| Article 1
- God |
| We believe in only one God, who
exists in
Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as Apostle St. Paul
said
in his epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 2, verse 20, "Built upon the
foundations
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief |
corner stone." And Christ said
in Matthew,
Chapter 28, verse 19, "Going therefore, teach ye all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." |
| Article 2
- Prayer |
| Our praying
consists of
our prayers to Christ in prophetic and apostolic prayers, according to
the order of God's son to his disciples, as it is written in Matthew
6:9,
"Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed
be thy name." Luke 11:2, "And he said to them: When you pray,
say:
Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come." Ephesians 6:18, "By
all
prayer and supplication, praying at all times in the spirit ..." Luke
22:41,
"...and kneeling down, he prayed." Apostle Paul, Acts 21:5, "And we
kneeled
down on the shore, and we prayed." |
Daniel 6:10 "...he knelt down three times a
day,
and adored (prayed), and gave thanks before his God..." In John
4:23-24,
our Saviour said to a woman from Samaria: "But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the true adorers (worshippers) shall adore (worship)
the
Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to
adore
[worship] him. God is a spirit; and they that adore [worship] him,
must
adore
[worship] him in spirit and in truth." In the
epistle
of Jude 1:20 is written: "But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." |
| Article 3
- Church |
| As a
church we
consider a congregation of people according to the testimony of Paul,
the
Apostle in his 2nd epistle, to Corinthians 6:16, "...For you are the
temple
of the living God. As God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk
among
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Also
Leviticus 26:12.) In the Acts 17:24, "...He, being Lord of heaven and
earth,
dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Neither is he served
with
men's hands..." On the same subject is testified in the following: I
Corinthians
14:26, "...When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath
a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation.
Let
all things be done to edification." In I Peter 2-5, "Be you also as
living
stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." |
In Ephesians 3:10,
"That
the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and
powers in heavenly places through the church." Ephesians 5:27, "That he
might
present
it to himself a glorious church, not having spot
or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish."
In Acts 20:7 and 11, "...Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on
the morrow; and he continued his speech until midnight ... and having
talked
a long time to them, until daylight, so he departed." From St John in
the
Apocalypse (Revelations) 19:5, "And a voice came out from the throne
saying:
"give praise to our God, all ye his servants; and you that fear
him, little [small] and great." In Hebrews 9:24, "For Jesus is not
entered
into the holies [holy places] made with hands..." Isaias [Isaiah] 66:1,
"Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my
footstool;
what
is this house that you will build to me, and
what
is this place of my rest?" |
| Article 4
- Placing a Sign of the Cross |
| We do
not place
upon ourselves a visible sign of the cross, but we are indicating
ourselves
as promised by the Holy Ghost according to the testimony of the Holy
Scripture,
Wisdom 16:6, "...having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance
of the commandment of thy law. For he that turned to it was not heated
by that which he saw, but by thee, the Savior of all," Isaiah
66:19, |
"And I will set a sign among
them, and
I will send of them that shall be saved..." Acts 11:28, "And on of them
named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit..." Matthew 28:19,
"Going
therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the
Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." To the Ephesians 4:30, "And
grieve
not the Holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of
redemption." |
| Article 5
- Images of Saints |
| The
ikons [icons],
the images of saints, made by human hands, we do not worship, according
to the Holy Scripture. 4 Kings 17:41, "So these nations feared the
Lord,
but nevertheless served also their idols..." Psalm 113:4-5, "The idols
of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.
They
have mouths and speak not; they have eyes and see not..." Psalm 134:15,
"The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of men's
hands."
Wisdom 13:10, "...who have called gods the works of the hands of men,
gold
and silver..." In the same book of Wisdom 14:8-9, "But the idol that is
made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it; he because he
made it; and it because being frail it is called a god. But to God the
wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike." See Isaias [Isaiah]
44:12-18,
Jeremiah 2:27, "Saying to a stock: Thou art my father..." Apocalypse
[(Revelation)]
9-20, "...that they should not adore [worship] devils and idols of
gold,
and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood..." |
Wisdom 14:27,
"For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, ..." Apostle Paul
has
said to the Romans 1:22-23, "For professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into
the likeness of the image of a corruptible man..." According to the
testimony
of the Apostle Paul, Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the
invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature." Romans 8-29, "For whom he
foreknew,
he also predestinated to be made conformable to the
image
of his Son;..." I Peter 2:21, "For unto this are you called:
because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should
follow
his steps." Epistle of James 5:10, "Take, my brethren, for an example
of
suffering evil, of labor and patience..." To the Philippians 3:17, "Be
ye followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have
our model." I Timothy 4:12, "...but be thou an example of the faithful
in word, in conduct, in charity, in faith, in chastity." Titus 2:7-8,
"In
all things show thyself an example of good words, in doctrine, in
integrity,
in gravity. The sound word that can not be blamed: that he, who is on
the
contrary part, may be afraid..." See Hebrews 1:3, II Thessalonians 3:9,
"...but that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us." |
| Article 6
- Bishops and Priests |
| We
have only
one Priest and Bishop, who sits on the right side of God, i.e., the Son
of God, the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23). Ephesians 1:20-22,
"Which
he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead, and setting
him
on his right hand in the heavenly places, above all
principality,
and power, and virtue, and dominion ... and he hath subjected
all
things under his feet, and hath made him head over all
the
church." Psalm 2:7, "The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son,
this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 109:4, "...Thou art a priest for
ever according to the order of Melchisedech [Melchizedek]." Hebrews
5:10,
"Called by God a high priest according to the order of Melchisedech
[Melchizedek]."
This one we call bishop and priest according to the word of the Holy
Scripture,
Hebrews 4:14-15, "Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.
For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our
infirmities,
but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin." |
Hebrews 7:26,
"For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
innocent,
undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
who
needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices..." In the
same book 8:1, "... We have such a high priest, who is set on the right
hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens." The Apostles have
imitated
the Christ and have been purified by the Holy Ghost. Acts 20:28, "Take
heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath
placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath
purchased
with his own blood," Ephesians 4:11, "And he gave some
to
be apostles, and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and
teachers,
which in our religion appear in the image of man or old men according
to
the word of scripture by Jesus, the son of Sirach in Ecclesiasticus
[Ecclesiastes]
37:15. "But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know
to observe the fear of God." Jeremiah 5:1, "...if you can find a man
that
executeth judgment, and seeketh faith..." In Chapter 9, verse 12, "Who
is the wise man, that my understand this, and to whom the word of the
mouth
of the Lord may come..." I Timothy 2:8, "I will therefore that men pray
in every place..." I Peter 5:1-2, "The ancients therefore that are
among
you ... Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it,
not
by constraint, but willingly..." |
| Article 7
- Using the Ornates |
| We
have no ornates,
because the Apostles had no special dress for divine services and Jesus
Christ himself did not create such vestments. As the holy Apostles have
wandered in plain clothes, so we are also praying in our regular
garments.
Concerning the use of ornates we take it for granted to be always
clothed
for salvation and always be dressed with truth according to Ephesians
6:19,
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on
the breastplate of justice." Ecclesiastes 9:8, "At all times let thy
garments
be white, |
and let not oil depart from
thy head."
Isaiah 69:17, "...he put on the garments of vengeance, and was clad
with
zeal as with a cloak." And in 61:10, "...my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and
with the robe of justice..." Revelations 3:4-5, "...which have not
defiled
their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, because they are
worthy. He that shall overcome, shall thus be clothed in white
garments,
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will
confess
his name before my Father..." |
| Article 8
- Sacrificial Offerings |
| We
offer a sacrifice
in every place a sacrifice of praise as the fruit of our lips according
to the testimony of the prophet, Malachias [Malachi] 1:11, "...and in
every
place there is sacrifice, and there is offered in my name a clean
offering..."
Hebrews 13:15-1 6, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice
of praise always to God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing
to his
name. And do not forget beneficence and neighborliness, for by such
sacrifices
God's favor is obtained." David in Psalm 5:17 says: "A sacrifice to God
is an afflicted spirit, a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise." Psalm 40:6, "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not
desire..."
Psalm 60:14, "Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to
the most High." |
Of
the same is
said in the book of Prophet Daniel, 3:38-39, "Neither is there at this
time prince, or leader or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or
offering,
or incense, or place of first-fruits before thee. That we may find thy
mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be
accepted."
Prophet Isaiah 56:7, "...their holocausts, and their sacrifices shall
please
me upon my altar; for my house shall be called the house of prayer..."
In 66:20 the Lord says: "...as if the children of Israel should bring
an
offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord." Ephesians 5:2,
"... as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself
for
us, and offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness."
Hebrews
9:26, "...but now once at the end of ages, he hath appeared for
the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself."
Such sacrifices we also imitate. |
| Article 9
- The Throne |
| The
Throne testifies
a prudent man according to Lord's word as it is said in the books of
Prophet
Isaiah 16:5, "And a throne shall be prepared in mercy, and one shall
sit
upon it in truth..." Proverbs 12:23, "A cautious man concealeth
knowledge..."
Read Jeremias [Jeremiah] 14:21. |
Ezechiel [Ezekiel]
43:7, "Said to me: Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of
the soles of my feet, where I dwell in the midst of the children of
Israel
forever..." Zecharias [Zechariah] 6:13, "... and shall sit, and rule
upon
his throne..." Proverbs 26:5, "...and His throne shall be established
with
justice." Jeremias [Jeremiah] 3:17, "At that time Jerusalem shall be
called
the throne of the Lord..." The Apocalypse 21:3, "... Behold the
tabernacle
of God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his
people:
and God himself with them shall be their God." |
| Article 10
- Censer and Incense |
|
Incense and Censer
we regard in prayer according to the word of the Scripture,
Psalms
14.2, "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight..." Ephesians
5:2, "... and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness." The
Apocalypse
8:3, "... and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer
of the prayers of all saints |
upon the golden altar, which
is before
the throne of God." II Corinthians 2:14-15, "Now thanks be to God, who
always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifesteth the odor
of
his knowledge by us in every place. For we are the good odour of
Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." |
| Article 11
- Vessels |
| We
consider as
vessls on Divine Services the lips of the reasonables according to the word
of
the
Scripture. Proverbs 20:15, "There is gold, and a multitude of
jewels:
but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel." Psalms 71:22, "For I
will also confess (praise) to thee thy truth with the instruments of
psaltery..."
Isaias [Isaiah] 52:11, |
"... be ye clean, you that
carry the vessels
of the Lord." Acts 9:15, "And the Lord said to him: Go thy way, for
this
man is to me a vessel of chosen to can my name before the Gentiles..."
I Corinthians 10:16, "The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it
not the communion of the blood of Christ?" |
| Article 12
- The Baptism |
| With
regard the
baptism as a repentance and remission of sins according to the
testimony
of the Holy Scripture Mark 1:4, "John was in the desert baptizing and
preaching
the baptism of penance, unto remission of sins." And in 16:16, "He that
believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall
be condemned." Acts 13:23-24, "...hath raised up to Israel a Saviour,
Jesus.
John first preaching before his coming, the baptism of
penance..." |
Acts 22:16,
"...Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his
name."
Romans
6:3, "Know you not that all we, who are baptized in
Christ
Jesus, are baptized into his death?" I Corinthians 1:17, "For
Christ
sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." Verse 18, "For the
word
of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness: but to them
that
are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God." Hebrews 6:2, "Of
the
doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, and of the resurrection
of
the dead, and of eternal judgment." Acts 1:5, "For John indeed baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many
days
hence." Luke 3:16, "John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize
you
with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of
whose
shoes I am not worthy to loose; He shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost
and with fire." |
| Article 13
- Naming of an Infant |
| By
giving names
to infants we are acting in compliance with God's word. Luke
1:59,
"... on the eight day they came to circumcise the child, and they
called
by his father's name Zachary. And his mother answering said: Not so,
but
he shall be called John." Exodus 2:22, "...whom he called Eliezer..." |
So we
also act
regardless of what date the infant is born, his father and mother and
relatives
give the name to the newborn infant. |
| Article 14
- Anointment |
| The
anointment
testifies the oil of joy, according to God's word. Psalms 45:9,
"...therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness
above thy fellows." Habakkuk 3.13, "Thou wentest forth for the
salvation
of thy people; for salvation with thy Christ (thine anointed)..." Acts
4:27, "For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy
holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed..." |
And in 10:38, "Jesus of
Nazareth: how
God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power..." I St.
John
2:20,
"But you have the unction from the Holy One..." II
Corinthians
1:21-22, "...and that hath anointed us, is God; Who also hath sealed
us,
and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts." |
| Article 15
- The Holy Communion[s] |
| We
regard the
Holy Communion as a divine and blessed Sacrament according to the word
of
the
Holy Scripture. Psalm 119:63, "I am a partaker [friend] with all
them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments." Hebrews 6:4,
"...have
tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost,
have moreover tasted the good word of God." Chapter 3, verse
1,
"Wherefore,
holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation..."
Verse
14, "For we are made partakers of Christ..." 12:10, "...that we might
receive his
sanctification." Deuteronomy 8:3, "...not in bread alone doth man live,
but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Proverbs
12:14,
"By the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good
things..." |
Wisdom 16:26, "...not the
growing of fruits
that nourisheth men, but Thy word preserveth them that believe
in
Thee." Ecclesiasticus [Ecclesiastes] 15:3, "With the bread of life and
understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome
wisdom to drink..." John 6:27, "Labour not for the food which
perisheth,
but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man
will give you..." Verse 64, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the
flesh
profiteth nothing..." Psalm 34:8, "O taste, and see that the Lord is
sweet..."
Psalm 118:50 [119:50], "...because thy word hath
enlivened
me." I Corinthians 10:17, "For we, being many, are one, one body, for
we
all that partake of one loaf." Verse 30, "If I partake with
thanksgiving,
why am I evil spoken of for that which is give thanks?" |
| Article 16
- Repentance |
|
As a
repentance
we testify the baptism to redeem our sins, according to the testimony
of
the Holy Scripture, Psalm 110:1 [111:1], "I will praise thee, O Lord,
with
my whole hears; in the council of the just, and in the congregation."
Psalm
118:62 [119:62], "I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the
judgments
of Thy justifications" |
I John 2:1, "...But if
any man sin,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the just; and he
is
the
propitiation for our sins..." Hebrews 3:1, "... consider the
apostle
and high priest of our confession, Jesus." James 5:16 "Confess
therefore
your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be
saved..." |
| Article 17
- Marriage |
| In
matrimonial
covenant we betroth in truth, grace, kindness and faith. God Himself
hath
said to man and wife, Genesis 1.28, "...Increase and multiply, and fill
the earth..." Genesis 2:24, "Wherefore a man shall leave father and
mother,
and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be two in one flesh." Read
Matthew 19:3-9. Ephesians 5:22 and Verse 24, "Let women be subject to
their
husbands, as to the Lord... Therefore as the church is subject to
Christ,
so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things." Verse 25,
"Husbands,
love your wives, as Christ also loved the church..." |
We
betroth according
to the book of Tobias Chapter 7:10-15, "I will not eat nor drink here
this
day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me
Sara,
thy daughter ... that this maid might be married to one of her own
kindred,
according to the law of Moses ... And taking the right hand of his
daughter,
he gave it into the right hand of Tobias...." Paul the Apostle in I
Corinthians
7:27, "Art thou bound to a Wife? Seek not to be loosed..."
To the alliance in marriage the groom
and the
bride present themselves in the assembly of people and betroth
themselves
in faith, in truth, in benevolence and in grace forever, and between
them
is concluded the promise not to separate, but get old together. This is
performed in the presence of fathers and mothers and witnesses. Then
they
perceive each other as man and wife.
|
| Article 18
- Crowns |
| We
consider the
crowns as a resistance to lust, and crown our life to preserve the
truth
and hope to obtain the crown, life, joy, hope, the diversity of
sacrifices
according to the Scripture. Ecclesiastes 1:11, where the crowns are
called
"crown of joy." In Verse 22, "crown of wisdom." |
In 25:8, "Much experience is
the crown
of old men,..." Isaias [Isaiah] 28:5, "...the Lord of hosts shall be a
crown of glory, and a garland of joy to the residue of his people [all
who long for his appearing]." II Timothy 4:8, "...there is laid up for
me a crown of justice..." Apocalypse 2:10, "...and I will give thee the
crown of life." |
| Article 19
- Affusion and Purification [Cleansing] |
| Under
Affusion
[Cleansing] and Purification we understand not the material ones, but
we
endeavor to clean ourselves from every blot of body and spirit. Through
the Purification of heart from cunning conscience, as it is said in the
Scripture: Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in
fullness
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience..." II
Corinthians
7:1, "...let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and
of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God." Isaias
[Isaiah]
45:8, "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain
the
just; let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior; and let justice
spring
up together..." |
Isaias [Isaiah] 4:4, "...Lord
shall wash
away the filth of the daughters of Sion [Zion], and shall wash away the
blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment,
and by the spirit of burning." Jeremias [Jeremiah] 4:14, "Wash
thy
heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayst be saved..." 6:16,
"...and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk
ye in it; and you shall find refreshment for your souls..." I
Corinthians
6:11, "...but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are
justified
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God."
Ephesians
5:26, "That he might sanctity it, cleansing it by the washing
of
water in the word of life." |
| Article 20
- Fasting |
| We
keep the Fast
according to the example of Jesus Christ, the Prophets and the
Apostles.
Prophet Daniel 10:2-3, "In those days I Daniel mourned for three weeks.
I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine entered into my
mouth,
neither was I anointed with ointment, till the days of three weeks were
accomplished." In the 3 [3rd] Book of Esdras is said, that Esdras has
kept
on fasting for seven days. David has also been fasting, as we can see
in
Psalm 109:24 where he says: "My knees are weakened through fasting; and
my flesh is changed for oil (faileth of fatness) [body is thin and
gaunt]."
The Prophet Joel 2:12, "Now therefore
saith
The Lord, be converted to me with all your heart, in
fasting..."
Zechadah 8:19, "Thus saith The Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth
month,
and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of
the tenth..." Such Fasts we also approve and submit ourselves to Fast,
according to our possibility [strength], for four and five days, and
even
a week, we do not take bread and water, but the blessed food, we eat
any
time according to the testimony of the Holy Scripture: Leviticus 11:3,
"Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the
beasts,
you shall eat."
|
I Timothy 4:3-5, "...to
abstain from meats,
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the
faithful,
and by them that have known the truth. For every creature of God is
good,
and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving; For it
is
sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
We do not observe any other Fasts,
and Fasting
on Wednesdays and Fridays we do not accept at all. We honor more
Spiritual
Fasts according to the words of Scripture: Isaias [Isaiah] 58:3-9, "Why
have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we humbled our souls,
and thou hast not taken notice? Behold in the day of your fast your own
will is found, and you exact of all your debtors ... Is not this rather
the fast that I have chosen? Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the
bundles
that oppress, let them that are broken go free and break asunder every
burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the
harbourless
into [the shelter of] thy house; when thou shalt see one naked, cover
him,
...and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord
shall gather thee up."
|
| Article 21
- Funerals of the Dead |
| Over
the deceased,
after the departure of the soul from the body, we have vigil in prayers
and the singing of Psalms of King David and on burial we accompany the
body of the dead, weeping and singing of psalms to the very grave,
after
the word of the
Scripture: Psalms 145 [146], "Praise the Lord,
O
my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as
long
as I shall be." Psalms 23:1 [24:1], "The earth is the Lord's and the
fullness
thereof: the world, |
and all they that dwell
therein." Psalm
83:4 [84:3], "My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the
Lord..."
Acts 8:2, "And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral [buried
Stephen],
and made great mourning over him." Ecclesiasticus [Ecclesiastes] 38:16,
"My son, shed tears over the dead..." "Verse 17, "...Weep bitterly ...
and make mourning for him according to her merit..." Verse 24, "When
the
dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the
departing
of his spirit." |
| Article 22
- Resurrection of the Dead |
| We
believe in
life beyond the grave and after the death we hope to resurrect in
another
body according to the testimony of the Scripture: II Corinthians 5:l,
"For
we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we
have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in
heaven."
I Corinthians 15:50-52, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess
(inherit)
incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall indeed rise again
[not all sleep but we shall all be changed] ... In a moment, in the
twinkling
of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead
shall rise again incorruptible: and we shall be changed." Zecharias
[Zechariah]
14:12, "...the flesh of every one shall consume away while they stand
upon
their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their
tongue shall consume away in their mouth." |
Mark 12:26, Jesus said: "And
as concerning
the dead that they rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses,
how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham,
and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the
dead,
but of the living,.." John 5:28-30, "...for the hour cometh, wherein
all
that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they
that have one good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of
life;
but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." The
Apocalypse
20:12, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence
of
the throne..." 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth..." 3d and
4th Verse, "...Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and He will dwell
with them...And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and
death
shall be no more..." |
| Article 23
- Commemoration of the Dead |
| We
perform memorials
for the dead and pray that their sins will be forgiven, an example of
what
we see in God's word. Judah Machabee has offered a sacrifice
for
the dead. 2 Book Machabee 12:43, "...he sent twelve thousand |
drachmas of silver to
Jerusalem for sacrifice
to be offered for the sins..." (Read also verse 44.) Baruch 3:4-5, "O
Lord
Almighty, the God of Israel ... Remember not the iniquities of our
fathers,
but think upon thy hand, and upon thy name at this
time." |
| Article 24
- Seventh Day |
| The
Seventh Day
we honor according to the testimony of the Scripture: Leviticus 23:3,
"...the
seventh day, because it is the rest of the sabath [a Sabbath of rest
and],
shall be called holy. You shall do no work on that day..." Sophonias
[Zephaniah]
3:8, "Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my
resurrection
that
is to come..." Mark 16:9, "But he rising early the
first
day of the week..." |
This
day we devote
to prayers and good deeds, according to the word of the
Scripture.
Colossians 3:16, "...teaching and admonishing one another in psalms,
hymns,
and spiritual canticles [words]..." (Read also Ephesians 5:19.) James
1:22,
"But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only..." |
| Article 25
- Kings and Authorities |
| We
honor the
kings and authorities according to the testimony of God's word.
Proverbs 8:15-16, "By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
by me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice." Romans 13:1-2, "Let
every soul be subject to higher powers; for there is no power but from
God, and those that are, are ordained of God. |
Therefore he that resisteth
the power,
resisteth the ordinance of God..." I Peter 2:17, "Honour all
men.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." I Timothy
2:1-2,
"I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers,
intercessions,
and thanksgivings be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are
in high stations (authority)..." |
| [Article 26
- Do Not Judge] Added
about 2000 |
| [The
prophets
of old depict Christ as the ultimate judge, Psalms 89:14, 97-2, Isaiah
11:1-5, of God's law. Christ pronounced devastating judgements against
false leaders, John 7:24. Yet He refused to become a judge in matters
affecting
man's material possessions, Luke 12:13-14. Jesus clearly states that we
are not to judge. |
To pass judgement implies a
sense of moral
superiority that we simply do not possess. What we are not to do in
judging
is to criticize others while passing over our own faults. James
4:11-12.
Hence, we as Christian Molokans, cannot serve on a jury.] |
| Article 27
- Oath |
| We
understand
the Oath by testimony of Matthew 5:34-37, where is said, "But I say to
you not to swear at all, neither by heaven ... nor by the earth
... neither shalt thou swear by thy head ... |
but let your speech be yea,
yea; no, no;
and that which is over and above these, is of evil." The Apostle James
in his Epistle 5:12, says, "... But let your speech be yea; yea, no,
no;..."
For this reason we always preserve
faithfulness. |
| Article 28
- Our Sect [Faith] |
| In
our sect [Faith]
exists the confirmation [affirmation] to all multitude of people, that
lewdness, adultery, drunkenness, murder, robbery and all other sinful
deeds,
we destroy [reject] and who of our fellow-believers does not obey, is
ousted
from our congregation according to the testimony of Apostle Paul I
Epistle,
Corinthians 5:11, "But now I have written to you, not to keep company,
if any man that is named brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a
server
of idols, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a
one,
do not so much as to eat." This is always corroborated in our
congregation,
that the duty of christianity is not to nurse any evil feelings
against your next one [one another]. We are endeavoring [endeavor] to
eliminate
all quarrel[s] and discord from the congregation and reconciliate with
one another before sunset, because the malice of a man is an old and
deep
rooted wrath. |
And
if a man
not reconciles [does not reconcile] soon with his malice [brother], so
it is converted into a sin, according to the testimony of the Holy
Scripture,
where it is said in Ephesians 4:26-27, "...Let not the sun go down upon
your anger. Give not place to the devil." He who keeps malice and wrath
against his next one [brother], so the devil (i.e. the spirit of
malice)
has conquered and leads him as his prisoner. The malice is born by [of]
the envy, as Cain for envy's sake has killed his brother Abel. We are
endeavoring
with all our power not to admit such things in our sect [Faith]. And to
begin before praying our principal (the Presbyter) reminds the
congregation,
as it is written: Matthew 5:23-24, "If therefore thou [you] offer thy
[your]
gift at the after, and there thou remember that thy [your] brother hath
something against thee [you], leave there thy [your] offering before
the
altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy [your] brother, and then
coming
[come and] thou shalt offer thy [your] gift. |
| [Article 29
- Thou Shalt Not
Kill]
Added about 2000 |
| [The Sixth Commandment, Exodus
20:13,
is one of the cornerstones of our Faith. In the Book of Genesis it is
said:
Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood will be shed: For in the
image
of God He made man. Genesis 9:6. |
For this reason every murder,
which ever
one it might be, and however it may have occurred is a sin against The
Lord God. No murderer has eternal life, I John 3:15. Also, Jesus said,
"All that draw the sword, shall die by the sword." Matthew 26:52.] |