Year: 1873

The Faith and Doctrines OF the Greek


Church-D0ctrinal Discourse by Rev.


Father Bjerring.


The searcher after the little Greek chapel in
Second avenue need not mistake the place any
longer, for over its door stands the title given in
this heading, surmounted by gilded cross. This
fact, together with the previous announcement
that Father Bjerring would deliver sermon
on the doctrines and beliefs Of the Orthodox
Eastern Church, drew together larger number
Of persons than usual. The choir exhibited more
spirit and better appreciation Of their position
and greater devotion to their work than on pre-
vious occasions. 1t should be known by those who
may wonder why this little chapel is known as the
"Orthodox Eastern Chapel" that the Greek Church,
as distinguished from the Latin, claims to be both
orthodox and Eastern, while the latter in the for.
mers eyes is unorthodOx, or heretica and western.
1t Is net, therefore, as some ignorant ones have
supposed becase it Is socated here on the east side
Of the city that 1t Is called Eastern.


THE DISCOURSE OF FATHER BJERRING


yesterday was based on J. John, ", elf we re-
greater" The Reverend aner started out o% wtS
some propositions touching the nature Of faith and
its importance and the necessity OF every man TO
the primary doctrines or the Oriental or Greek
Christian Church. They believe that 'God the
another that God the Son INV was born before o
arocesSs all eternity hst;ro that God the Holy Ghost
God the Father, but that these three persons
of the Most Holy Trinity are OF perfectly equal di
vine dignity" In the matter OF the procedure OF
ern Christians. Then touching the attributes and
characteristics OF God they believe substantially
as all other Christians believe. And touching the
fall and redemption Of the human race and the
doctrine Of final rewards and punishments they
hold the same truths as Protestants and
only Son OF God willed to become man in order
to satisfy the Justice OF God for the sins OF all
became also true man, SO that lie is Goldman. .qn
whose person two natures the divine and the hu-
man, are unmlxed, unchanged, undivided and in
the Virgin Mary is "more worthy OF praise than the
cherubim or seraphm, y she is yet the briDger forth
knowledge that "our Lord Jesus Christ is the oniy
Chief Shepherd, the only mediator between God and
man, the only High Priest separate from among
sinners and the only head OF His body-the Church
and the only King OF this, His kingdom OF grace;
that He is God, jealous God, who will not give his
CAIN Claims T to Spiritual Spiritual supremacy to iniabtY M and
the like. and count them blasphemous and absurd.
They believe In the procession OF the Holy Ghost
from the Father, but acknowledge it to be mystery
which they cannot explain, and they make no at
tempt to do so. They believe that


THE CHURCH Is HOLY


becaase sanctihed through the doctrine and
through the surerngs and the blood OF Christ and
by the prayers OF believers: that she is universal
because not limited TO any place, time or people;
but comprehends true believers in all places, OF ali
times and nations. Their own Church they
call ''OTtnOuOA" lOT TcdSOu tidL 'SHt
can have other foundation than Jesus
Christ" yet is she built upon the doctrine
OF the apostles. They believe in the Baptism OF the
Holy Ghost-the being born OF God to a spiritual
and holy liie-as the true baptism OF whichthe bap.
tism OF water is but an outward sIgn. They hold
also to the sacraments OF confirmation
the Lords supper, in which by lath only,
real body and blood OF Christ Confes-
sion they deem essential, but dscaim any priestly
power OF absolution from sin on which point they
disagree with the Latin Church. In the ordination
OF priests they believe the Holy Ghost instas by
the imposition Of episcopal hands, regularly
chosen men for the administration OF the mys-
teries Of Christ and the feeding OF HIS nock
Marriage and extreme JUNCTION, too, while held
as sacraments, are used in their spiritual
sense as such. And, finally they believe
in literal resurrection great judgment day and
an ultimate reward OF the faithful and good and
punishment OF the ungodly and the wicked. They
declare that works cannot be good without faith,
and that where true faith exists good works must
follow as necessary sequence. This then is in
brief what the Orthodox Eastern Church believes,
and it will be seen that In general they are more
akin to Protestants than to Romanists or Rtuasts.