prayer

Teachings on prayer, intercession, and communion with God grounded in Scripture.

Atonement by Incense Members Public

More Proof of the Intercessions of Saints The Wisdom of Solomon speaks of the events of the Exodus where God sent forth his almighty Word from heaven’s throne to slay the firstborn of the Egyptians.(1) It is within this context that the writer makes mention of Aaron offering

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
atonementapocryphabible

Reformers on Intercession of Mary & Saints Members Public

Martin Luther Now I do not know in all the Scriptures anything that so well serves such a purpose as this sacred hymn of the most blessed Mother of God, which ought indeed to be learned and kept in mind by all who would rule well and be helpful lords.

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
saintsmarycatholicism

Palamas and Islam Revisited Members Public

In this post I will be quoting from Gregory Palamas: The Hesychast Controversy and the Debate with Islam, Translated Texts for Byzantinists, Volume 8, translated with an introduction and notes by Norman Russell, published by Liverpool University Press, 2020. Palamis assumes that both Christians and the Turkish Muslims have the

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
orthodoxyislamtheology

Origen on Prayer & Intercession of Saints Members Public

Here will be quoting from the English translation of Origen on Prayer, published by Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI, pp. 25-29. Origen lists four different types or moods of prayer, which can be broken down as: 1. Request. 2. Prayer. 3. Intercession. 4. Thanksgiving Origen permits that requests,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
prayersaintschurch-history

Origen and the Worship of Angels Members Public

Origen is often misquoted as denying that Christians were to pray to or invoke angels or the saints in heaven to intercede for believers on earth. They base this on Origen’s response to the Christian critic and pagan Celsus, whom this prolific Christian wrote a thorough refutation to. In

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelsworshipprayer

St. Cyril on the Eucharist & Intercession Members Public

I quote from St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Catechetical Lectures to show the beliefs and practices of Churches at that time in respect to the liturgy, the holy Eucharist, intercessory prayers of angels and departed saints, prayers for the dead in Christ, etc. All emphasis will be mine. (On the

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
eucharistchurch-historysaints

MEDIATION IN ISLAM Members Public

There are certain narrations that are deemed to be authentic according to Sunni Islam, which plainly show Muhammad’s followers using either him or someone close to him as a means of mediating between the Islamic god and his followers. Take, for instance, the following hadiths which speak of gazing

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
islamallahhadith

EARLY CHURCH & PRAYERS OF SAINTS Members Public

The following citations were compiled by William Albrecht. They document the widespread belief in the prayers/intercessions of angels and saints for believers on earth. All emphasis will be mine. Shepherd of Hermas (AD 89-145) Chapter 4 I prayed him much that he would explain to me the similitude of

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historysaintsangels
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