orthodoxy

Explorations of Orthodox theology, tradition, and doctrinal distinctives.

Church Fathers on Mary’s Perpetual Virginity Members Public

The following citations complied by William Albrecht. Protoevangelium of James “And when she was twelve years old there was held a council of priests, saying, ‘Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
marychurch-historycatholicism

Revisiting Shabir Ally’s Distortion of Justin Martyr Pt. 1 Members Public

Shabir Ally has written a short article in an obvious attempt of trying undo the damage resulting from his lackluster performance and defeat at the hands orthodox Christian philosopher Jay Dyer in their debate (Dr Shabir Ally / Jay Dyer Debate: Is Jesus God Incarnate? Answers in Scripture, History & Logic

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historychristianitytheology

The Signing of the Cross in Early Christianity Pt. 2 Members Public

In a previous post (/2020/05/26/the-signing-of-the-cross-in-early-christianity/) I showed that the signing of the cross was a very early Christian practice. I provide additional evidence from the early church fathers showing that the practice of making the sign of the cross with the hands was both early and quite

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historychristianitycatholicism

The Biblical Books of the Apostolic Canons Members Public

The following list of biblical books is taken from the Apostolic Canons (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3820.htm); which is believed to be a fourth-century Syrian Christian text. All bold emphasis is mine. Canon 60 If any one reads publicly in the church the falsely inscribed books of impious

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonbiblechurch-history

John of Damascus’ Biblical Canon Members Public

The following is an excerpt from the writings of the eighth-century church father John of Damascus who delineates the list of books that the church at that time, particularly the churches in the east, accepted as canonical and authoritative. All bold and capital emphasis will be mine: Chapter 17. Concerning

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonorthodoxychurch-history

Gregory of Nazianzus’ Biblical Canon Members Public

The following is an English translation of the works of Gregory of Nazianzus (fourth century AD) as listed in  Migne’s Patrologia Graeca, Volume 37, columns 471-474 (Carmina Dogmatica, Book I, Section I, Carmen XI). All bold and capital emphasis will be mine. Concerning the Genuine Books of Divinely Inspired

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonchurch-historyorthodoxy

Veneration of Icons: An Unbiblical Tradition or Biblical Truth? Members Public

God’s Word expressly condemns the practice of making idols or images of any creature for the express purpose of worshiping it as a god/goddess: “Now God spoke all these words, saying: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
orthodoxycatholicismbible

Origen – Dialog with Heracleides Members Public

The following is an excerpt from Origen’s dialogue with a bishop, which further confirms that he was a Trinitarian who believed in the consubstantiality of the Father and the Son. Origen also affirmed the physical, bodily resurrection of our Savior, condemning as heresy the denial that our Lord’s

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historytheologytrinity
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