Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

20On the Holy Spirit 39to be the direct derivation of what is stated in John 16:14. Itdoes not imply that He ‘proceeds’ from the Son as He doesfrom the Father. Therefore, for the S.O.C. there is no doubleprocession or the ‘filioque principle’ as held by the RomanCatholic Church and some of the Western Churches. It maybe noted here that it was the upholding of this doctrine ofdouble procession that caused a ‘schism’ between the RomanChurch and the Byzantine Church in 1054 A.D. This ‘schism’is referred to as the ‘Great Schism’. As the Holy Spirit is takenfrom the Son, sometimes He is referred to as the Paracleteof the Son. Although the S.O.C. does not uphold the filioqueclause, She affirms that the Holy Spirit is ‘taken’ from theSon.4. And who spoke through the prophets and the Apostles.Ref.: (a) 2Pet. 1:21. The prophets did not think these thingsupon their own, but they were guided by the Spiritof God. (L.B.)(b) Mt. 10:20. For, the words you will speak will not beyours; they will come from the spirit of your Father,speaking through you. (G.N.B)CommentThe prophets and the Apostles could preach and prophesisebecause of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Inspiration isone of the worldly gifts from the Holy Spirit.Theme No: 5On the Holy SacramentsIntroductionThe Holy Sacraments are decreed and instituted by our Lordas essentials for the salvation of mankind and are the very visiblerituals of invisible grace. They are also known as sacredmysteries. They are enumerated below.CommentSacraments are sometimes referred to as mysteries. TheS.O.C. uses the term ‘rozo’ to denote mystery. Man cannotcomprehend the abstract and the absolute through thesenses. The highest cannot be spoken of. They can, at themost, be enacted. This inevitable factor of the limitation ofthe human mind has given rise to the engaging of visibleand audible media to bring home the abstract metaphysicaltruths. In other words, man requires a body language besidesthe ordinary one to understand the abstract. So symbolshave come to be associated in the celebration of sacraments.The sacraments are the representative manifestations of thespiritual secrets. Even Jesus employed them as in theAnaphora or raising up of the hosts or bread and wine.1. Baptism.Ref.: Jn. 3:5... No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he isborn of water and the Spirit. (G.N.B.)CommentBaptism literally means bathing or immersion in water. Thishas come to Christianity through the practice of St. John theBaptist, who according to some scholars was a member ofthe Qumran sect of the Jews. Qumran sect is also referredto as the Essenes community. It was a Judaistic sect whichstood for other worldliness. This sect occupied the Qumranarea in the northwest corner of the Dead Sea 10 miles south