Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

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35On the Holy Oil 694. The Holy Myron sanctified exclusively by the Supreme Pontiffis being used not only in baptism but also in the consecration ofchurches and the altar stones. Likewise, consecrated olive oil isbeing used in baptism. The significance of these two is thefollowing - We profess that thereby we are born anew, areclothed by Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Again, byrubbing with Holy Myron and oil we practise what we profess,viz. we put on Christ and receive the Holy Spirit - In theadministration of these oils, the benefits accrued are of spiritualnature. In order that we become endowed with their best results,we must use them with devotion and faith.Ref. (a) Ex. 30:22-24. The Lord said to Moses: Take the finestspices - 6 kg of liquid myrrh, 3 kg of sweet smellingcinnamon, 3 kg of sweet smelling cane and 6 kg ofcassia... Add four litres of olive oil and make a sacredanointing oil like perfume. (G.N.B.)(b) Songs. 3:6. What is this, coming from the desert likea column of smoke, fragrant with incense sold bythe traders! (G.N.B.)(c) 1Jn. 2:27. But as for you Christ has poured out theSpirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you,you do not need anyone to teach you. For, this Spiritteaches you about everything and what he teachesis true, not false. Obey the Spirit’s teaching thenand remain in union with Christ. (G.N.B.)CommentAs per the canons of the S.O.C., the sanctification of theHoly Myron and the Consecration of the Holy Oil are theexclusive prerogatives or privileges of the Syrian OrthodoxPatriarch of Antioch, or his nominee. In other words this rightvests with the supreme head of the Universal or ProvincialChurches. The effects of the use of these two oils are detailedhere. It is specifically emphasised that to reap the best resultsof the anointment, the candidate or the Ecclesia, as the casemay be, should have true devotion and faith on the efficacyof administering these media.Theme No: 10On the Holy Orders1. Persons called to Holy Orders are to be the guides, to transformpeople of earthly temperament into people of heavenlydisposition and to change those of beastly character into godlynature.Ref. Tit. 2:12. That, grace instructs us to give up ungodlyliving and worldly passions and to live selfcontrolled, upright and godly lives in this world.(G.N.B.)CommentThe attendant functions of those called to the Holy orders orpriesthood are summarily discussed. The priests must effectchanges in the character of their sheep. In other words thepriests shall do every thing possible to change the attitudeof their flock from worldly to spiritual. This is accomplishedmainly by their holy disposition and blemishless life style.2. They are to be the ambassadors of the invisible Lord.Ref. 2Cor. 5:20. Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christas though God did beseech you by us: we pray youin Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (K.J.V.)CommentWherever the priests are, they must be the carriers of Christ.To put it differently, the priests must be the envoys of heChristian message. In that role, the priests must be truewitnesses of the Christ-events and spread the Gospel or thegood news about Christ with the genuine missionary fervourand zeal.3. The priests have to minister the holy sacraments entrusted withthe Church.Ref. Acts 6:4. But we will give ourselves continually toprayer and to the ministry. (K.J.V.)
36On the Holy Orders 71 72Quintessence of Religious DoctrinesCommentThe priests must celebrate the Eucharist or participate in itscelebration on all days fixed by the Canons of the Church,provided, however, that the priests need not do so if theyare physically indisposed or otherwise unable on bonafidereasons. In fact, celebrating the Eucharist, which is thefundamental sacrament of the Ecclesia, is the basic functionof the priest. The assembly of the believers or the faithfulreceives the grace of the Eucharist through its celebrationby the priests. So the Ecclesia looks to the priests as thegenuine representatives of God.4. One cannot by his own volition or choice attain this grace ofpriesthood.Ref. Heb. 5:4. No one chooses for himself the honour ofbeing a high priest. It is only by God’s calling that, aman is made a high priest just as Aaron was. (G.N.B.)CommentNo one can become a priest by his desire or option; nor canhe become so by somebody else’s persuasion. For, it is nota profession. It is rather a vocation or calling by the grace ofGod. A priest is called but not made.5. It comes to be vested only on those chosen by the will of God,and who receive due consecration from the high priest, who isdeemed to have been ordained by Jesus himself through thechannel of apostolic succession.Ref. (a) 1Tim. 4:14. Use the gift you were given when theprophets spoke and the group of Church leadersblessed you by placing their hands on you. (L.B.)(b) Acts 12:23. At once an angel from the Lord struckhim down because he took the honour that belongedto God. (L.B.)(c) Jn. 20:22, 23. Then he breathed on them and said,“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’ssins, they will be forgiven but if you don’t forgivetheir sins they will not be forgiven”. (L.B.)(d) 2 Tim. 2:2 ... Now I want you to tell the same thingsto followers who can be trusted to tell others. (L.B.)(e) Tit. 1:5. I left you in Crete to do what had been leftundone and to appoint leaders for the churches ineach town. (L.B.)CommentMotivated by the divine calling, one must submit himselfbefore the High Priest to get ordained, in the Apostolicmanner. The usage of ‘himself’ is because the S.O.C. doesnot permit the women folk to receive the Holy Orders atpresent. Unless the High Priest physically lays on His handsover the candidate the latter cannot be deemed to have beenconsecrated to the Holy Orders. The S.O.C. insists on theunbroken and effective succession of Her ministers. For, Shebelieves in the principle of Apostolic succession starting fromJesus and which is passed on through the Apostolic Collegeheaded by St. Peter, as a characteristic feature of theEcclesia. In fact the Apostolicity is one of the four marks ornotae of the Church. Apostolic succession is not only aspiritual principle but a hierarchical concept also. The wholeEcclesial or Church History can be summarily put as anattempt to preserve Apostolic succession in tact and withoutdefect or blemish.6. No one can preach publicly or minister in the Church withouthaving valid apostolic succession and sanction from properauthorities. The supreme sacerdotal authority of the Church vestswith His Holiness Ignatius, the Patriarch of the See of Antioch.Ref. Jer. 23:21, 22. I have not sent these prophets, yetthey ran: I have not spoken to them yet theyprophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel,and had caused my people to hear my words thenthey should have turned them from their evil wayand from the evil of their doings. (K.J.V.)CommentValid Apostolic succession and sanction from the proper
Page 2 and 3: 1Quintessence of Religious Doctrine
Page 5 and 6: published in 1964. Since then we ha
Page 7 and 8: 6ThadathilMuttambalamKottayam - 686
Page 9 and 10: 8Translator’s NoteAs I sat down t
Page 11 and 12: 10Abbreviations19 20Quintessence of
Page 13 and 14: 1224Quintessence of Religious Doctr
Page 15 and 16: 14On the Blessed Trinity 27 28Quint
Page 17 and 18: 16On the Son 3132Quintessence of Re
Page 19 and 20: 18On the Son3536Quintessence of Rel
Page 21 and 22: 20On the Holy Spirit 39to be the di
Page 23 and 24: 22On the Holy Sacraments 43 44Quint
Page 25 and 26: 24On the Holy Baptism 47 48Quintess
Page 27 and 28: 26On the Holy Baptism 51can fulfil
Page 29 and 30: CommentThe results of receiving the
Page 31 and 32: 30On the Holy Eucharist 59 60Quinte
Page 33 and 34: 32On the Holy Confession 63 64Quint
Page 35: 34On the Holy Confession 67Ref.: (a
Page 39 and 40: 38On the Holy Orders 75Ref: (a) Mt.
Page 41 and 42: 40On the Holy Matrimony 79CommentIt
Page 43 and 44: 42On Burial 833. Bishops, Priests,
Page 45 and 46: 44On Prayer 87CommentThe prayers ar
Page 47 and 48: 46On Fasts 917. The Church has ther
Page 49 and 50: 48On the Feast of the Saints 95The
Page 51 and 52: 50On the Mother of God 99of the arc
Page 53 and 54: 52On the Prayer to the Saints 103 1
Page 55 and 56: 54On the Prayer to the Saints 107Co
Page 57 and 58: 56On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 59 and 60: 58On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 61 and 62: 60120Quintessence of Religious Doct
Page 63 and 64: 62On Signing oneself with the mark
Page 65 and 66: 64On Chastity 127way; others, becau
Page 67 and 68: 66On Human Soul 131CommentThe S.O.C
Page 69 and 70: 68On Sin 135 136Quintessence of Rel
Page 71 and 72: 70On Repentance 139140Quintessence
Page 77 and 78: 76On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 79 and 80: 78On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 83 and 84: 82AppendixNames of the Heritics who
Page 85 and 86: 84Heresies 167 168Quintessence of R

Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

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