If someone, for a reasonable motive, holds the person of the pope in suspicion and refuses his presence and even his jurisdiction, he does not commit the delict of schism, nor any other whatsoever, provided that he be ready to accept the pope were he not held in suspicion. It goes without saying that one has the right to avoid what is harmful and to ward off dangers. In fact, it may happen that the pope could govern tyrannically, and that is all the easier as he is the more powerful and does not fear any punishment from anyone on earth.
Learn about the history of the Church. The pope was always the Bishop of Rome, an important city, to be sure. But when the Roman Empire moved to Byzantium and was renamed Constantinople, that city became the center of Christendom, because the Roman emperor lived there.
All Christians were part of the Church, which was entirely Orthodox until in 1054, the pope decided to break away and this is when the Roman Catholic Church began. This was 1000 years after Christianity began. So, Catholics, in the eyes of the Orthodox, are heretics, or schismatics. They did not maintain the worship services of the Divine Liturgy, and their communion is without grace.
Now go forward into the Reformation, which produced the chaos of 23,000 different sects, who all stressed that they had the real faith. They do not. It still resides where it has always been, in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.
The laying-on of hands during ordination can be followed in a continuous line back to the Apostles. Thus, apostolic succession still remains, but does not in Catholicism. The one, holy, catholic ( meaning universal), apostolic (because of the lines of succession) church is the Orthodox church. It has never changed, and will never change.
The services date back to the 300-400's AD or perhaps later with certain texts, prayers, etc. The Liturgy of St. James is from the first century AD. The vestments are the same as in the 300AD period. The prayers we use every day are from the Church fathers, like Sts. Basil, Macarius, Gregory, and other greats. Spiritual reality does not change.
We have many miraculous aids, like icons that stream myrhh for years on end, a flow of beautiful oil from heaven. I just experienced the myrhh-streaming icon from Hawaii, which has been producing a stream of myrhh for over ten years. It flows down and is soaked up by cotton, which is distributed to the faithful for healing. Where does the myrhh come from? It materializes, so I believe God sends it from heaven. You can get something that came from heaven itself.
Orthodoxy has become rooted in different lands, like Russia, Greece, Serbia and many others. The services, then, are conducted in that language, following the missionary work of Cyril and Methodius, who first learned the Slavonic language, and then translated the service books into Slavonic (Old Church Slavonic, akin but different from Russian).
So, to find an Orthodox Church, seek one that speaks your language, when possible. I recommend it to all who are seeking real holiness and the truth. God bless you all. I spent part of my life as a Catholic, which I didn't like, and then as a Protestant, which was fine until the golden doors of Orthodoxy were opened to my mind. It's like a treasure house, filled with gold. It is deep, holy and REAL. It's the true faith, and it requires a lot from believers. Check it out and you will see.
If someone, for a reasonable motive, holds the person of the pope in suspicion and refuses his presence and even his jurisdiction, he does not commit the delict of schism, nor any other whatsoever, provided that he be ready to accept the pope were he not held in suspicion. It goes without saying that one has the right to avoid what is harmful and to ward off dangers. In fact, it may happen that the pope could govern tyrannically, and that is all the easier as he is the more powerful and does not fear any punishment from anyone on earth.
That part where Jesus says to Peter "You are the rock upon which I will build my Church"
"out of context"
Peter means rock.
Upon this rock I will build my church...
Apostolic succession. Even the Protestants believe in Apostolic succession. It's only the recent Judeo-Freemasonic Christian sects that reject it.
I just do what the King says
Learn about the history of the Church. The pope was always the Bishop of Rome, an important city, to be sure. But when the Roman Empire moved to Byzantium and was renamed Constantinople, that city became the center of Christendom, because the Roman emperor lived there.
All Christians were part of the Church, which was entirely Orthodox until in 1054, the pope decided to break away and this is when the Roman Catholic Church began. This was 1000 years after Christianity began. So, Catholics, in the eyes of the Orthodox, are heretics, or schismatics. They did not maintain the worship services of the Divine Liturgy, and their communion is without grace.
Now go forward into the Reformation, which produced the chaos of 23,000 different sects, who all stressed that they had the real faith. They do not. It still resides where it has always been, in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.
The laying-on of hands during ordination can be followed in a continuous line back to the Apostles. Thus, apostolic succession still remains, but does not in Catholicism. The one, holy, catholic ( meaning universal), apostolic (because of the lines of succession) church is the Orthodox church. It has never changed, and will never change.
The services date back to the 300-400's AD or perhaps later with certain texts, prayers, etc. The Liturgy of St. James is from the first century AD. The vestments are the same as in the 300AD period. The prayers we use every day are from the Church fathers, like Sts. Basil, Macarius, Gregory, and other greats. Spiritual reality does not change.
We have many miraculous aids, like icons that stream myrhh for years on end, a flow of beautiful oil from heaven. I just experienced the myrhh-streaming icon from Hawaii, which has been producing a stream of myrhh for over ten years. It flows down and is soaked up by cotton, which is distributed to the faithful for healing. Where does the myrhh come from? It materializes, so I believe God sends it from heaven. You can get something that came from heaven itself.
Orthodoxy has become rooted in different lands, like Russia, Greece, Serbia and many others. The services, then, are conducted in that language, following the missionary work of Cyril and Methodius, who first learned the Slavonic language, and then translated the service books into Slavonic (Old Church Slavonic, akin but different from Russian).
So, to find an Orthodox Church, seek one that speaks your language, when possible. I recommend it to all who are seeking real holiness and the truth. God bless you all. I spent part of my life as a Catholic, which I didn't like, and then as a Protestant, which was fine until the golden doors of Orthodoxy were opened to my mind. It's like a treasure house, filled with gold. It is deep, holy and REAL. It's the true faith, and it requires a lot from believers. Check it out and you will see.
Where oh where is there a Pope Kiril when you really, really need him🤔???
Cyril, the saint, can hear you. Why don't you pray for guidance from him??
I pray to the Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ for the straight skinny.. ✨