Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

iii. The absence, apart from the authority of Holy Scripture, of any formal,
structural factor that would hold the Reformed together
iv. The juridical emphasis of Western, and thus also Reformed, soteriology
v. The Protestant, and thus also the Reformed, understanding of the gospel as in
its essence the message of justification by grace through faith alone
vi. The authority of Scripture, over against the Church
vii. The Reformed emphasis on sanctification as the fruit of justification
viii. The importance of the Reformed of the Old Testament and the notion of
covenant
ix. The special relationship, for some of the Reformed, between the Church and
the Jewish people
2. H.G. Mar Matta Roham, the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan, presented a paper
entitled ‘Introduction to the Oriental Orthodox Churches’. These churches
believe in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and recognise the following
sacraments: baptism, myron (chrismation), eucharist, penitence and confession,
unction of the sick, matrimony and priesthood.
Salvation needs: baptism, eucharist, repentance, faith and good works. The
Church means the building, the believers and the clergy. It must include an altar.
Incense, icons, candles and the cross are used and have meanings. Veneration of
saints, and asking their intercessions, honouring St. Mary and believing in her
perpetual virginity, monasticism, fasting are practised in these churches.
Concerning Christology, Oriental Orthodox churches believe in One incarnate
nature of God, the Word out of two natures. They reject the filioque, ie, the
addition of ‘and the Son’ to the statement in the creed concerning the procession
of the Holy Spirit.
3. H.H. Pope Shenouda III presented a paper entitled ‘Tradition’, explaining that:
i. Tradition is older than the Holy Bible. It goes back to our fathers: Adam
(Genesis 4:4), Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 12:7, 14:18, Hebrews
7:6-7), Jacob (Genesis 28:22).
ii. The Holy Bible does not mention everything (John 21:25, John 20:30-31,
Luke 4:40, Luke 24:27, Acts 1:3).
iii. Tradition is taken from the teachings of the Apostles, many of whom did not
write epistles or books.
iv. The Apostles laid down disciplines for the Church (John 13,14, Corinthians
11:34, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 1:3).
v. The Apostles recorded in their Epistles things they received through tradition
(Jude 9:14-15, Revelation 2:14, Hebrews 12:21).
vi. Tradition delivered to us the Bible itself, the Church heritage, rituals and
discipline. It also kept the sound faith and certain beliefs like consecration of
Sunday, monogamy, and prayers for the departed.
vii. Sound tradition must not contradict the Bible, or other Church traditions, and
should be accepted by the Church.
viii. The Bible ordered us to preserve the tradition (2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2
Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 11:2).
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