The Emergence of the Holy Spirit – Physical Separation

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III presents the issue of the procession of the Holy Spirit and the dispute among the churches about whether He proceeds from the Father alone or from the Father and the Son together.

Scriptural Text and Tradition:
His Holiness notes that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) says that the Holy Spirit is from the Father, and that John (15:26) mentions “the one from the Father” as a biblical basis.

The Filioque Addition:
He explains that the word “Filioque” is a Latin addition that appeared in the Middle Ages and was not in the original Greek text; the Greek and Eastern majority do not accept it because it alters the theological phrasing.

Effect on the Understanding of the Trinity:
He interprets that saying the Spirit proceeds from the Son would create an improper theological ordering that leads to having “two paternities” or distinctions within the Trinity, a mistaken understanding that harms the unity of the divine essence.

Theological Wisdom and Analogies:
He uses the analogy of fire, heat, and light to show that derivations should be attributed to the origin and that one should not say something proceeds from another derivative so as to diminish the primacy of the origin.

Related Liturgical and Social Issues:
His Holiness then moves to some liturgical and social differences with Protestants (such as issues of divorce, annulment, clerical marriage), describing them as matters connected to a broader understanding of Scripture and tradition.

Spiritual Conclusion:
The central message affirms preserving the textual tradition of the Coptic and Greek confession of faith, and to beware of linguistic or theological additions that change the meaning of the Trinity and affect the life and rites of the Church.

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