THE ORTHODOX DOGMA ON THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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.

THE ORTHODOX DOGMA ON THE PROCESSION
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE LORD SAID:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from
the Father, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHO PROCEEDS FROM
THE FATHER, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26).

THE NICENE-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREED STATES:
“IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE,
WHO PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER.”

The ancient Orthodox teaching of the personal attributes of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit was distorted in the Latin (Roman Catholic) church by the creation of a teaching of the procession, outside of time and from all eternity, of the Holy Spirit from the Father “and the Son–the FILIOQUE. The idea that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son originated in certain expressions of Blessed Augustine. It because established in the West as OBLIGATORY in the 9the Century, and when Latin missionaries came to the Bulgarians in the middle of the 9th century, the Filioque clause was in their symbol of Faith.

As differences between the Papacy and the Orthodox East became sharper, the Latin dogma became more and more strengthened in the West, finally it was acknowledged in the West as a universally obligatory dogma. Protestantism inherited this teaching from the Roman church.

The Latin dogma of the FILIOQUE is a substantial and important deviation from Orthodox truth. This dogma was subjected to a detailed examination and accustion, especially by Patriarchs Photius (9th century) and Michael Cerularius (11th century), and likewise by Saint Mark of Ephesus, who took part in the Council of Florence (1439). Adam Zernikav (18th century), who converted from Roman Catholicism to Orthodoxy, cites about a thousand testimonies from the writings of the Holy Fathers of the Church in favor of the Orthodox teaching of the Holy Spirit in his work, Concerning the Procession of the Holy Spirit…The Latin dogma agrees neither with the Holy Scripture nor with the Universal Sacred Tradition and the Symbol of Faith of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils in 325 and 381 A.D in Nicaea and Constantinople: “And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets.” The Orthodox Church and theology consider the FILIOQUE TO BE HERETICAL. This 9th century Latin addition states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father “and the Son” rather than from the Father ALONE.

Orthodoxy teaches that the Father IS THE SOLE, UNORIGINATED SOURCE (ARCHE_ OF THE TRINITY. Attributing the Spirit’s procession to the Fon implies two sources or causes, which undermines the unity of God. If the Son shares in generating the Holy Spirit, it implies the Holy Spirit is subordinate or lacks a unique role within the Trinity. The early Ecumenical Synods specifically PROHIBITED ANY ALTERATION TO THE ORIGINAL CREED. Adding the Filliouqe is viewed as an illicit, unilateral overreach of Papal authority.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, Who proceeds from the Father, HE will testify of Me” (John 15:26) (To be continued…) 

_______
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!:
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in God the Holy Spirit,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George