Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 02 November 2004 21:38:05
The issue of my belief in the Traditions and teachings handed down came up when I was discussing one of the unique sacraments of The Church of the East with a friend of that church. This sacrament is called "Holy Leaven" and, if I understand it right, is the belief that a part of the bread used at the Last Supper was brought to the east by the Apostle Jude, and that each year more yeast is added to this portion to make sure it continues to exist and so that every Eucharist is made from bread continuous with that meal.
My friend mentioned, as an aside, that he does not take anything for granted. It hit me that I have been swinging in the other direction. Whether this is due to me returning to some equilibrium after my years as, as much as these things can be labelled, a Protestant [or at least trying to be...I had many disagreements with doctrine there] where Tradition was either outright rejected or lowered to something that may be nice but was ultimately of no benefit, I cannot say. Seeing in Orthodox the outward expressions of Tradition consisting of the Bible, the Councils, the writings of the Fathers, the Liturgy and the Icons has given me something I cannot quite explain -- all these things exist together, and can only exist together: you cannot take one apart from the other. They are all the Tradition of the Church.
Where can I turn to find the Truth? I can't turn to the Bible alone [Protestant readers will have to excuse me; I mean no offence and I would not be moving to Orthodoxy if I thought I could]: I need Tradition. I need to "give my ancestors a vote" as Chesterton wrote; I need to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before me.
Tradition sets up the fences and boundaries for me that I dare not cross over. It gives me a sense of securiity, if I can use such a term. Not that I approach my faith with a blind belief in Tradition and where my brain is switched off: heaven forbid! Yet faith is far more than mere intellectual assent: I can state some things about my faith, but when it comes to my faith something deeper and far beyond intellect is at play. I can't explain it, but it is there and it does guide and direct me. This deeper "thing" is what has called me to Orthodoxy, and called me to accept Tradition.
I am sure this makes no sense. But somehow, vague as it is, I feel the truth in it. I simply cannot explain it -- my intellectual faculties are not good enough. May God help me.