04 July 2003

Confession of a Byzantine-rite Calvinist

Yes, indeed. It seems there was an ecumenical patriarch in the 17th century who was highly influenced by Calvinism and incorporated distinctively Reformed themes into a confessional document published in Geneva in 1629. Here is a sample chapter from the Confession of Cyril Lukaris:

Chapter 14. We believe that free will is dead in the unregenerate, because they can do no good thing, and whatsoever they do is sin; but in the regenerate by the grace of the Holy Spirit the will is excited and in deed works but not without the assistance of grace. In order, therefore, that man should be born again and do good, it is necessary that grace should go before; otherwise man is wounded having received as many wounds as that man received who going from Jerusalem down to Jericho fell into the hands of thieves, so that of himself he cannot do anything.

Patriarch Cyril's influence on the Orthodox Church did not last. His views were subsequently repudiated by the church. Imagine what might have happened if his views had prevailed.

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