apologetical notes m pomazansky 2

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Apologetical Notes

Part II

Very Reverend Father Michael PomazanskyTranslated by Natalia Semyanko Fr! Serg"ey #issilev

Contents:

Apologetical Notes

Part IIVery Reverend Father Michael Pomazansky

Translated by Natalia Semyanko Fr! Serg"ey #issilev

Our Godhath done

whatsoever he hath pleased (Ps. 114:3).

The principle o$ p"rpose or the la% o$ ca"sality!T%o elements in the %orld! &ead nat"re!'a%s o$ reason and ob(ective!

The man!

Society!The "niverse!

)And *od said!+

The heavens are established

by the ord!s "ord.

#aith as a do$%a.

#ro% &nowled$e to &nowled$e o' God.

Abo"t nat"re!Abo"t the composition and p"rpose o$ man!

The Image o$ *od in man!

The Churh about Providential "isdo%.

,! )The -h"rch teaches "s+ . %hat does this mean/

0! The 1ise and All.2ncompassing Providence o$ *od!

3! 1isdom is not a personal entity!

4! Sophia as )the so"l o$ the %orld/+ A )$eminine element+ in *od/+5! The 1orld6s 'i$e in the 7oly Spirit!

i'e in 'aith.

"e have seen the true i$ht.*

Two types o' enli$hten%ent.i$ht and dar+ness.

The Churh o' Christ,

aordin$ to the teahin$s o' -t. -i%eon,

the ew Theolo$ian.

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$"r %od&hath done

'hatsoever he hath pleased (Ps .))*+,-.

The principle o. p"rpose or the la' o. ca"sality.

1hy/ 8 7o% come/ 8 These t%o 9"estions are inherent to each o$ "s $rom o"rchildhood $rom the moment %hen tho"ght a%akened in "s and %e began to "se

lang"age! )To %hat p"rpose/+ and )For %hat reason/+The 9"estion )1hy/+ s"ggests the idea o$ a res"lt a$ter a given event or

occ"rrence! The religio"s point o$ vie% is associated %ith this 9"estion!

In the 9"estion )7o% come/+ one e:presses the idea o$ something preceding and

providing ca"se $or a given event or ob(ect! The teaching o$ positivism as a vie% on the%orld is closely associated %ith this 9"estion!

All o"r daily tho"ghts can also be de$ined as )eternal 9"estions!+ )Reasons+ or

)p"rposes+ are origin o$ all e:istence!Modern tho"ght declaring itsel$ scienti$ic striving to depart $rom the religio"s

idea and relying on the principle o$ materialism ignores the 9"estions o$ )p"rpose!+ Itdenies their leading role in the main 9"estions o$ the %orld6s e:istence! In everyday li$eall p"rposes are red"ced to a minim"m! ;ne tends to be convinced that all o"r acts both

social and private %hich appear to be done o$ $ree %ill are in $act so m"ch determined

by past events that o"r personal %ill is only a s"b(ect to )the la% o$ ca"sality!+ In thisvie% a p"rpose$"lness o$ o"r acts is only imaginary and in any case it is pre.determined

by )social+ movements! &o %e not then become $rom this point o$ vie% ("st toys in the

hands o$ $ate/

This vie% is totally "nacceptable to "s! Aside $rom)scienti$ic+ theories %e sho"ldprovide solid gro"nd $or o"r -hristian position on this s"b(ect not do"bting that it is tr"e

$or all people! ;"r %hole mindset %ill be determined by this principle!

T'o elements in the 'orld./ead nat"re.

The "niverse consists o$ t%o elements< the dead and the living one! Strict la%s o$

physics govern the dead element! The essence o$ its activities are red"ced to the $orm"la And ho% easily the living element is able to "se the dead one>

And %hat an incomprehensible ative "isdo% is revealed to "s in their "nion

and coordination>

'i$e is amazingly capable o$ coordinating itsel$ in relation to dead nat"re!Nonetheless $reedom is inherent to it as %ell! 'i$e cannot be locked %ithin the iron cage

o$ necessity! It has the strength %ithin itsel$ to break the bonds o$ dead nat"re! -learly

li$e has a partic"lar special beginning in the %orld %hich is spirit"al in 9"ality! Reason

%ill the ability to $eel and react are inherently contained in li$e!1hat greatness o$ conception> 1hat $"llness o$ e:istence in this coordination o$

death %ith li$e< a domain %here only the la%s o$ ca"se and e$$ect have their say %ithanother one %here $reedom and e:pediency are r"ling>

The man.

The man is an occ"pant o$ the earth and its director! ="t he is also a son o$ theearth! 7e is in a sense more than other beings a part o$ the living element! At the same

time he is tied to his body %hich has been taken $rom the dead nat"re governed by

precise la%s o$ mathematical ca"sality! 7e re9"ires the com$ort provided by thereg"larity o$ o$ the body6s la%s! 7e is also capable o$ limiting this )press"re o$ necessity+

e:ercised by the body!Animals also possess p"rpose b"t %ith h"mans it steps $or%ard to a m"ch greater

e:tent as general engine directing reg"lating and protecting their actions! The $reedom

o$ the li$e6s spirit sometimes only complicates his sit"ation %hen t%o imp"lses coming

$rom t%o so"rces< body and so"l collide!

=esides this %e have o"r o%n )spirit"al reasons+ %hich come into con$lict %itho"r general e:pediency! 1e m"st not also $orget that %e -hristians have o"r o%n la%s

o$ -hristian %ill$"l p"rpose! All o$ this creates a comple:ity as %ell as a richness o$ o"r

inner li$e!

Society.

Social li$e is made "p o$ individ"al lives that is %hy it contains everything %hichbelongs to each person individ"ally! Still the sit"ation here is more comple:! 2achperson has his o%n path o$ li$e his o%n plans $or tomorro% his o%n $reedom and his

o%n s"bmission to necessity! 1hen possible this can be bro"ght to agreement b"t

sometimes a con$lict may arise!1e recognize that h"mans di$$er $rom animals by the lo$tiness o$ their ob(ectives!

I$ %e apply the same meas"re to society as a %hole can one really name the e$$ort to

limit the li$e o$ the latter %ithin the sphere o$ p"rely practical altho"gh com$ortable and

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convenient e:istence based on the ass"mption that this e:istence ? o$ an individ"al as

%ell as o$ the society . is p"rely )rational+ earthly short.term and in e$$ect senseless

)tr"e progress+ / ="t it is s"ch progress that is today recognized as tr"ly scienti$ic!

The "niverse.

;ne might say $rom a materialistic or agnostic point o$ vie% < )@o" $orget thatthe planet 2arth is like a grain o$ sand in the "niverse and yo" see yo"rsel$ as the center

o$ creation and on this yo" b"ild yo"r religio"s ideas relating yo"r concl"sions $rom the

speci$ic to the general!+ 'et "s reply to s"ch possible remark! In disc"ssions abo"t *od

one can only speak o$ the -reator and Provider o$ the entire "niverse and o"r Savio"r!The reproach t"rns back on its so"rce %hen %e hear the anno"ncement s"pposedly o$

scienti$ic nat"re b"t %ith a mysterio"s 9"ality that there is an element on earth that in

properly combined %ith other elements provides a beginning and a starting spark to li$eit is only re9"ired that the combination occ"r and the seed o$ li$e %ill arise! ="t no one

has yet revealed s"ch a la% among the precise reg"larity 9"alitative o$ all earthly matter!

&o %e have to a%ait an "ne:pected )accident/+ ;n the other hand i$ the earth is a grain

o$ sand in the "niverse as it tr"ly is and i$ one imagines an aidentand makes it ane/a%ple$or the possible appearance o$ li$e in the "niverse then %ill not s"ch an image

o$ the origin o$ li$e appear as child6s play/ In $act %e see that in all the kinds and

genders o$ living beings li'e o%es 'ro% li'e! This is its la%!1e bo% do%n be$ore the greatness o$ that holy 0iblial panorama %hich is

portrayed $rom the second line o$ the 'irst hapter o' Genesis and is chosen in

condensed $orm and o$$ered to o"r hearing in the ;ld Testament readings o$ o"r threegreatest $east days< the =irth o$ -hrist 2piphany and *reat and 7oly Sat"rday! 1e

present the beginning and the end o$ this -h"rch reading! *enesis ,


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)And *od saidB and (there was) the evenin$ and the %ornin$B+ These %ords

%ere $irst said abo"t the third day and %ere repeated conse9"ently! 2ach evening and

morning %ere the beginning and end o$ the )nightly period+ %hen in each living beingon earth incl"ding each o$ "s the invisible and intangible process o$ gro%th is occ"ring

%hen strength is regained and all the po%ers are re$reshed and rene%ed! In the morning

%e arise and see something ne% in nat"re< a $lo%er has opened or a ne% being hasappeared! Is this not the process %e $ind in the =iblical narrative/ A$ter each verse ) and

it was so+. %e read a con$irmation< )and God saw that it was $ood !+This perception

is very m"ch alike to that o$ a h"man being!Moses %rote his narrative $or the people o$ the earth $or his nation $or their and

o"r spirit"al instr"ction! For this reason it is limited to the theme o$ earth and mankind!

1e are not $orbidden to consider the possibility that some%here in other places in the

"niverse conditions similar to those %e see on 2arth might also e:ist!;"r tho"ght is str"ck by something else< the lo$tiness o$ spirit and tho"ght o$ the

prophet Moses his daring by h"man meas"re b"t *od.inspired by its indications

aeptane o' the 'ollowin$ tas+< to give a general image o$ the 2arth6s creation the

appearance o$ h"manity on earth its $irst history the history o$ his nation as *od6schosen one to a$$irm monotheism in this people and begin the history o$ *od6s -h"rch

in the ;ld Testament! 7is national lang"age %as primitive and abstract ideas %ere$oreign to it! The %riting abilities %ere primitive too! ="t the task %as accomplished and

this $o"r and a hal$ tho"sand years ago>

I$ the principle o$ )res"lt+ clearly acts in the sphere o$ o"r %orld i$ harmony incoordination %ith the la%s o$ its inanimate nat"re is e:pressed in its most vital parts the

$ormer inanimate elment being o$ service to the latter i$ %e see pro$o"nd intelligence and

order in all o$ this 8 $rom this %e are $illed %ith a conscio"sness o$ *od6s blessing and

goodness 8 %e can only reoie in the $reatness o' the reation o' the universe ando"r earth to thin+ and at so as to be %orthy o$ *od6s goodness and *od6s gi$ts

inimitably recorded in the %ords o$ the Apostle Pa"l to the RomansBFor o$7im and thro"gh 7im and to 7im are all things< to %hom be glory $or ever! Amen!+

CRom! ,,


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te:t this name %as s"pposedly borro%ed by the 2vangelist $rom *reek philosophy

namely $rom the "deo.7ellenic conceptions o$ Philon the e%ish philosopher in ancient

Ale:andria! )2lthou$h his views do not oinide o%pletely with the Gospel o' ohn

%uh will re%ain unlear without $ettin$ 'a%iliar with his philosophial theory +

claims the article!

A -hristian so"l cannot agree %ith this!In the entire span o$ Ne% Testament books %here does one see an attempt to

establish a link bet%een -hristian tr"ths and *reek philosophy/ &oes not the Apostle

Pa"l say abo"t the %isdom o$ this age< Let no man deceive himselfFor the wisdom ofthis world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own

craftiness. The Lord knoweth the thouhts of the wise, that the! are vain C, -or! 3E!

1hom does the Apostle Pa"l reb"ke $or blindness and narro%ness o$ mind/ And

concerning the Apostle ohn %e shall say< %as it necessary to t"rn to %orldly philosophy$or him %ho declared %ith all the strength o$ spirit" This is the victor! that overcometh

the world, even our faith. #ho is he that overcometh the world, $ut he that $elieveth that

%esus is the &on of God'CI ohn 5


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the prophet Isaiah in chapter D3 o$ his book< #ho is this that cometh from 1dom with

d!ed arments#herefore art thou red in thine a//arel, and th! arments like him that

treadeth in the winefat' 2 have trodden the wine/ress aloneand the !ear of m!redeemed is comeThou, Lord, art our Father, our -edeemer0 Th! 3ame is from

everlastin C-hap! D3


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*enesis The *ospel

,! n the $einnin God created nd

God said" Let there $e...

0! )And the earth %as %itho"t $orm and void+C'i$elessEB

3! nd God said" Let there $e liht. 8 This

is said abo"t physical light!

4! nd darkness was u/on the face of the

dee/

In the $ollo%ing lines Altho"gh the strength o$ the

moist"re $illing each one o$ them is in essence the same yet the plants "se the moist"re

according to their di$$erent needs! In %orm%ood the moist"re t"rns rancid in %aterhemlock it becomes poisono"s ("ice in others 8 sa$$ron balsam poppy 8 it develops

other 9"alities< in one 8 it heats in another 8 it cools in the third some%here in

bet%eenB In la"rels spikenard and similar plants 8 it is $ragrant in the $ig and pear 8s%eet in the grapevine it becomes grape and %ine! The tang o$ the apple the rose6s

bl"sh the lily6s %hiteness the violet6s bl"eness the hyacinth6s p"rple and everything

that can be seen on earth gro%ing o"t o$ one and the same moist"re di$$ers in so manyvarieties o$ appearance constr"ction and 9"alities!+

The holy bishop sees in all this the mirac"lo"s breathing o$ li$e! 7e calls it either

the )li$e $orce+ )mind+ or in a sense )so"l!+ This last notion he divides into three

categories< )the gro%ing.no"rishing so"l+ in the plant %orld )the sensitive so"l+ in theanimal %orld )the rational so"l+ in man! These are three consec"tive stages tightly knit

together! And man $rom the moment o$ his birth passes thro"gh the initial stages be$ore

his o%n rational so"l is revealed $"lly %hich $rom the beginning %as already part o$ his

potential!Follo%ing the tho"ght o$ the holy bishop %e can add that plants have the initial

elements o$ )sensitivity+ $or e:ample to light to %armth even to $oreign to"ch! Theymay even have the ability to react to %hat they )sense+ and also the instinct to attract

attention to themselves thro"gh their aesthetic side! =otanists can s"rely tell "s so m"ch

abo"t this>St! *regory then %rites abo"t man Th"s %e can ask together %ith thesaint %hether all the modern achievements o$ o"r mind are to be compared %ith the

str"ct"re o$ o"r spirit"al and physical sel$/ -an %e compare the li$e.abo"nding acts o$

the incomprehensible *od the ;ne -reator and Provider %ith the o$ten li$eless $ake

and even dead achievements o$ h"man geni"s/

Abo"t the composition and p"rpose o. man.

St! *regory notes that in his time the 9"estion %hether the so"l or the body %ascreated $irst %as a s"b(ect o$ )be%ilderment in the ch"rches!+ In response to this he

negates the very %ording o$ the 9"estion! Neither the body %itho"t the so"l nor the so"l

%itho"t the body can e:ist< they are sim"ltaneo"s in origin! The other t%o opinions are$ables as m"ch as the teaching abo"t the transition o$ the so"l!

All three $orces act in h"man nat"re as mentioned be$ore< the gro%ing

the $eeling and the reasoning one! )="t they are not three so"ls! The tr"e and per$ect so"lis in essence one intelligent and immaterial "nited thro"gh the senses %ith the material

essence!+ )Inasm"ch as per$ection o$ the so"l consists o$ the mind6s po%er and the gi$t o$%ord then everything %hich is not so Cin nat"reE can only be something similar to theso"l b"t is not a tr"e so"l b"t only some living activity comparable to the so"l!+

)1here co"ld one s"ppose the r"ling part o$ the so"l to abide/ Some say

that the r"ling center o$ the so"l Cthe mind ? 1dit!E is in the heart! ;thers claim that the

mind d%ells in the brain!+ The $ormer arg"e that the heart is in the center o$ the entirebody o%ing to %hich the vol"ntary movement is easily spread thro"gho"t the body! The

latter see the temple o$ reasoning in the brain saying that the head is constr"cted by

nat"re as a certain stronghold o$ the entire body %ith the mind residing in it as a kings"rro"nded by the senses6 areas on the brain6s o"ter layer like its heralds and protectors!

)I also accept that the $eelings are based in the brain6s o"ter shell lying over the

brain %ithin the head according to the scientists! For this reason the thinking po%er o$the so"l o$ten becomes con$"sed I %ill not deny s"ch assertions a$ter listening to those

%ho have done anatomical researchB1e also do not minimize the meaning o$ the

heartB="t let the empty babble o$ those be stopped %ho think to con$ine thinking

activity %ithin any part o$ the body as in a bo:B The so"l and mind belong to the entirebody to all its members the t%o r"le over the latter as %ellB ="t inasm"ch as the body

is constr"cted like a m"sical instr"ment then as o$ten happens in m"sic that

pro$essionals cannot sho% their ability d"e to the %orthlessness o$ the instr"ment 8 th"s

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the mind acting either on the entire instr"ment 8 the body or on individ"al members

achieves res"lts only %hen the members are $o"nd in their proper nat"ral state b"t i$ the

members o$ the body themselves are not in their nat"ral state there the mind remains"ns"ccess$"l and inactive!+

The body and the so"l according to a higher la% laid do%n by *od6s

command possess a m"t"al )starting point+ )so that a person may be neither older noryo"nger than himsel$+B

As %e say that a %heat seed or any other seed potentially contains %ithin itsel$

everything relating to its $"t"re ripeness< green lea$s the stem the branches and seeds so%e may as %ell ass"me that both elements o$ an organism the body and the so"l are

already present %hen everything is being si$ted o"t $or the beginning o$ a person6s li$e

%ith all their characteristics! An individ"al6s "ni9"e appearance is $o"nded in his initial

9"alities! )1e ass"me that %hat the living CorganismE proc"res $rom %ithin itsel$ to serve$or the beginning o$ its li$e is not something dead and inanimate! The state o$ death

res"lts $rom the loss o$ the so"l!+

)As the body gro%s $rom its very smallest to its $"ll height so the spirit"al

activity develops and is revealed in a person in accordance %ith the development o$ thebody! In the initial development o$ the body there is only a gro%ing po%er in the so"l

itsel$ like some root hidden in the gro"nd B 'ater %hen this plant comes to light andsho%s its seedling to the s"n the gi$t o$ sense blossoms! 1hen it ripens and achieves the

proper height then it begins to sho% reasoning po%ers like some $r"it not everything at

once b"t 9"ickly gro%ing along %ith the gro%th o$ its physical shell bearing its $r"itaccording to the person6s individ"al po%ers!+

The Image o. %od in man.

This s"b(ect is most pertinent in o"r times d"e to the $act that $or somerepresentatives o$ R"ssian theological and philosophical tho"ght it is tied "p %ith the

sophiological ideas concerning a $emale presence in *od! This res"lts in a sing"larinterpretation o$ *enesis ,


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abo"t *od6s image in man is not lying! 1hy is the *odly essence =lessed %hile the

h"man is calamito"s i$ in the 7oly 1rit the latter is considered comparable to the

$ormer/ 'et "s e:amine the %ords precisely! It is said< Let us make man in ur imae,after ur likeness. &o God created man in His own imae, in the imae of God created

He him.The creation is completed in accordance %ith *od6s image! Then these %ords

are repeated saying )male and $emale created 7e them+ %hich seems to be at odds %iththe "s"al notion o$ *od! For this reason o"r nat"re6s str"ct"re is in a %ay do"ble< one is

comparable to the nat"re o$ *od and the other is di$$erent being divided into t%o

se:esB )For I think that some great and elevated dogma is being related thro"gh the7oly Script"res thro"gh that %hich is said and it is s"ch< the h"man nat"re is positioned

in the middle o$ t%o e:treme nat"res the *odly nat"re 8 incorporeal and the %ordless

li$e 8 m"te and beastly $rom the *odly 8 verbiage and reasoning $rom the m"te 8 the

physical str"ct"re %ith the divisions into the male and the $emaleB+ ) May no onebecome angry %ith me $or the $ollo%ing tho"ght! *od by 7is essence contains all the

good %hich can possibly be encompassed by tho"ght and higher than any good that can

be imagined or comprehended! 7e creates man only beca"se 7e is goodB and provides

him %ith no lack o$ blessings! And the %ord o$ *od "ni$ying all the good given to manindicated this s"ccinctly< man %as created )in the image o$ *od!+ I$ *odliness is the

$"llness o$ blessings and man is in 7is image then %e are capable o$ everything%onder$"l o$ any virt"e and %isdom and one o$ these blessings is $reedom beca"se

virt"e is something %hich cannot be s"b("gated b"t remains $ree al%ays!+ All h"manity

has these e:cellent 9"alities altho"gh called collectively in the person o$ the $irst man)Adam+ C)one taken $rom earth)E! That %hich is $orced and compelled cannot be

virt"o"s!

The saint ans%ers the $ollo%ing 9"estion %ith great ca"tion< %hy has the present

method o$ reprod"ction been chosen $or h"manity and not one that %o"ld )have likened"s to angels!+ );"r opinion is s"ch+ ans%ers he giving the $ollo%ing reason< )Inasm"ch

as -reator sa% %ith 7is )all.perceiving vision+ that h"man choice %o"ld not lead

h"manity to its predestined per$ection by a straight path and there$ore it %o"ld $all a%ay$rom near.angelic li$e then in order that the n"mber o$ h"man so"ls sho"ld not remain

small by losing that ability by %hich the angels gre% in n"mber 8 the -reator provides

h"mans %ith another method o$ reprod"ction one that s"its the sinners better makingthis method o$ s"ccession more beast.like and senseless! It is $or this reason it seems to

me that the great &avid pitying the poverty o$ man cries over h"man nat"re %ith the

$ollo%ing %ords< *an that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the $easts that

/erishCPsalm 4


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*od! Those in %hom initial bea"ty has not $aded are a living con$irmation o$ the tr"th o$

%hat has been said that man has been created in resemblance to *od!+

*od %ho r"les over everything also $oresa% that the h"man race %o"ldsometime achieve a certain $"llness and then this method o$ h"man regeneration %ill

end! Time %ill end as %ell and the entire "niverse %ill be rene%ed! 1ith this change

h"manity %ill pass $rom $inite and earthly to passion.$ree and eternal li$e %hen thetr"mpet o$ res"rrection %ill so"nd!

Th"s tho"gh man does sin a$ter his $all $rom heaven yet he keeps the image o$

*od! 7is mind still has the traits o$ its ;riginal Image! )Inasm"ch as *od is the most%onder$"l and s"perior to all possible good the mind is decorated %ith the likeness o$ the

prototype bea"ty like a mirror re$lecting that %hich is be$ore it! Then the entire spirit"al

nat"re adheres to the mind and is itsel$ bea"ti$ied by similar bea"ty becoming like a

mirror re$lecting another mirror in this %ay one6s material side is also protected and"pheld! Th"s )%hile one holds to the other tr"e bea"ty is commens"rately re$lected in

everything that %hich decorates the higher immediately bea"ti$ies the lesser! ="t %hen

this good "nion is ann"lled or %hen the higher $ollo%s the lo%er then %hen this lo%er

matter departs $rom its norm its non.imagery is revealed Cbeca"se matter itsel$ alone hasno image and no str"ct"reE! Then thro"gh this lack o$ image the bea"ty o$ one6s nat"re

previo"sly enhanced by the mind is spoiled! Then the imp"rity is trans$erred to the minditsel$ so that the image o$ *od can no longer be seen in the $eat"res o$ the creation

CmanE! The mind in itsel$ remaining an image o$ goodness no% like a crooked mirror

does not re$lect the bea"ti$"l $eat"res o$ goodness b"t re$lects the "gliness o$ matter!Th"s thro"gh the deletion o$ the adorable the evil is introd"ced!+

)1e on the other hand $earing s"ch a disastro"s res"lt+ 8concl"des the saint

8 )hearing the call o$ the Apostle Pa"l< &eein that !e have /ut off the old man with his

deeds0 nd have /ut on the new man, which is renewed in knowlede after the imae ofHim that created him C-ol! 3


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st"dy o$ the psychology o$ the s"bconscio"s its dark so"rces shado%y spheres

e:pressed in dreams or hal$.conscio"s psychosomatic tendencies! There is no mention o$

psychology as an ed"cational tool $or the moral elevation o$ h"mans! 7istory has kept thememory o$ h"man geni"ses providing a %ealth o$ material $or psychology as %ell as $or

analyzing and clari$ying the good or bad conditions $or the spirit"al per$ection o$ a

person! A link o$ modern psychology to religion %o"ld be even less likely to e:ist!Modern artistic literat"re is leading do%n the same decadent path!

;"r epoch has $"lly revealed itsel$ already! 1ill not a ne% one coming soon

reveal spirit"al po%ers in order to reinstate the "nion o$ scienti$ic kno%ledge and-hristian $aith in order to create a "ni$ied %orld vie% the $irst steps to %hich %ere made

by the -h"rch $athers/ ;r %ill $aith and science contin"e on their separate %ays/

The 4h"rch abo"t Providential 3isdom .

).The 4h"rch teaches "s5 'hat does this mean6

7o% sho"ld %e "nderstand the e:pression )The Churh teahes!+ I have been

baptized I am a member and part o$ the -h"rch! &oes that mean that I also participate in

the sel$.a%areness o$ the -h"rch/ And even more so )%e+ taken together participating

in the services learning the 'a% o$ *od are %e not the spokesmen o$ the generala%areness o$ the -h"rch/ 1here is this )teaching+ -h"rch $rom %hich %e sho"ld seek

instr"ction/

'et "s try to ans%er this 9"estion!For this let "s consider %hat -hrist6s -h"rch is in its $"llness! 'et "s not $orget

that the -h"rch is a holy part o$ *od6s %orld! 1e cannot even imagine the vastness o$ the

-h"rch and the depth o$ its spirit"al content! 1e are b"t temporary parts o$ the earthly-h"rch o$ten diverted by %orldly cares! -an %e easily reach the spirit"al level %hich

%o"ld enable "s to perceive the $"llness o$ the -h"rch6s li$e/ For this reason %e seek

direction $rom the holy -h"rch $athers o$ all ages! All those holy $athers had generalconsent regarding the $aith! And %e see that none o$ them ta"ght anything abo"t $aith

directly $rom himsel$ b"t partook $rom the so"rce o$ the -h"rch! 1hat is this so"rce/ It

consists o$ t%o parts< ,E the ;ld Testament script"res and 0E the Ne% Testament the

*ospel o$ -hrist and 7is holy apostles!2ach o$ "s is a citizen o$ his co"ntry b"t does each o$ "s kno% all his co"ntry6s

territory its content its needs all its la%s/ Neither sho"ld %e simpli$y o"r vie% o$ the

-h"rch the catholicity o$ %hich is e:pressed not only in the "nity o$ its heavenly andearthly members b"t also in the $"llness o$ its mysteries some o$ %hich are open and

accessible to "s and some are completely "nkno%n!

1e m"st admit that %hen people too s"re o$ themselves consider themselvesempo%ered to add to the teachings o$ the -h"rch either thro"gh their philosophical or

personal considerations this only sho%s that they do not kno% the -h"rch! 2ither they do

not admit that the -h"rch has a ready ans%er they are looking $or or they are invading

areas that even angels $ear to intr"de!An e:ample o$ s"ch "n("sti$iable sel$.ass"redness connected %ith a lack o$ kno%ledge

o$ the -h"rch6s teaching can be seen in the "nacceptable teachings o$ a gro"p o$ R"ssian

philosophers abo"t )Sophia 8 the 1isdom o$ *od+ perceived as a mediator bet%een

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*od and the %orld in *od6s providential acts! 1e sho"ld be a%are there$ore o$ the tr"e

teaching abo"t *od6s All.%ise Providence!

7.The 3ise and All58ncompassing Providence o. %od.

The ma(estic $"llness o$ the providential acts o$ *od in this %orld are revealed

se9"entially in t%o $orms< ,EThe ;ld Testament states that the entire "niverse ispreserved in *od6s )right hand+ 0E The Ne% Testament sho%s the highest and mostper$ect e:pression o$ *od6s %isdom and love in the incarnation o$ the Son o$ *od $or the

salvation o$ the %orld and its trans$ig"ration into the #ingdom o$ *lory!

In this latter concl"sive e:pressly ew Testa%entmeaning 1isdom is the namegiven to the 'ord es"s -hrist! The Greeks seek after wisdom 8 %rites the Apostle

Pa"l 8 $ut we /reach est!n wisdom hast Thou madethem all=.The ,3thpsalm marvelo"sly presents the conscio"sness o$ a simple believer

%hose so"l is entirely immersed in *od6s providence

7o% contrary all this is to the very idea o$ =iblical monotheism> There is nothing

in common bet%een monotheism and polytheism in their very essence ("st like bet%een$aith and atheism! The %hole essence o$ religion o$ the once *od.chosen people the

entire ardor o$ prophetic speeches e:hortations threats cries o$ spirit"al pain %ere

directed precisely at the battle %ith this heathen )c"lt o$ li$e+ %ith the c"lt o$ )anestral

be$innin$s o' li'e+ in its lo%est $orm and this %as %hat made "p the spirit o$

polytheism in di$$erent variations! =iblical religion is completely $ree o$ this element!

The =ible sees all the tragedies o$ the people and its %hole history $rom the point o$ vie%o$ its $alling into the base heathen ideas and the orgies o$ these c"lts connected to them!

The prophets $oresa% and e:plained the destr"ction o$ the state the tro"bles o$ the

nation as direct punish%ent$or departing $rom the p"re moral monotheism $or betrayal

o$ *od!M"st %e speak on this theme in connection %ith -hristianity/

The $irst birth o$ a person that is the creation o$ 2ve $rom Adam6s rib according to the

book o$ *enesis %as not %itho"t p"rpose a birth )without a wi'e!+ -hristianity receivedits beginning in the same %ay< the embodiment o$ the Son o$ *od without a husband!

In reply %e are o$$ered the $ollo%ing 9"ote $rom the $irst chapter o$ the =ible< )in

the image o$ *od created 7e him male and $emale created 7e them!+ From this areversed concl"sion is derived< that %hich has been established in h"man nat"re is also

characteristic o$ *odly nat"re! ="t s"ch a concl"sion is a violation o$ the elementary la%

o$ logic 8 a reverse concl"sion by analogy! I see my $ace clearly in a smooth mirror< b"t

I do not ded"ce $rom this that my $ace is also smooth and shiny like the mirror! The

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Apostle %rites o$ the heathen< 6ut $ecame vain in their imainations, and their foolish

heart was darkened. ?rofessin themselves to $e wise, the! $ecame fools, and chaned

the lor! of the incorru/ti$le God into an imae made like to corru/ti$le man, and to$irds, and fourfooted $easts, and cree/in thins CRom! ,

I$ this so"l is to be imagined an ideal p"re *odly creation an )angel.protector+o$ the %orld Cthere is s"ch a vie%point tooE then in the presence o$ GodlyProvidence

%hat does it give to the %orld/

And here instead o$ an ans%er %e $ind another a more deeply concealed motive

o$ sophianism! They say that there is something missing in the -h"rch6s teaching abo"tthe %orld namely it is lacking the )$eminine element+ %idely $o"nd in nat"re! 7ere the

disc"ssion reverts to the very beginnings o$ e:istence! 1e can also clearly see a 'allo$

modern -hristian %orldvie% into the s%amp o$ ancient heathen polytheistic ideas and

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c"lts! 7aving been st"died in detail in modern times the ancient c"lts are $"lly revealed

to "s openly speaking as clearly obscene and heino"s partly attracting the attention o$

and being c"ltivated by modern %riters! ;$ co"rse only the pureidea is e:tracted $romthem by the sophiologists< the idea o$ a completeness o$ the %orld str"ct"re a )$"llness

o$ li$e+ e:pressed by the presence o$ the t%o main components in the living %orld 8 the

male and the $emale one! And since according to modern non.ch"rch vie%s -hristianityis b"t one o$ the n"mero"s religio"s systems then $or the sake o$ its leading role among

the latter the idea is born to s"pplement the -h"rch6s teaching %ith a p"ri$ied idea o$ the

)$eminine so"rce+ as an active po%er in the %orld!="t %e dare not apply the la%s o$ li$e implemented only on earth to the realm o$

the *odly and the heavenly to the realm o$ the angels and other incorporeal spirits>

Sophia as)The #ourth #aet6+ 1e %ill ans%er b"t brie$ly!

I$ %e imagine her to be a $acet o$ the ;ne *odly being then there is no place $orher in -hristianity even in its $orms standing $arthest $rom ;rthodo:y! There are

-hristians %ho do not con$ess the Most 7oly Trinity b"t there are none that con$ess a

L"ad!

And even i$ it %as a )physical $acet ) then it co"ld only be a $irst giving start to aco"ntless n"mber o$ other physical beings in other %ords< $aces individ"als! They

cannot claim that by her e:istence she absorbs all personalities standing belo% herincl"ding o"rs>/

9.The 3orld2s 0i.e in the :oly Spirit.

The h"man %orld lives in a sin$"l state!And in $act all the creature was made su$>ect to vanit!, no willinl!, $ut $!

reason of him (man) who hath su$>ected the same in ho/e, $ecause the creature itself

also shall $e delivered from the $ondae of corru/tion into the lorious li$ert! of the

children of God CRom! ect to hurt, lovin the thin that is ood

9uick, which cannot $e letted, read! to do ood, +ind to man, steadfast, sure, free from

care, havin all /ower, overseein all thins, and oin throuh all understandin, /ure,

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and most su$til, s/irits. nd th! counsel who hath known, e8ce/t thou ive wisdom,

and send th! Hol! &/irit from a$ove' C1isdom o$ Solomon G+

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The -h"rch teaches "s this %orld vie%! The -h"rch lives in the 7oly Spirit and

the 7oly Spirit presides in it! The -h"rch6s prayer$"l tho"ghts abo"t the Spirit are

constr"cted in s"ch a %ay that %e co"ld comprehend this constant presence o$ the Spiritin the believers and among the believers! 1e al%ays ask $or a rene%al o$ 7is nearness to

"s!

0i.e in .aith.

God is liht, and in Him is no darkness at allC, ohn ,


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n Th! liht we shall see liht CPs! 3Do! therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, $ut must

decrease. Cohn 3


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this on to his spirit"al children< -e>oice in the Lord alwa!s" and aain sa!" -e>oice.

CPhil 4o! and crown CPhil! 4o! ma! $e full.C, ohn ,oice to fear Th! name. S"ch is the

specter o$ a -hristian6s spirit"al states! This is %hat )ivin$ in the i$ht+means! Th"sthe 'ight o$ *od is po"red o"t into the %orld!

T'o types o. enlightenment .

"e the modern people o$ the so.called )1estern c"lt"re+ live by necessity in t%ospirit"al circles< aE the circle o$ timeless -hristian 7nli$hten%entand bE the epoch o$)enlightenment+ beg"n in 1estern 2"rope at the end o$ the Middle Ages! 1e live in the

age o$ rationalism or practical thinking %hich has grad"ally departed $rom religio"s

beginnings partic"larly in the age o$ )Voltarianism!+ In o"r cent"ry it has amo"nted to adirect persec"tion o$ -hristianity $alling mainly on the ;rthodo: -h"rch and

partic"larly on the R"ssian -h"rch! According to the goals o$ this general epoch only

earthly goals are %orthy o$ social attention and even o$ e:istence! A concern $or eternalli$e or the per$ection o$ one6s li$e according to the spirit o$ the *ospel has no place here!

And $or the protection o$ )social ethics+ and order common teaching and police.likevigilance along %ith detention $acilities are deemed per$ectly s"$$icient! S"ch are theval"es o$ this era! ="t its realities are all be$ore< millions killed $or their $irmness in $aith

tho"sands in prisons and e:ile $or protesting the physical and moral press"re a %ave o$

international and civil %ars a gro%th o$ crime a collapse o$ morality an ab"ndance o$

moral and physical s"$$ering!Not%ithstanding all the violations in the $ield o$ religion it seems obvio"s that the

positive part o$ practical %estern c"lt"re has gro%n $rom a -hristian $o"ndation 8 be it

printing C*"ttenberg the =ible -h"rch booksE artistic literat"re )novels+ Cspringing$rom the hagiography o$ the Roman scholastic periodE the %orks o$ great composers

C%ritten initially to be per$ormed at -h"rch servicesE art C$rom -h"rch artE or

architect"re C$rom the intricate designs o$ -h"rch architect"re partic"larly in the 2astE!;n the other hand %e are a%are that the -hristian $aith does not re(ect earthly

c"lt"re and one6s daily needs to %hich the 7oly Script"res themselves attest! Th"s %e

read in the *ospel that in the $orty days a$ter -hrist6s res"rrection the disciples o$ the

'ord set o"t on their nightly toil o$ $ishing! The Apostle Pa"l completely devoted to thepreaching o$ -hrist6s Res"rrection and -hrist6s teaching also spent time making tents in

order that others %ere not b"rdened by keeping him! The 2vangelist St! '"ke %as both a

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physician and an artist besides being the a"thor o$ t%o ma(or holy books< The *ospel

and the Acts o$ the Apostles!

="t by the 'ord6s %ord< )Man does not live by bread alone!+ And o"r personalsel$.a%areness teaches "s that o"r scope and th"s o"r p"rpose are above the demands o$

plain e:istence and to limit o"rselves to this physical side means to deprive o"rselves o$

the $"llness o$ li$e! ="t %e %ill say $rom the -hristian point o$ vie%< it is more than adeprivation o$ spirit"al (oys on earth b"t also o$ the blessings o$ eternal li$e in *od and

this means spirit"al death>

0ight and darkness.

8nasm"ch as modern kno%ledge has penetrated into the past history o$ mankind itappears apparent that t%o great ideas %ere initially inherent to man< $aith in *od and a

notion o$ eternity Cin the =ible 8 o$ the heavenly )tree o$ li$e+E! It %as al%ays

"nderstood that i$ there %as no eternity in *od then $or every man in the $"t"re a$ter a

short and al%ays "ncertain altho"gh perhaps even a )happy+ co"rse o$ li$e death %illcome meaning collapse emptiness darkness! And this hopeless latter o"tcome 8 death

8 completely erases the meaning o$ the $ormer< the earthly li$e! In the very )%orldvie%+

o$ the "nbelieving person the $inal line is emptiness and darkness!="t the -hristian %orldvie% is di$$erent named shortly )$aith!+ The 'ord es"s

-hrist ta"ght his disciples and other people abo"t $aith in the Sermon on the Mo"nt

apologetical notes m pomazansky 2

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