Orthodoxy isn’t a national ideology
The struggle of asceticism, repentance, prayer and fasting cannot be brought to a conclusion unless it’s founded on proper faith. The Orthodox Church of the East has the privilege of having preserved the truth of the faith in God, the human person and the world. And this truth doesn’t equate to any ideology, but is an experience of life in the Holy Spirit. The prophets, apostles and holy Fathers experienced the presence of God and thereafter described it in their God-inspired texts.
The Gospel reading above refers to the unique experience of two disciples in becoming acquainted with Christ the Saviour at first hand. At the beginning, Nathaniel casts doubt on what Philip tells him about the person of Christ because there was the notion that nothing good could come from Nazareth. Philip was unable to convince his friend with words and this is why he deploys the more compelling argument: “Come and see for yourself”. The brief discussion between Christ and Nathaniel impresses the latter and he spontaneously confesses: “Rabbi, you’re the Son of God, you’re the King of Israel”. The crucified King!…
Fr. Vasileios Kalliakmanis
