It does not surprise me in the least that an EO priest would make the reamrk in the OP to a Greek Catholic. I would, however, be surprised if it were said to a Roman Catholic.
Considering RC’s and GC’s are of one communion and share the same beliefs, it would be illogical to accept one but reject the other.
I don’t believe for a minute that the elders in the link did not require food or sleep. And I am wondering if you have evidence to support what you suggest.
Glorification is not always a permanent state, so not all elders permanently live off of the Divine Energies. Moses, for example, did so only for forty days. In the end, however, I cannot tell you anything that will convince you. My own experience at Elder Ephraim’s monastery in Arizona (St. Anthony’s) confirmed my speculations, but it is just that - my experience. One of the most wonder and beautiful things about Orthodoxy is that our elders (or any Glorified individual) carry on the tradition of the OT prophets (though since Pentecost, they have become much more abundant). Very often, those who have these experiences hide themselves from the world (for the sake of humility). It is often only by divine command that they reveal themselves for our benefit (though some, such as the twelve invisible monks of Mt. Athos, do so rarely). I cannot provide for you any proof of these miracles save the words of others and my own experience (at least not any more than I can of the Resurrection). I do, however, believe the words of St. Gregory Palamas, St. Symeon the New Theologian, and St. Gregory the Theologian (and many others) in describing these events. What little knowledge and experience I have has convinced me that the aforementioned saints were correct, and that noetic prayer exists, as does the miraculous occurrence of
theosis.
As to contradiction of the Fathers - I find their disinterest in unity to contradict Christ. I find their lack of a demeanor of philanthropos, again to contradict Christ. These findings are provisional of course: there is so little on the video. By the same token your claim of “never” contradicting the Fathers is beyond your knowing; it is beyond proving. Your criteria for recognition are a bit fanciful.
Christ never advocated unity as most would describe it. In fact, the “unity” most reference (in John 17) has nothing to do with the ecumenical relations of Christians, but of noetic unity.
On the contradiction of fathers, many will happily tell you they never contradict the fathers. If I remember correctly, St. Moses of Optina proudly said towards the end of his life that he never once gave advice that could be found outside the fathers.
Overall I think PR has the right idea. We have, from the earliest times, the episcopal office for oversight of the church. We of course can learn much from holy men and women, but it is an innovation to look to them for the oversight of the church. (And there is the danger of personality cults.) Do you see this as a idiosyncratic belief on your part, or do you think it is embedded in the EOC; if the latter, when did this come about?
It is no innovation. Does not St. Paul write to the Corinthians :
“
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
In the early church, more were glorified, especially in the ranks of the episcopacy. Gradually, the more worldly minded worked their way in and reforms were made (around the time of St. Symeon) to reserve the episcopacy entirely for those devout and pious monks (i.e. the hesychasts). In our day and age, however, even many Orthodox monasteries have begun neglecting hesychas, thus many our bishops are devoted to the ways of the world. They do not follow tradition. Nevertheless, we are obedient to them, but not when they contradict the fathers. Remember that Nestorius and his ilk were bishops.
Yes but that takes us back to the above: you have not given any useful ways by which you can recognize the glorified. You can claim it, but i sis just a claim.
