Quotes from the Bible and the Fathers of the Orthodox Church
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye
may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy
mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye
say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to
say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be
free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have
delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Mark 7:9-13
If, under the pretence of piety, any children shall forsake their parents, particularly [if the parents are] believers, and shall withhold becoming reverence from their parents, on the plea that they honour piety more than them, let them be anathema.
CANON XVI of the Council of Gangra
If any of those who are living a virgin life for the Lord's sake shall treat arrogantly the married, let him be anathema.
CANON X of the Council of Gangra
If any one shall condemn marriage, or abominate and condemn a woman who is a believer and devout, and sleeps with her own husband, as though she could not enter the Kingdom [of heaven] let him be anathema.
CANON I of the Council of Gangra
Ques. What is the First Commandment of the Decalogue?
Ans. "I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods but Me.".....
Ques. Who else sin against the First Commandment?
Ans. All who set all their hopes on anyone but God. Such as these are all who deify men or material objects.
Ques. Who are these?
Ans. All who devote themselves body and soul to one man or to many men, because they have authority and power, or wealth, or some other advantage.
Sacred Catechism Of The Orthodox Church, Constantine N. Vernardakis, pages 66-71
The law of the Spirit is with reason a law of friendship and consequently trains us in gratitude. There is no toil involved in applying ourselves to this law, neither is it necessary to suffer hardship or to spend money, nor is there dishonour or shame, nor shall we be worse off in any other respect. It makes it no less possible to exercise our skills and it places no obstacle in the way of any occupation. The general may remain in command, the farmer may till the soil, the artisan may exercise his craft, and no one will have to desist from his usual employment because of it. One need not betake oneself to a remote spot, nor eat unaccustomed food, nor even dress differently, nor ruin one's health nor venture on any reckless act. It is possible for one who stays at home and loses none of his possessions constantly to be engaged in the law of the Spirit.
The Life in Christ, St. Nicholas Cabasilas, SVS Press, pages 173-174
