Orthodox Dogmatic Theology

540 Pages·2014·3.68 MB·English

by  Michael Pomazansky

The First Ecumenical Council.
Icon by Monk Theophanes the Cretan, Catholicon of St. Nicholas, Stavronikita Monastery, Mount
Athos, ca. 1546.
ORTHODOX DOGMATIC
THEOLOGY
A CONCISE EXPOSITION
By
PROTOPRESBYTER MICHAEL POMAZANSKY
Translated and edited by
HIEROMONK SERAPHIM ROSE
and the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood
Third Edition
ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA BROTHERHOOD
2009
Copyright © 1983, 2009 by the
St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood
P. O. Box 70
Platina, California 96076
www.sainthermanpress.com
Translated by Hieromonk Seraphim Rose with the blessing of His Eminence AVERKY, Archbishop of
Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), from the Russian
original (Pravoslavnoye Dogmaticheskoye Bogosloviye) published by Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville,
New York, 1963, and revised by the author in 1973.
First (English) Edition, 1983
Second Edition, 1994
Second Printing of Second Edition, 1997
Third Edition, 2005
Second Printing of Third Edition, 2009
Digital Edition, 2014
Front cover: 19th-century icon of Christ “Not Made with Hands,” from Valaam Monastery in Russia, now
located at the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, Platina, California.
Note: pagination in e-book readers will vary. References to page numbers refer to the paperback edition.
Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication
Pomazansky, Protopresbyter Michael, 1888–1988.
Orthodox dogmatic theology: a concise exposition / by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky;
translated and edited by Hieromonk Seraphim Rose and the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. —
3rd ed.
p. cm.
Originally published in Russian as: Pravoslavnoye Dogmaticheskoye Bogosloviye.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN–13: 978–0–938635–69–7
ISBN–10: 0–938635–69–7
1. Theology, Doctrinal. 2. Orthodox Eastern Church — Doctrines. I. Rose, Seraphim. II. Title.
BX320.3.P66 2005
230/.19—dc22 2005936831
Contents
Editor’s Preface to the Third Edition by Hieromonk Damascene
About the Author — Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky: Theology in the
Ancient Tradition by Hieromonk Seraphim Rose.
Translator’s Preface by Hieromonk Seraphim Rose
Author’s Preface to the English Translation by Protopresbyter Michael
Pomazansky
Introduction
1. The Sources of Christian Doctrine: The Concern of the Church for the
Purity of Christian Teaching. — Dogmas. — The Sources of Dogmas. —
Sacred Scripture. — Sacred Tradition. — The Catholic Consciousness of the
Church. — Dogmas and Canons. — The Works of the Holy Fathers and
Teachers of the Church as a Guide in Questions of Faith. — The Truths of
Faith in the Divine Services
2. Expositions of Christian Teaching: The Symbolical Books. — Dogmatic
Systems
3. Dogmatic Theology: Dogmatics and Faith. — Theology and Science;
Theology and Philosophy.
PART I: GOD IN HIMSELF
Chapter 1: Our Knowledge of God
The Dogma of Faith. — Belief or Faith as an Attribute of the Soul. — The
Power of Faith. — The Source of Faith
The Nature of Our Knowledge of God. — The Essence of God. — The
Attributes of God. — What Does the Sacred Scripture Testify concerning the
Attributes of God? — The Unity of God
Chapter 2: The Dogma of the Holy Trinity
Indications of the Trinity of Persons in God in the Holy Scripture of the Old
Testament. — The Divinely Revealed Teaching of the Holy Trinity in the
New Testament. — The Confession of the Dogma of the Holy Trinity in the
Ancient Church
The Personal Attributes of the Divine Persons. — The Name of the Second
Person — the Word. — On the Procession of the Holy Spirit.
The Oneness of Essence, the Equality of Divinity, and the Equality of Honor of
the Persons of the Holy Trinity. — The Oneness of Essence, the Equality of
Divinity, and the Equality of Honor of God the Son with God the Father. —
The Oneness of Essence, the Equality of Divinity, and the Equality of Honor
of the Holy Spirit with God the Father and God the Son
Transition to the Second Part of Dogmatic Theology
PART II: GOD MANIFEST IN THE WORLD
Chapter 3: God and the Creation
The Manner of the World’s Creation. — The Motive for the Creation. — The
Perfection of the Creation.
The Creation, Nature, and Purpose in the Angelic World. — Angels in
Sacred Scripture. — The Creation of Angels. — The Nature of Angels. —
The Degree of Angelic Perfection. — The Number and Ranks of Angels. —
The Ministry of the Angels.
Man, the Crown of Creation. — The Soul as an Independent Substance
Distinct from the Body. — The Origin of the Souls of Individual Men. —
The Immortality of the Soul. — Soul and Spirit. — The Image of God in
Man. — The Purpose of Man.
From the Majesty of the Creation to the Incomparable Majesty of the Creator.
Chapter 4: The Providence of God
God’s General Providence over the World. — God’s Providence over Man
before the Fall.
Chapter 5: Concerning Evil and Sin
1. Evil and Sin in the World. — 2. The Fall in the Angelic World: The World of
Dark and Evil Spirits. — 3. Man’s Fall into Sin. — 4. Original Sin.
Chapter 6: God and the Salvation of Mankind
The Economy of Our Salvation
The Preparation of the Human Race to Receive the Saviour
The Incarnation of the Son of God. — The Lord Jesus Christ: True God. —
The Human Nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. — The Church’s Battle with
Errors concerning the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ. — The Manner
of the Union of the Two Natures in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. —
The Sinlessness of the Human Nature of Jesus Christ. — The Unity of the
Hypostasis of Christ. — The One Worship of Christ. — A Word on the Latin
Cult of the “Heart of Jesus.”
Dogmas Concerning the Most Holy Mother of God: A. The Ever-Virginity of
the Mother of God. — B. Most Holy Virgin Mary Is Theotokos. — The
Proclamation by the Roman Church of the Dogma of the Immaculate
Conception and the Dogma of the Bodily Assumption of the Mother of God.
— The Cult of the “Immaculate Heart” of the Most Holy Virgin in the
Roman Church.
The Dogma of Redemption. — The Lamb of God Who Taketh Away the Sin of
the World (John 1:29). — The General Economy of Salvation: A. The
Condition of the World before the Coming of the Saviour. — B. The General
Salvation of the World in Christ. — C. The Personal Rebirth and New Life
in Christ. — The Word “Redemption” in the Usage of the Apostles. — A
Note on the Roman Catholic Teaching.
The Triple Ministry of the Lord: A. Christ the High Priest. — B. Christ the
Evangelizer (The Prophetic Ministry of the Lord). — C. Christ, the Head and
King of the World (The Royal Ministry of Christ). — How is One to
Understand “The Deification of Humanity in Christ”?
The Resurrection of Christ. — The Saving Fruits of the Resurrection of
Christ: A. The Victory over Hell and Death. — B. The Blessedness of the
Saints in Heaven, and the Beginning of the Existence of the Great Kingdom
of Christ, the Heavenly Triumphant Church. — C. The Sending Down of the
Holy Spirit and the Establishment of the Church of Christ on Earth
Chapter 7: The Church of Christ
The Concept of the Church of Christ on Earth. — The Beginning of the
Church’s Existence, Its Growth, and Its Purpose
The Head of the Church. — The Close Bond between the Church of Christ on
Earth and the Church of the Saints in Heaven.
The Attributes of the Church. — The Unity of the Church. — The Sanctity of
the Church. — The Catholicity of the Church. — The Apostolic Church.
The Church Hierarchy. — Apostles. — Bishops. — Presbyters (priests). —
Deacons. — The Three Degrees of the Hierarchy. — The Councils of the
Church. — The Succession and the Uninterruptedness of the Episcopate in
the Church. — The Position of Pastorship in the Church.
Chapter 8: The Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The Life of the Church in the Holy Spirit
The New Life.
Grace. — The Providence of God and Grace.
The Mysteries (Sacraments).
The Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism. — The Establishment of the Mystery of
Baptism. — The Meaning of the Mystery. — The Means of the Performance
of the Mystery. — The Indispensability of Baptism. — Baptism: the Door to
the Reception of Other Grace-giving Gifts.
The Mystery (Sacrament) of Chrismation. — The Original Means of the
Performance of this Mystery. — Chrism and Its Sanctification.
The Mystery (Sacrament) of the Eucharist. — The Saviour’s Words before
the Establishment of the Mystery. — The Establishment of the Mystery and
Its Performance in Apostolic Times. — The Changing of the Bread and
Wine in the Mystery of the Eucharist. — Some Observations on the Manner
in Which the Lord Jesus Christ Remains in the Holy Gifts. — The Relation
of the Eucharist to the Sacrifice on Golgotha. — The Significance of the
Eucharist as a Sacrifice. — Conclusions of a Liturgical Character. — The
Necessity and Saving Nature of Communion of the Holy Mysteries.
The Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance. — The Institution of the Mystery.
— Epitimia (Penance). — The Roman Catholic View. — Spiritual Guidance.
The Mystery (Sacrament) of Priesthood. — Cheirotonia in the Ancient
Church. — “Election” and “Ordination” in the Ancient Church. — The
Essence and Effectuating Words of the Mystery. — The Celibacy of
Bishops.
The Mystery (Sacrament) of Marriage. — The Purpose of the Christian