If there is only one world, one order of being, symbol has no place. Symbol tells us that the meaning of one world lies in another, that signs of meaning are given from this other world. The meaningfulness of the processes of nature are doubtful. We may discover meaning only by living it in spiritual experience, only by turning our thought toward the spiritual world. The birth into this world of the Son of God, his life, his death on the cross and his resurrection, are a symbol of events in the spiritual world, in mysterious spiritual life.
Meaning lies beyond the boundaries of history, beyond the limits of personal and world-history.
The Church's life is based on Holy tradition, on succession. Through tradition we enter into the one spiritual world, into the life of the new spiritual race. In the world, death reigns. But in the Church there is no death. The Church's tradition is not an external authority, not something imposed upon us.