THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
By the Grace of God, let us say a few words about the Church, Orthodoxy, and about what the role of the Church is.
It is wisely said that the role of the Church is to heal us, to make us spiritually healthy. Our Holy (Orthodox) Fathers say that the first disobedience of man (Adam), ever practiced against God, resulted in the loss of communion with Him. What happened that particular moment is what we call "darkening of the image of God in man".
As we all know, the image of Christ is imprinted in our soul.
However, this image of Christ is darkened, has been blackened, "smudged", due to the ancestral sin. And here’s what followed this darkening: the image of God, we all carry inside of us, is no longer being manifested in our acts in life.
So, now, after the fall (of Adam & Eve) man as a whole is sick, ill, and, unfortunately, "smudged"... from tip to toe! Every aspect of ours, every element, every deed, every mental or physical energy (thoughts, feelings and desires), are all sick.
At this point, I will have to call upon your special attention to what I am about to say. What I will say next might be heard for the very first time, at least for some of you. However, you will see that it is simple, very simple, indeed.
To be continued...
f. Savvas Agioreitis
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