Early Church

Misunderstandings about the Early Church

"When it comes to a romanticized view of history or the Church fathers, I feel this critique [in the 'consensus of the fathers' for most beliefs, as well as a naïve understanding of both Christian history and the struggle for doctrinal orthodoxy] is almost an inescapable one for those not involved with the life and ministry of the Orthodox Church-in other words, for those on the outside-looking-in. This is partly due to a lack of resources in the English language that are both accessible and relevant for those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Church (but this is slowly changing). Instead, speculation and oft-repeated half-truths reign supreme (especially on the Internet).

"In reality, Orthodox Christians and scholars are acutely aware of the struggles for orthodoxy, beginning as early as Irenaeus' writings against the Gnostics and continuing all the way down until the present, where any number of struggles can be easily numbered (Lord, have mercy). There was no 'golden age' of the Church, nor will there ever be one this side of the resurrection. Some of our greatest heroes of faith died either in exile (St. John Chrysostom, St. Athanasius of Alexandria) or with their limbs or tongues having been severed (St. Maximos the Confessor). Even 'jolly' Saint Nicholas died with a broken nose and having slapped Arius in the face. Christian history is indeed a complicated, messy thing. The theanthropic Body of Christ is never without the 'anthropos' and a struggle for both doctrinal and moral purity." -- Gabe Martini, Why Are Lutherans Converting to Eastern Orthodoxy, February 22, 2014, OnBehalfOfAll.org