My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+
TRADITION IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH (Part II)
By George Bebis, Ph.D.
The teaching or Apostolic Tradition was transmitted from the Holy Apostles themselves to their successors, the bishops and the presbyters, Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome (2nd century A.D.), and probably a Disciple of the Holy Apostles himself, described this historical truth:
"The Apostles preached to us the Gospel received from Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ was God's Ambassador. Christ, in other words, comes with a message from God, and the Apostles with a message from Christ. Both these orderly arrangements, therefore, originate from the will of God. And so after receiving their instructions and being fully assured through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as confirmed in faith by the word of God, they went forth, equipped with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, to preach the good news that the Kingdom of God was closer at hand. From land to land, accordingly, and from city to city they preached; and from among their earliest converts appointed men whom they had tested by the Spirit to act as bishops and Deacons for the future believers" (Letter to the Corinthians, Ch. 42).
One can clearly see how the message of salvation originated from God the Father was taught by Jesus Christ, witnessed to by the Holy Spirit, preached by the Apostles and was transmitted by them to the Church through the clergy they themselves appointed. This became the "unerring tradition of the Apostolic preaching" as it was expressed by Eusebius of Caesarea, bishop of the 4th century, who is considered the "father" of Church History (Church History, IV, 8).
The Patristic Tradition
From what has been said so far, it can be seen that there is no theological distinction or differences or divisions within the Holy Tradition of the Church. It could be said that Holy Tradition, as a historical event, begins with the Apostolic preaching and is found in Scripture, but it is kept, treasured, interpreted, and explained by the Holy Fathers, the successors of the Apostles. Using the Greek term Pateres tes Ecclesias, the Father of the Church, this "interpretive" part of the Apostolic preaching is called "Patristic Tradition."
The Holy Fathers, men of extraordinary holiness and trusted Orthodoxy in doctrine, enjoyed the acceptance and respect of the universal Church by witnessing the message of the Gospel, living and explaining it to posterity. Thus, Apostolic Preaching or Tradition is organically associated with the Patristic Tradition and vice versa. This point must be stressed since many theologians in the Western churches either distinguish between Apostolic Tradition and Patristic Tradition or completely reject Patristic Tradition.
For the Orthodox Church, there is one Holy Tradition of the Church, incorporating the Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Holy Fathers. This is "the preaching of the truth handed down by the Church in the whole world to Her children" (Saint Irenaeus, Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, 98). Saint Athanasius the Great, "Pillar of Orthodoxy", who was bishop of Alexandria during the 4th century, gives the most appropriate definition of the Church's Tradition:
"Let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the catholic Church from the very beginning, which the Logos/Word gave (edoken), the Apostles preached (ekeryxan), and the Fathers preserved (ephylaxan). Upon this the Church is founded (tethemeliotai)." (Saint Athanasius, First Letter to Serapion, 28).
In retrospect, Holy Tradition is founded upon the Holy Trinity, it constantly proclaims the Gospel of Christ, it is found within the boundaries of the Christian Church, and it is expounded by the Holy Fathers. (Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
(To be continued)
_______________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George