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The Saints, Relics and their Intercessions
Very Rev. Kuriakose Moolayil
Corepiscopos
I read a few postings on this
subject in SOCM Forum a few weeks back. I was engaged with other
responsibilities and travels during those days. I ask pardon for this
belated response. I am sure these types of comments are confronting us all
through the life situations in US and other places. I thank all those who
responded appropriately to this. Let me share with you my humble thoughts on
the issues raised by Mr. Philip.
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At the outset I
would like to make it clear that the terminology used by Mr. Philip as
'tomb worship' is by no means a practice of any of the Christians. As it
was rightly mentioned by the honorable SOCM Moderators the Church never
teaches the worship of saints or relics. Worship and adoration are only to
God. We respect, model and share in the prayers of saints addressed to
Gods. Before going into the details of this let me call your attention to
the verbal tricks that are employed by these sects.
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They use
terminologies that will itself be contradicting the teachings of the bible
and the church. They will fabricate the stories and legends and attribute
them to be the basis of the stand of the Church. Here also Mr. Philip uses
TOMB WORSHIP AND FINDS A HYPOTHESESIS to underline his notion. For example
see below his argument,
I quote," Tomb worship was started by NOAH's
grand children after the great flood. Noah was a God fearing obedient man.
His grand children worshipped his tomb thinking that God's blessing would
come on them by doing this. ( from History of Babylon) But they were
punished (book of Genesis). "
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Here he coins
problems, finds reasons and come out with resolutions. He forgets Bible is
the history of relations between man and God. It does not hide and cover
the flaws of godly men. Similarly the good and bad of human part are
included for the dos and donots of men. No one will imitate Noah in
Gen.9:21 or Lot in Gen.19:30-38. Similarly The Church and its Fathers were
the defenders of the true faith and traditions. The Church was even
hesitating to accept the use of 'icons' in worship to avoid
misunderstandings as the Byzantines were insisting. The use of symbols,
art, and pictures were with specific regulations to make it clear that
they are only reminders and pointers to the life sacrifices of biblical
events, figures and saints.
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One another fallacy
of these' Philips' are that they think all others other than they are mere
pagans and mere ignorant on bible principles and teachings. They considers
them as the only authority. For them they themselves are the infallible
not even the bible. They interpret the bible in their whims and fancies.
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There are many
incidents where the tombs of the saints were respected. We see the Mary
going to the tomb of Lord to pray with incense on the 3rd day.
See Mark 16:2. They went there not to worship the TOMB but to worship the
Lord. In Christian life the tomb of the saints and the faithful are the
place of HOPE AND RESURRECTION. We worship the Lord who made the tomb a
place of solace and comfort. We at the tomb praise the one who gave
eternal life to the departed! All living are reminded at the tomb that we
also are approaching the boarder of death. Again about the tombs of the
saints are places of reverence, not of worship. We read the corpse of a
young man quickened when it was thrown to the tomb of Elisha. There is
evidence in the bible that the tomb of the prophets were spared with
reverence when the king destroyed other tombs. In New testament times also
the bodies of the martyrs were buried with reverence and their relics were
considered with much respect and holiness. See also
Gen.23,35,2Kings23:17-18.
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Such is the concept
of the prayer for the dead. The propaganda of the people like Philip is
that the church advocates that the prayers of the relatives will deliver
the dead from hell. So they say that the church is allowing its members to
live exuberantly and the prayers and Qurbono will save them from
damnation! What a calculated twist is given here!. The church actually
prays only for the faithful departed. SARANATHALE NIL KRUPAYIL
MARANAMADANJORU DASARE.... this prayer is the model of all prayers for the
dead. It is for the faithful who passed away in the faith of the Lord. Our
Lord gave promise that those who believe in Him will be with him in
Paradise. Luke 23:43 Here comes the need for prayer those who are already
with Him in Paradise! The prayer is the sharing of love and faith. Anyone
with the Lord is praising Him and praying with all the saints! When we are
remembering them we are also remembered there. All believe in the efficacy
of prayer while living in body, but some doubt its efficacy when we are
out of this body and when we are face to face to Him.!
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Next is the idol
worship. In Ex.20 it is very clear that the idolatry is the 'bowing down
and serving ' of the idols that are made for Worship. On the contrary if
we take the literal sense of 'making or carving' of any image or likeness,
it will be violating the commandments, even the taking of a photo or
picture. The idolatry starts in the mind. Even worship of a person or of
an idea can also be idolatrous. Some think that the idol is the three
dimensional statue, Two dimensional picture can also be idolatrous or the
same can also be nothing other than a memory. The attitude and concept of
a person to a thing is the basis of idolatry. The pictures are mere
explanatory and are a better tool for remembrance. If we see the picture
of Lord Jesus we see in mind the living Lord not the picture as Lord. It
is a very basic truth and factor, but these narrow minded sects are very
obstinate to think that through the pictures and statutes the church
promotes idolatry. If this is true they are promoting the same when they
print the pictures of pastors, preachers or parents. The drawing of
pictures in words are seen published in books and periodicals about
people. They are the same as making a statue or picture for honor or for
remembrance. Even abstract things like love and servitude can be
idolatrous like love of money or servitude to ideas and isms.
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Humility and prayer
will solve the confusions. It is not the bible that divides, it is the
interpretations make divisions. The interpretation of the bible should be
by the church based on the traditions. The faith of the Church is based on
the bible but not limited by the bible. The bible itself is the
interpretation of the faith of the Church. The Church was established in
the 1st century itself but the bible was authoritatively declared by the
church in the fourth century. When the Council of Nicea formulated the
basic faith of the CHURCH the bible was not fully canonized. Just as the
councils defended the faith, the church canonized the books of the bible
to protect the faith from heresies. The Holy spirit that invoked the
writers of the books of the bible inspired the holy fathers to interpret
the holy scriptures. The bible and the interpretations must go together.
It is not my freedom that I must use to interpret the scripture but the
prayers with humility and understanding of the traditions and the
interpretations of the church helps me to understand the bible. So in the
Church the individual is not the interpreter, but the church and its
fathers are the interpreters. When individual interprets there will be
thousands of sects that interprets in a myriad ways.
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I strongly
recommend the reading of the book ' Sathya Viswasa Padanangal' published
by Mor Adai Study Centre, Cheeranchira, Changanaseerry 686 106 to get more
clarifications on the related issues. For more details please write to the
moderators.
Let us try to understand the
teachings of the church and the bible in a humble and prayerful manner.
May God bless us all.
Lovingly,
Original message from Mr. Philip Omman
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/3055)
Dear Moderator
Ref: item 3 on
Bible doctrine I have most respect for your comments on the Bible doctrine.
I appreciate your comments and so I give some more details.
What ever we do
in worship or in our personal life, don't break first commandment of OUR
FATHER IN HEAVEN. Ex.20:3,4 "You shall have no other God before me....I am a
jealous God punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the 3rd and
4th generation of those who disobey..... This was given 1500's BC" In AD
30's, Jesus said in Mark:12:30,31 " Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. That means trust in
the triune God only for your health, salvation, healing, wealth etc.
Tomb worship was
started by NOAH's grand children after the great flood. Noah was a God
fearing obedient man. His grand children worshipped his tomb thinking that
God's blessing would come on them by doing this. ( from History of Babylon)
But they were punished (book of Genesis).
Gradually idol
worship started in order to remember the passed away saints . God started
punishing them (fall of Babel...etc). Bible says there was idol in Jacob's
house (His daughter in law carried a small idol representing her trust in
the idol until it was found out)Even under Moses time people did it. When
God gave 10 commandments to Moses, this was the first one (Ex.20;3,4).
How did it come
into the church? It was after 500's during Pope Leo's time. In order to
attract gentiles to Christianity, churches built shrines of local passed
away saints. It has been carried on ever since. Now shrines and relics are
built inside churches and worship(pray, kiss, bow down) after Qurabana. They
don't know they break 1st commandment of God. This why God's wrath remains
in Christian families (Re: 1 Cor 11:27-32-Many die immature death, many are
sick.
Real Jews never
worship passed saints. Tomb of Caiaphas (the high priest who order to kill
Jesus) is in Jerusalem. Jews considers him a saint, but they don't worship
him by lighting candles or putting incense at the tomb because of the first
commandment. Saudi King destroyed tombs of many 100's of local Islamic
saints and ordinary people (except the tomb of Mohd Nabi), before 80 years
in order to obey Allah.
We are
baptized in the name of FATHER,SON,AND HOLY SPIRIT according to Jesus's
command. We have HOLY SPIRIT IN US and we should live according to Jesus's
way only.
None of the
writing is my words. I quote what God says in the Bible. Study of Bible will
remove many superstitions from our life and will help us live very a
productive life. I want people to be doubly blessed by God, so I write all
these.
Regards
Philip
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From the desk of moderators
Mr. Philip fails to recognize that
the Orthodox doctrine does not permit "worship" of saints. We seek the
"intercession" of saints with God, given their standing in His presence.
This is obviously not to be mistaken with worship of saints, idol worship,
etc., all anathema to the Church.
Also, he is entirely mistaken to
think that Caiaphas is a "saint" in any sense for the Jews. He was a high
priest and regarded as such. His sarcophagus was discovered in the early
90s, not any tomb as such, and is in control of the Israeli Antiquities
Authority.
More comments are invited from
respected clergies & honorable members
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