About Heresy and Heretics (1)
The Church is the Church — standing firm throughout time. Every weapon formed against her shall not prosper. Many heretics and innovators have risen against her in different ages; some were highly eloquent, persuasive, and theologically educated; some enjoyed great popularity; and some had very strong connections with rulers. Yet, the Church triumphed over heretics and heresies.
The first problem of the heretics is that they want to prove themselves right, that their opinion is sound, and their teaching is orthodox. They did not humble themselves and admit their mistakes; had they done so, their problem would have ended.
But instead of humility, they entered the arena of argument and intellectual conflict, which ended in their excommunication.
The Church excommunicated them because they did not repent.
The reason for their lack of repentance was stubbornness of heart and pride — and their insistence on spreading their strange ideas, and on forming sects that follow them in their deviations.
The faith of the Church is well known, and our people are very sensitive toward the inherited ecclesiastical traditions handed down from generation to generation by the fathers. Our people can easily discern any new thing that innovators try to introduce into the Church.
Tradition in our Church is stronger than intellectual debate; yet we will open this page to discuss every new thought, and afterwards remain steadfast in our doctrines, traditions, and faith delivered to us by the apostles and the fathers.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine – Year Nine – Issue Thirty-Eight – 22 September 1978
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