Writing to a certain Bishop, St. Victor declares:
"...you [write that you] want to go wandering in order to pray without a twinge of conscience in any temple without distinction - these two words fell like a heavy stone on our hearts and have crushed all your praises to our zeal.
After all, outside the Orthodox Church there is no grace of God, and therefore, there is no salvation, there is not and cannot be a true temple of God, but there is simply a house, according to the word of Basil the Great. In my opinion, the temple without the grace of God becomes a place of idolatry, and the most holy icons, stripped from the life-giving grace of God, become dead boards - idols. And suddenly you write that you would like to pray wherever the name of God is praised.
But if you continue your speech further, then you will find yourself not only with all sorts of heretics, but also with the Mohammedans, Buddhists, etc., because the name of God is also "glorified" among them. But you yourself see that such thoughts of complete indifference destroy not only the meaning and significance of the Orthodox Church, but even Christianity itself. And why then our confession for the truth of the Orthodox Church? Why do we endure hardships, suffering, and maybe we will have to endure death itself?!"
[This is a rough translation. A full translation of this entire letter, and another letter by St. Victor, will God willing be online soon!]
After all, outside the Orthodox Church there is no grace of God, and therefore, there is no salvation, there is not and cannot be a true temple of God, but there is simply a house, according to the word of Basil the Great. In my opinion, the temple without the grace of God becomes a place of idolatry, and the most holy icons, stripped from the life-giving grace of God, become dead boards - idols. And suddenly you write that you would like to pray wherever the name of God is praised.
But if you continue your speech further, then you will find yourself not only with all sorts of heretics, but also with the Mohammedans, Buddhists, etc., because the name of God is also "glorified" among them. But you yourself see that such thoughts of complete indifference destroy not only the meaning and significance of the Orthodox Church, but even Christianity itself. And why then our confession for the truth of the Orthodox Church? Why do we endure hardships, suffering, and maybe we will have to endure death itself?!"
[This is a rough translation. A full translation of this entire letter, and another letter by St. Victor, will God willing be online soon!]
The Heresy of Ecumenism EXPOSED
By Greek Orthodox Christian Television
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