Gospel – Page 2 – Faith Unto Ages

To Bear Suffering Patiently

The world teaches that it is necessary to live a life of comfort; one free of struggle, hardship, and misfortune. It considers one that is free of these as having a ‘successful’ life, because suffering is viewed by it as being something completely alien to goodness. Because tribulations come in many different forms – be it poverty, hunger, famine, war, sickness, or death; those with a carnal mind either conclude that there must therefore be no God. Others suggest that if one does exist, that He is either too far from us or unconcerned with our condition, and therefore unloving.

On the contrary, Christianity views suffering with great joy and a sign of God’s love for us. When we suffer, especially for His sake, it is pleasing to Him, not because He is a monster who delights in torturing or punishing us for sin, but because through it we become partakers of His own suffering.

St. Athanasius’ Apologia For the Incarnation, Pt. 1 – Against the Gnostics.

Since we are heading into Nativity Season, I believe that it is relevant to discuss St. Athanasius’ Apologia against the Gnostics who challenged the Orthodox dogma of Christ’s Incarnation. Below is an essay that I have written for one of my theology classes some time ago. To God be the Glory, Amen.

[Please do not copy without permission].

Introduction

To understand the arguments used by St. Athanasius on the subject of the Incarnation of the Eternal Logos, we must first have a crystal-clear understanding of who the Word is. The Word according to St. John the Apostle is God Himself: “In the beginning was The Word, The Word was with God, and The Word was God.” 1 He continues: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” 2 Throughout St. Athanasius’ treatise ‘On the Incarnation’ we will see him address a variety of subjects for his newly converted friend Macarius, who Athanasius calls a “true lover of Christ”. 3

After proving the foolishness of the Epicureans, Platonists, and Gnostics; he briefly touches upon points regarding God creating man in His image, man’s fall through disobedience to the single prohibition , man’s expulsion from the Paradise of Joy, and the creation of news sins which began to further corrupt man – all to which he believed to be relevant to the topic of the Incarnation.4 In this essay, I will present the tactics and arguments used by St. Athanasius to prove the necessity of the Incarnation by predominately referencing chapters 2 and 3.

St. Mary’s Warning of Hell – Coptic Vision of The Theotokos

An Excerpt from the book ‘Saint Mary’s Modern Miracles’ published by ‘Pope Kyrillos VI’s Sons’ through St. Mena Monastery Press:

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Is 65:24).

Habib Farig developed a strong relationship with St. Mary and referred to her as the “Great Lady.” He would say of her that, as a mother, she knows the needs of us, her children, more than we do; he would also say that she knows what Christ has in His heart for us. He believed that having the Virgin’s presence in our lives gives us the hope to wait for the Lord’s miraculous and divine interventions. Through her intercessions, we see His Divine Power and blessings bestowed upon us.