The Dangers Of Great Teachers & Their Heresies – Saint Vincent of Lerins – The Commonitory – An Indictment Against the Reformation

From: The Commonitory -  Saint Vincent of Lerins - A.D. 495 Chapter XVII & XVIII The Error of Origen a great Trial to the Church. [42.] We said above that in the Church of God the teacher's error is the people's trial, a trial by so much the greater in proportion to the greater learning …

Memento Mori – Morning Prayer – A Prayer to the Holy Trinity

A Prayer to the Holy Trinity Arising from sleep I thank thee, O holy Trinity, because of the abundance of thy goodness and long suffering thou wast not wroth with me, slothful and sinful as I am; neither hast thou destroyed me in my transgressions: but in thy compassion raised me up, as I lay …

St. Vincent of Lerins Defends The Importance Of Tradition – Circa A.D.437

The Commonitory - Chapter VI. The Example of Pope Stephen in Resisting the Iteration of Baptism Great then is the example of these same blessed men, an example plainly divine, and worthy to be called to mind, and meditated upon continually by every true Catholic, who, like the seven-branched candlestick, shining with the sevenfold light …

Icons: Saint John Of Damascus on Iconography, Iconoclasts, & The Second Commandment

  An Exact Exposition of The Orthodox Faith: Book IV, Chapter XVI. Concerning Images But since some find fault with us for worshipping and honouring the image of our Saviour and that of our Lady, and those, too, of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them remember that in the beginning …

Saint John Of Damascus Affirming Transubstantiation In The Eucharist – Refuting the Protestant Notion That Communion is Purely Symbolic

"[...] Now seeing that this Adam is spiritual, it was meet that both the birth and likewise the food should be spiritual too, but since we are of a double and compound nature, it is meet that both the birth should be double and likewise the food compound. We were therefore given a birth by …

The Confessions of Saint Patrick – Saint Patrick in His Own Words

The following is a 5th century description of Saint Patrick's conversion, and apostollic labors during his lifetime as the missionary and spiritual father of Ireland written by Saint Patrick himself.  1. I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, …

The Vincentian Canon – AD434 – On Tradition and Scripture – A Refutation of Sola Scriptura

I have continually given the greatest pains and diligence to inquiring, from the greatest possible number of men outstanding in holiness and in doctrine, how I can secure a kind of fixed and, as it were, general and guiding principle for distinguishing the true Catholic Faith from the degraded falsehoods of heresy. And the answer …

The Sole Cause of All Things – John of Damascus Refutes the Filioque

In the following excerpt, Saint John of Damascus continues to expound on the Godhead. Points of interest are bolded and italicized, but the whole chapter is riveting. References are made to the Essence Energy Distinction, and Theosis, and at the end of the passage is a brief but clear exposition which refutes the filioque. An …

The Essence Energy Distinction In John of Damascus’ “The Orthodox Faith” – In Opposition to Absolute Divine Simplicity Found in Aquinas

In the following excerpt, Saint John of Damascusacknowledges that God is simple, but refutes the notion of absolute divine simplicity as is found in Thomism by laying out what the Orthodox know as the "Essence Energy Distinction" which is a foundational presupposition in many other areas of theology and Christology. "An Exact Exposition of The …

The Sixth Ecumenical Council: Constantinople III. – AD680-681 – Acts, Letters & Decrees – Against The Monothelites

Issues Addressed: Monothelitism Contents Session 1 Extracts From The Acts (See Below) Letter of Pope Agatho to the Emperor Letter of Pope Agatho to the Sixth Ecumenical Council Session 8 Session 13 Sentence Against the Monothelites Session 16 Definition of Faith Address to the Emperor Synodal Letter to Pope St. Agatho Session I. Extracts from …

The Fifth Ecumenical Council: Constantinople II. – AD553 – Acts, Capitulas, Anathemas, & Letters – Against Origenism

No Canons were written for this Council. People of Note: Emperor Justinian I. Pope Vigilius Elenchus Issues Addressed: Monophysitism (Nestorianism) Origenism Index: Session I. (SEE BELOW) Extracts From The Acts The Emperor's Letter. Session VII. Extracts from the Acts The Sentence of the Synod. The Capitula of the Council. The Anathemas Against Origen The Decretal …

On The Existence of God (A Refutation of Naturalism) – An Excerpt from Saint John of Damascus

Excerpts From "An Exact Exposition of The Orthodox Faith" by Saint John of Damascus Excerpt from Book I. Chapter III. On The Existence Of God “All things, that exist, are either created or uncreated. If, then, things are created, it follows that they are also wholly mutable. For things, whose existence originated in change, must …

Fourth Ecumenical Council: Chalcedon – AD451 – Acts, Letters, and Canons – Addressing The Monophysites

People of Note: Marcian and Pulcheria (Emperor in the East). Valentinian III. (Emperor in the West). Leo I. (Pope) Elenchus. Issues Addressed: Annulled and invalidated 'Robber Council' of 449 in Ephesus. Condemned Eutyches and Dioscorus. Affirmed canons of previous three Imperial Synods. Condemned Monophysitism. After thorough examination of ‘Tome of Leo’, affirmed it as ‘the …

The Third Ecumenical Council: Ephesus – AD431 – Acts, Letters, Canons & Decrees – Addressing The Nestorian Heresy

Third Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, AD431 Issues Addressed: Nestorian Heresy People of Note: Saint Cyril of Alexandria Sessions - Acts, Letters, Canons, and Decrees Session I. The Acts of The Council of Ephesus The Epistle of Cyril of Alexandria to Nestorius The Twelve Anathemas of St. Cyril Against Nestorius Decree of the Council Against Nestorius …

The Second Ecumenical Council: Constantinople – AD381 – Synodal Letters and Canons – Against Arianism And Other Heresies

DOCUMENTS OF THE SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE FIRST COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 381 translated by Henry R. Percival, 1899. Issues Addressed at Constantinople: Arianism, Macedonianism, Apollinarians, Eunomians, Eudoxians, Sabellians, Marcellians, Photinians People of Note: Saint Gregory the Theologian Saint Gregory of Nyssa The Holy Creed Which the 150 Holy Fathers Set Forth, Which is Consonant with the Holy and Great Synod …

The Deviation Of Protestantism From Historic Christianity As Shown By The Council of Nicea

The Deviations of Protestant Theology From Orthodox Christianity As Shown By The Canons Of The Council of Nicea Protestant theology and religious practices are a far cry from what the church practiced and believed for 1500 years prior to the reformation. The Canons of The Council of Nicea show just how far off from historical …

The First Ecumenical Council: Nicea – AD325 – Creed, Canons, and Synodal Letter

The Nicene Creed The Synod at Nice set forth this Creed. The Ecthesis of the Synod at Nice. I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; …

The Synod of Jerusalem – AD1672 – The Confession Of Dositheus: An Orthodox Response To Calvinist Ideas

(Eastern Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem, 1672) Context of This Confession A Synod of Eastern Orthodox Churches was called in Jerusalem in 1672 to refute the position of Cyril Lucaris, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had published a Confession in which he attempted to express Orthodox beliefs in terms of the predestination beliefs of Calvinism. From a …