Check out Photos from our Church Picnic held at Cedar Creek Park!

Pictures by Varghese Bobin

In my personal experiences, I have heard many argue about the nature of Christ: Who is He in relation to the Father (in the Godhead), is He God, is He less than God, etc? We become absorbed in our debates that we turn to our own interpretations without ever looking at the interpretations based on the traditions of the Holy Church. The Church was for the most part, a one, universal, holy and apostolic church in the early centuries. Particularly in the fourth century, when Christians were allowed to practice freely without the onslaught of persecution. We became structured and worked uniformly to deal with problems within the church: heresy, apostasy, and Gnosticism. The Church, at this time would come together from all parts of the Empire and work together to deal with these issues. With this structural system, more emphasis was put on theology in regards to its terminology and technicality. This was not only as a result of this new freedom, but also because there were those who thought incorrectly also – the heretics. Although, they appear detrimental to the Church’s foundation, it is because of their challenge why our great church fathers came to the ultimate conclusion – that they were right, because the heretics were wrong. However Scriptural the heretics were, the Fathers were very convinced that right belief and right piety were appeased with one another (change). Therefore, the conclusion the Fathers reached was more than a misguided understanding of Scripture.

One of the premier highlights of the fourth century was none other than time period surrounding the Nicene Council in 325. This dealt with an ongoing issue at the time highlighted by a controversy implanted by a priest named Arius. Arius gave way to the belief that Jesus was not of one substance with the Father and that there had been a time before he existed. Although in conflict with what the Church believed, this belief started to germinate throughout the Empire. The Council of Nicaea proved this wrong (although the Arian controversy was yet far from eradicated at the conclusion of the council), and laid the groundwork for future Christological understandings. The Nicene Creed’s central term, used to describe the relationship between the Father and the Son, is homoousios, or consubstantiality, meaning “of the same substance” or “of one being”. The Council of Nicaea argued over the denotations of the Greek words homoousios (same substance) and homoiousios (similar substance). The council came to the conclusion that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead) all are of the same substance, being or essence (homoousios).

The 4th century also marked further developments of Trinitarian beliefs as such enforced by three saints of the Church known as the Cappadocian Fathers (St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nanzanius,and St. Gregory of Nyssa). As mentioned before, subsequent to the Council of Nicaea, Arianism did not simply disappear. The semi-Arians taught that the Son is of like substance with the Father (homoiousios) while the outright Arians who taught that the Son was not like the Father. So the Son was held to be like the Father but not of the same essence as the Father.

The Cappadocian Fathers fought extensively for the Orthodox cause. In their writings they made extensive use of the formula “three substances (hypostases) in one essence (ousia),” and thus firmly acknowledged a distinction between the Father and the Son, but at the same time maintained their essential unity – a formula that was not as clear earlier during the time of the Nicene Council. Thus, the formula “Three Hypostases in one Ousia” came to be everywhere accepted as an epitome of the orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

I understand that the vocabulary may be new and new and daunting to many people in our faith – but I am hoping throughout the course of time we can all gain a better understanding of what was realized. It is important we learn this as understanding the true nature of the Godhead constitutes better understanding of our faith. Since we are followers of Christ, we must of have an understanding of whom we are worshiping. Since it is easy to distort the truth with Scripture, we must rely on those who meditated and examined Scripture with guidance of the Church and who kept and preserved her ways – the Church Fathers. In a modern world today where being spiritually uplifted takes precedence over theological understanding, we must not forget our roots and we must realize the importance of (Orthodox) theology.

These are some pictures from Manikat Achen’s send off.

Secretary George Mathew made the introduction speech followed by a cake cutting for Achen.

Cyril Shaji made a speech representing the Sunday School.

Nithin Reji made a speech representing the Sunday School.

Ammai was presented a gift from the Sunday School for her dedication to the Sunday School program.

Youth Secretary, Reny Mathew, and Youth Treasurer, Jinson Pathrose, presented Achen with a plaque by the Youth League.

K.T. John presented the gift to Achen from St. Mary’s Church.

Sosamma John gave a speech honoring Achen.

Pastor Varkey gave a speech honoring Achen.

Kuriakose Mundakal gave a speech honoring Achen.

Saji Varghese presented Achen with a ponnada respresenting the atlar servers.

Manikat achen gave his well wishes to St. Mary’s church.

Jesnie Sajen – 3rd place in Bible Verse Writing

Alvin Reji -1st Place Bible Verse Writing

Nithin Reji – 1st Place in Bible Verse Writing & 1st place in Instrumental Music(Juniors)

Allen Reji – 2nd Place in Instrumental Music (Sub-juniors)

Morning Prayer –   8am – 8:45am

Holy Qurbana – 8:45am – 10:45am

Refreshments/Spiritual Organization Meetings – 11am – 1pm

Someone needs blood every 2 seconds in the United States, and the demand continues to grow despite numerous drives across the country. Even one donation can help save at least 3 people. Come join us in giving this gift of life and contributing back to our community.

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2015
Time: 10am-3pm
Location: 26 North Tyson Avenue, Floral Park, NY

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit http://redcrossblood.org