When among the Apostles there appeared a need to appeal to a higher authoritative voice or judgment--this was in connection with the important misunderstandings that arose in Antioch with regard to the application of the ritual law of Moses--the Apostles gathered in a Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15), and the decrees of this Council were acknowledged as obligatory for the whole Church (Acts 16:4). By this the holy Apostles gave an example of the conciliar resolution of the most important questions in the Church for all times.

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware makes six excellent points, these points may help those who have a hard time understanding the notion of deification (theosis) of the body and the cosmic redemption from an Orthodox point of view.

Without doubt, matter is represented in the human body in a manner which is most puzzling, most mysterious and most complete. The brain: What wondrous mysteries pass between its physical and spiritual parts! How vast is the experience of the human race. In no manner can one ever fully comprehend or grasp these mysteries. Indeed, little of this is accessible to the human senses or intellectual investigation. So it is also with the heart of man, formed as it is entirely and solely from cosmic mysteries.

The first word of our Christian Symbol of Faith is "I believe." All of our Christian confession is based on upon faith. God is the first object of Christian belief. Thus, our Christian acknowledgment of the of the existence of God is founded not upon rational grounds, not on proofs taken from reason or received from the experience of our outward senses, but upon an inward, higher conviction which has a moral foundation.

Having hope is essential in the life of every human being. We, as Orthodox Christians, believe that the virtue of hope is inseparable from the virtue of faith. Hope, like faith, is in that which is not seen.