THE TRUE CHURCH HAS
ONE HEAD JESUS CHRIST
AND ONE GUIDE
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,
Holy Orthodoxy, begins all services
with the following prayer to the
The Holy Spiritwho proceeds from the Father
being our Comforter and Guide
being our Comforter and Guide
"O Heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere present and fills all things, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, Good One."
Why is this prayer so exalted and vital?
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church, and the chief cornerstone and foundation, nor can any man lay a different foundation. After His Ascension into heaven, Christ sent from His Father, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who alone is the Guide of the Church. Christ would never entrust the Church for which He shed His Blood to any sinful human being, but sent His equal, the Holy Spirit to Keep the Church secure against her enemies. As the Spirit of Truth, He guides her into all truth.
The Prologue of Ochrid by St. Nicolai Velemirovich, Vol. 1 p196:
HOMILY
‘The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of me." (John 15:26)
The Spirit who acts in these and many similar ways is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth, gracious, life-giving and almighty.
The Spirit of God does not stand against a single word of Christ’s. Therefore, when the Spirit of God deigns to enter a man’s heart, he is a living and true witness of all that Christ said and did, and the man believes with joy and steadfastness. For how could he not believe the greatest and most enduring Eyewitness of and Participator in all the words ,wonders and acts of Christ. Therefore, my brethren, let us pray, before all and above all, that this Eyewitness of and Participator, the Holy and Almighty Spirit, will come into our hearts, that our faith may be a living faith, unwavering and creative of joy. O God the Holy Spirit, You Spirit of truth, come and abide in us. To you God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit into the world to testify of Him to the end of time: "He shall testify of me."
by bringing men’s souls to Christ’s Church;
by opening to them the meaning of Holy Scripture;
by bringing the commandments of Christ to their understanding;
by giving to the words of Christ warmth, freshness, strength and gentleness;
by turning repentant sinners to righteousness;
by fulfilling all the promises and prophecies of Christ to men, to peoples and to the Church of God.
by upholding the Church of Christ and holding it firm against all the storms of time and all the wickedness of Hades, throughout the ages. be glory and praise forever. Amen." (End of Prologue quotation)
Jesus Christ, being the truth who came down from heaven, never spoke half truths or contradictions, but spoke clearly, His every word being of great importance. He told us that the Father worked before Him and that now He works. He also established how his apostles and followers would carry on His work after His Ascension, promising His disciples that He would not leave them orphans. He told them clearly who would remain with them for ever, filling them with truth and great joy, and who would be their Guide, saying: "I will send you the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father . . . "
Christ said also: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of himself; but whatever He hears that shall he speak; and He will show you things to come. Christ assured them that no apostle, or angel, or future book of the Bible would lead them, but the Holy Spirit of Truth would be their guide, individually and collectively. Nor did He establish anyone as head to His Body, the Church, but filled them with joy, saying: "Lo, I am with you to the close of the age." Throughout history, The Church has been known as the Body of Christ, and he is the one Head.
It is certain that no apostle, pope, patriarch or bishop was in charge of the early Church, and this is readily seen only by reading the Acts of the Apostles. There is recorded first of all, the descent of the Holy Spirit whom Christ promise, upon those present, the fearlessness of the Apostles in preaching to the Jews, and who was giving directions as to what to do and where to go. For example: "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas and Symeon that was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrach, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands upon them, they sent them away. So they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed into Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus " Acts 13: 1-4).
It is obvious that Christ provided for the orderly functioning of His Church until the end of time, for the Father sent God the Spirit as its mentor and Guide. It is impossible for any mab, no matter how holy to replace Christ the Godman, nor did the Holy Spirit replace Him, but continued His work. The Father, said Christ, worked before, and I work now, and the Holy Spirit will come and guide you into all truth, accomplishing the work of salvation and sanctification in the faithful Church of which I am the Head – Holy Orthodoxy!
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