAY, THE CLERGY, THE BISHOPS, THE PRESBYTERS, THE RIGHT FAITH, THE GIFTS OF GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ECCLESIASTICAL ORDER AND ORGANIZATION, THE GENUINE CHURCH GATHERINGS FOR WORSHIP, AND ALL THE ELEMENTS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE LOCAL APOSTOLIC CHURCHES.

The main points which make up THE GENUINE APOSTOLIC FAITH AND TRADITION ARE THREE: THE CHURCH, ORTHODOXY AND THE DIVINE EUCHARIST. And these three ARE UNITED TOGETHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT TO DETACH THEM FROM ONE ANOTHER IS TO DISTORT THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION OF THE CHURCH IN GENERAL.

The Church is the Body of Christ. By His Incarnation Christ made the Church His Body and therefore He gave it all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. WHERE THE CHURCH IS, THERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WELL.

ORTHODOXY IS THE RIGHT FAITH OF THE CHURCH. And for this reason the Church and Orthodoxy ARE CLOSELY UNITED. Orthodoxy IS THE TRUE FAITH OF THE CHURCH. This right faith COMPRISES THE PREACHING OF THE APOSTLES WHICH THE CHURCH POSSESSES, THE CREED, WHICH IS THE “UNALTERABLE CANON” OF TRUTH, LIFE AND SALVATION, AND THE LIVING OF THE WHOLE ECONOMY OF CHRIST WITHIN THE SPHERE OF THE CHURCH.

THE DIVINE EUCHARIST IS THE ACTION OF THE CHURCH. It is this WHICH GIVES US THE ASSURANCE THAT THE CHURCH IS THE REAL BODY OF CHRIST. In the Divine Eucharist WE PARTAKE OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. Likewise, in the Divine Eucharist, through the prayers which are said, IT IS CONFESSED THAT GOD CREATED AND MAINTAINS THE WORLD, THAT CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR OF MAN, THAT MAN IS A CREATURE OF GOD AND THAT THE WHOLE MAN (SOUL-BODY) CAN BE DEIFIED. Saint Irenaeus says “OUR FAITH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EUCHARIST AND THE EUCHARIST CONFIRMS THE FAITH.”

Thus in the teaching of Saint Irenaeus it is seen that there IS UNITY BETWEEN CHURCH, ORTHODOXY, AND EUCHARIST BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS NOT UNDERSTOOD APART FROM ORTHODOXY AND THE DIVINE EUCHARIST, AND ORTHODOXY IS NOT UNDERSTOOD APART FROM THE CHURCH AND THE DIVINE EUCHARIST, BUT NEITHER IS THE DIVINE EUCHARIST UNDERSTOOD APART FROM THE CHURCH AND ORTHODOXY. ORTHODOXY IS THE TRUE FAITH OF THE CHURCH AND THE DIVINE EUCHARIST IS THE TRUE ACTION OF THE CHURCH.

A chance existence of “Church” with “Orthodoxy” without “Divine Eucharist” or an existence of “Church” with “Divine Eucharist” without “Orthodoxy” IS “A CORRUPT JUDGMENT” and a “HERETICAL SCHOOL OF THOUGHT.” Therefore we maintain THAT THE ONE CHURCH IS ORTHODOXY, IN WHICH THERE IS THE TRUE DIVINE EUCHARIST. (Resources: The Mind of the Orthodox Church)

(To be continued)

________________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George