Even the Founders of the New Protestant Religions Agreed with the Universal Teaching of the Early Church Fathers on the Theotokos' Perpetual Virginity

Most Christians today still believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary (All Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics as well as some Protestants). The practice of Evangelicals today of denying the perpetual virginity of Mary is a fairly recent innovation - a peculiar historical aberration, particularly since evangelicals would consider themselves to be conservative Christians - that can't even find historical precedent among the primary magisterial Reformers; for that, one can only look to a hand-full of 4th century teachers of heresy who were otherwise universally rejected as heretics expressing new and unfounded ideas.

Of course one can go right to the source, Saint Iakovos (James) the son of Saint Joseph the Betrothed from his first marriage, who wrote a document in the early 100's explaining the lie of his step-mother, Mary, the Theotokos. It wasn't included in the Bible, because it was not telling us how to work out our salvation, as the rest of the New Testament does. But you can read it here on this blog: The Protoevangelium of James.

Martin Luther (Founder of the 1520 A.D. Lutheran Religion) believed that Mary did not have other children and did not have any marital relations with Joseph. The Latin text of the 1537 Smalcald Articles, written by Martin Luther, used the term "Ever Virgin" to refer to Mary. The perpetual virginity of Mary was Luther's lifelong belief, even after he rejected other Marian doctrines.

Huldrych Zwingli (A Founder of the 1522 A.D. Reformed Protestant Religion) directly supported perpetual virginity and wrote: "I firmly believe that the Theotokos, ... forever remained a pure, intact Virgin." Like Zwingli, the English reformers also supported the concept of perpetual virginity. Luther and Zwingli's support of perpetual virginity was endorsed by Heinrich Bullinger and was included in the 1566 Second Helvetic Confession.

John Calvin (Founder of the 1530 A.D. Calvinist Religion) cautioned against "impious speculation" on the topic.

King Henry VII of England (Founder of the 1534 A.D. Anglican and Episcopal Religions) supported perpetual virginity "on the basis of ancient Christian authority".

John Wesley (Founder of the 1739 A.D. Methodist Religion) one of the founders of Methodism, also supported the doctrine and wrote that: "... born of the blessed Virgin Mary, who, as well after as before she brought Him forth, continued a pure and unspotted virgin.

A passage all the Protestant Founders used to support the doctrine of perpetual virginity is of the sayings of Jesus on the cross, i.e. the pair of commands first to his mother "Woman, behold your son!" and then to his disciple "Behold, thy mother!" in The Gospel According to Saint John 19:26-27. The Gospel then states that "from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home". Since the time of the Church Fathers this statement has been used to reason that after the death of Jesus there was no one else in the immediate family to look after Mary, and she had to be entrusted to the disciple given that she had no other children.

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YES! It is true! Jesus Christ did have a Bride and still does to this day!

Yes it is true that Jesus Christ is married! He had a Bride and He still does until this very day! He will not divorce Her and He will not be an adulterer with other sick adultresses claiming to be His Bride, His Bride's sister, or His Bride's daughter.

Who is this Bride? The New Testament of the Holy Bible tells us! It is the Church, the New Jerusalem. Read it yourself in the Epistles of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Chapter 5), Second Corinthians (Chapter 11), Romans (Chapter 7), and Galatians (Chapter 4).This is further detailed in the Revelation of Saint John (Chapters 3, 19, 21, and 22). You can also see this mentioned in The Gospels According to Matthew (Chapter 9 and 25), Mark (Chapter 2), Luke (Chapter 5), and John (Chapter 3)!

Where can this Bride be found? How do you make sure we are not bound to a false wife or one of the false sisters or daughters of the Bride? Read about the almost 2,000 history of the Bride of Christ, the Church, the New Jerusalem here.

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Don't Trust Hollywood (For True Theology or Biblical Truths)

The movie, "Noah", looks to be another Bible movie travesty. Why? Because it is only very loosely based on the Bible. It is based the fictional graphic novels of film's director, Darren Aronofsky, NOE/NOAH and NOE2/NOAH02. See this quote from Brian Godawa:

“Having got a chance to read an undated version of the script for Noah I want to warn you. If you were expecting a Biblically faithful retelling of the story of the greatest mariner in history and a tale of redemption and obedience to God you’ll be sorely disappointed. Noah paints the primeval world of Genesis 6 as scorched arid desert, dry cracked earth, and a gray gloomy sky that gives no rain – and all this, caused by man’s “disrespect” for the environment. In short, an anachronistic doomsday scenario of ancient global warming.”

According to the website, Beginning And End, In this movie Abel and Cain befriend the Shaman Noah as a child. Adding to the Biblical confusion, King Og of Bashan, an evil Nephilim King in Scripture, is portrayed as good being in Noah. In Scripture, Og lives after the flood and is one of the most powerful Kings of his day. He hated the ancient Israelites and sought to conquer them as they migrated to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, after being led out of slavery in Egypt. The battle against Og, led by Moses, took place over 1500 years after the flood.  In Noah, Og is one of the fallen angels or "Watchers", who now, despite rebellion against God, decide to help Noah build the ark and protect it. In a scene in which a small army of men try to take siege of the ark, it is the fallen angels who fight to make sure that Noah and his family can enter safely. Not only that, but Noah tries to kill his own granddaughter once she is born in the Ark!

You wouldn't stand for going to church and the Bible being preached in a way that it was changed "to be more exciting", so why would you pay people to do this very the same blasphemous thing?

This is not the first movie that Hollywood has done this with. What other Biblical movies has Hollywood messed up? Pretty much all of them, but here are just a few:

• The Passion of the Christ's principal source is The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the reported visions of the stigmatic German nun Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), as written by the poet Clemens Brentano. Even the Vatican position on the authenticity of the books produced by Brentano was stated by Father Peter Gumpel, who was involved in the study of the issues for the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints: "It is absolutely not certain that she ever wrote this. There is a serious problem of authenticity".

• The Last Temptation of Christ's eponymous final sequence depicts the crucified Jesus—tempted by what turns out to be Satan in the form of a beautiful, androgynous child—experiencing a dream or alternative reality where He comes down from His cross, marries Mary Magdalene (and later Mary and Martha), and lives out His life as a full mortal man. He learns on his deathbed that He was deceived by Satan and begs God to let Him "be God's son," at which point He finds Himself once again on His cross. At other points in the film, Jesus is depicted as building crosses for the Romans, being tormented by the Voice of God, and lamenting the many sins He believes He has committed.

• The Prince of Egypt shows Moses is adopted by Pharaoh’s wife, instead of his daughter. Miriam walks off and leaves Moses as soon as he is found, rather than approaching Pharaoh’s daughter wife to offer her mom as a milk maid. Moses kills the Egyptian entirely by accident, and he never hides the body, because in the film this all happened in sight of everybody. He flees the very same hour, and that because of his own feelings of guilt, not because Pharaoh was trying to kill him. Pharaoh wasn't trying to kill him, not having heard about anything yet, and not having been given the opportunity before Moses left. Moses approaches the Burning Bush, to the point of putting his hand into the fire. Moses did not hide his face, neither was he afraid to look at God. Moses' reason for not wishing to return to Egypt at God's command is his guilt at having been party to the oppression of the Israelites, not because he was a poor speaker. Moses does not set his wife and children upon a donkey, but sets his wife upon a camel. He doesn't have any children. Aaron does not come forth to meet him, but rather avoids him, because Aaron is Moses' enemy.  Aaron is therefore not Moses' spokesman, does not even go in with him to Pharaoh, and manifestly does not perform the miracles. Moses demands the entire and permanent liberation of the Israelites, rather than just three days’ freedom to worship God outside the country. Pharaoh’s response is to double the workload of the Israelites, rather than to make them gather their own straw. Moses is not eighty years old by any stretch of the imagination. The carcasses of the Passover lambs continue to lie in the street after the blood has been put on the door posts, and are not eaten.  The Red Sea is parted because Moses strikes the water with his rod, not because he lifted his hand over it, and, conversely,  it returns without him doing anything at all. Pharaoh is in the midst of the sea and survives.

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My Blog Stats, Compared

My blog stats vary, which is normal, due to them having different audiences, but here are the stats I found interesting for the last month, and you may too.  Blog A is Orthodox Ecclesiology and the World, Blog B is How to get Married in China, and Blog C is Steamies vs. Diesels.

Visitors by Browser

Blog A

1. Chrome (27%)
2. Firefox (27%)
3. Internet Explorer (25%)
4. Safari (13%)
5. Opera (3%)

Blog B

1. Chrome (41%)
2. Firefox (26%)
3. Internet Explorer (14%)
4. Safari (7%)
5. Opera (1%)

Blog C

1. Safari (30%)
2. Chrome (24%)
3. Internet Explorer (21%)
4. Firefox (11%)
5. Opera (1%)

But why such an bwoser disparity? Maybe this can be explained by OS?
Visitors by Operating System:

Blog A

1. Windows (67%)
2. Macintosh (13%)
3. iPhone/iPad (8%)
4. Android (6%)
5. Linux (3%)

Blog B

1. Windows (64%)
2. Macintosh (12%)
3. Android (10%)
4. iPhone/iPad (7%)
5. Linux (3%)

Blog C

1. Windows (55%)
2. iPhone/iPad (29%)
3. Macintosh (6%)
4. Android (6%)
5. Linux (2%)

OK, but why such an OS disparity? Maybe this can be explained by the origin of the audience?
Visitors by Country:

Blog A

1. United States
2. Ukraine
3. China
4. United Kingdom
5. India
6. Canada
7. Germany
8. Turkey
9. Russia
10. France

Blog B

1. United States
2. New Zealand
3. Germany
4. United Kingdom
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. Indonesia
8. France
9. Singapore
10. China

Blog C

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Ukraine
4. Australia
5. Canada
6. Japan
7. New Zealand
8. Ireland
9. Russia
10. Indonesia

Based on this and other evidence, it seems that Safari and iPad/iPhone stats are higher for Blog C because of the traffic from the United Kingdom. Do any other bloggers or webmasters see this same type of trend?

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What the Bible says about those who govern us?

Many people hold their nation state, political philosophy, movement, or party up as an idol, which is condemned throughout the Bible, but besides that, the Bible speaks very clearly about how we, as Christians, should follow the rulers appointed over us, whether it is our opinion that they are fair or not. Remember that the rulers over Saints Peter and Paul were every much as ferocious as the leaders of the World today.

Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject to authorities which govern. For there is no authority except from God. So that the one who sets himself against the authority hath withstood the ordinance of God; and they who have withstood shall receive judgement to themselves. For the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to bad ones. And dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? Be doing that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same. For he is a minister of God to thee for the good. But if thou be doing evil, be afraid; for not in vain doth he bear the sword, for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to the one who practiceth that which is bad. Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath, but also because of the conscience. For on this account ye also pay tributes; for they are public workers of God, persevering for this same thing. Render then to all their dues: to whom the tribute is due, the tribute; to whom the customs duty, the toll; to whom the fear, the fear; to whom the honor, the honor.

Titus 3:1-2 Be reminding them to submit themselves to rulers and authorities, to obey a superior, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to not be contentious, but equitable, showing forth meekness toward all men.

Hebrews 13:17 Be obedient to those who lead you, and keep on submitting, for they are watchful for your souls, as those about to render an account, that they may do this with joy, and not groaning; for this would be unprofitable for you.

1 Peter 2:13-25 Therefore be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as being supreme, or to the governors, as being sent by him indeed fr punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good; for sois the will of God that by doing good ye may muzzle the ignorance of foolish men— as free, and not as those who are having freedom as a cloak of wickedness, but as slaves of God. Honor all, be loving the brotherhood, be fearing God, be honoring the king. Household slaves, be subject in all fear to your masters, not only to the good and fair, but also to the crooked. For this is a grace if for the sake of conscience toward God anyone endure griefs, suffering unjustly. For what kind of good report is it if, when ye sin and are buffeted, ye shall endure? But if, when ye do good and suffer, ye endure, this is a grace from God. For to this ye were called,  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving behind for you an example, that ye should follow His footsteps: "Who did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth"; "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not in return; when He suffered, He threatened not, but kept on giving Himself over to Him Who judgeth righteously; Who "Himself carried up our sins" in His body on the tree, that we, having dies to sins, should live to righteousness—by Whose bruise "ye were healed." For ye were "as sheep being led astray," but were turned about now to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

All Bible quotes taken from The Orthodox New Testament: Acts, Epistles, and Revelation, Volume 2

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"Ask an Orthodox Monk" Recommended Reading List: PART TWO

The second  recommended reading list (The first list can be found HERE.) from Hierodeacon Parthenios from the "Ask an Orthodox Monk" Facebook group with links to purchase as hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle versions:

• On the Unity of Christ, St Cyril of Alexandria (SVS)
• Three Treatises on the Divine Images, St John of Damascus (SVS)
• Deification in Christ, Panayiotis Nellas (SVS)
• The Apostolic Fathers, edited by Fr Jack Sparks (Light and Life)
• The Life of Moses, St Gregory of Nyssa
• From Glory to Glory: Mystical Texts of St Gregory of Nyssa, edited by Jean Danielou (SVS)
• The Life of Antony, St Athanasius (Classics of Western Spirituality)
• The Life of the Virgin Mary (Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, CO)
• Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ, St Justin Popovich, translated by Fr Asterios Gerostergios (Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies)
• The Universe As Signs And Symbols, St Nikolai Velimirovich (St Tikhon's Seminary Press)
• The Homilies of St Gregory Palamas, translated by Dr Christopher Veniamin (Mount Thabor Press)
• Prayers by the Lake, St Nikolai Velimirovich
• The Prologue from Ohrid, St Nikolai Velimirovich (Sebastian Press - Serbian Diocese of Western America)
• The Bible and the Holy Fathers for Orthodox, edited by Johanna Manley (SVS Press)

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"Ask an Orthodox Monk" Recommended Reading List: PART ONE

The first recommended reading list from Hierodeacon Parthenios (Miller) from the "Ask an Orthodox Monk" Facebook group with links to purchase:

• The Philokalia: Volume Two
• Anything by Saints Maximos the Confessor, Dionysios the Areopagite, John of Damascus, or
• Gregory Palamas
• On the Incarnation by St Athanasius (SVS Press)
• Christology, St Nektarios of Aegina (St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Monastery, Roscoe, NY)
• The First-Created Man, St Symeon the New Theologian (St Herman)
• The Orthodox Veneration of Mary the Birthgiver of God, St John Maximovitch (St Herman)
• Partakers of Divine Nature, Archimandrite Christoforos Stavropoulos (Light and Life)
• The Holy Angels, Mother Alexandra (Light and Life)
• Surprised by Christ, The Rev James Bernstein (Concilliar)
• On the Christian Sacraments, St Cyril of Jerusalem (SVS Press)

The second, much longer list can be found HERE.

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Coming Soon: The Bible Study Series

At my local church, Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Christian Church, I am beginning a Bible Study Series in February, God-Willing.

I will be creating the lessons and then after teaching the classes, I will be posting the lessons I have taught on this page as well.

So far, here is the proposed plan for the first 10 lessons, which has been approved by my Spiritual Father and Confessor, the Very Reverend Protopresbyter, Vasile Tudora:

1. Where does the Holy Bible come from and how do we interpret it?: History of the Canon of the Septuagint and Masoretic Old Testaments and New Testament including Luther’s Proposed Deletions in the NT.
2. The New Testament as a Lens to Understand the Old Testament: Types and Anti-types
3. The Divine Liturgy in the New Testament: The Epistles and the Revelation of Saint John
4. The Initiation Mysteries in the Bible: Holy Baptism and Chrismation/Sealed with the Holy Spirit
5. The Mystery of Holy Eucharist in the Bible: Communion With God Inside Us
6. The Healing Mysteries in the Bible: Holy Confession and Unction
7. The Mystery of the Holy Orders in the Holy Bible: The 3 Ranks of the Holy Priesthood (The Diaconate, Presbytery, and Episcopate) and Monasticism
8. Councils to Decide Dogmatic Debates (Apostolic & Ecumenical Councils) and the Nicene Creed in the Holy Bible
9. Salvation in the Holy Bible: A Process Towards Theosis vs. the Protestant Heresies of Calvinism and “Once Saved, Always Saved”
10. The Five Solae: The Protestant Heresies disproved in the Holy Bible (Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solo Christo, Soli Deo Gloria)

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