Thus, something or someone Is (ontologically) as much as it partakes of God, for God is by nature (uncreated Divine energies), the basis (hypost asis) of all creaturely being. Something or someone Is (existentially) as much as it partakes of the Trinitarian, God-human mode of existence. Now we can understand the expressions: “to exist in non-being”, “existing, not to be”, “to exist in death”, “hell – a place meaningless”… (more details in the second part)
We will use two words – “Church” and “church”. Under “Church” we will understand the Body of Christ, the God-human organism, new life with Christ and in Christ, which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Members of the Church are those who have the Spirit of Christ and live in the visible form of existence – zealous observance of the Gospel Commandments (not their interpretations of the Commandments – V.A.), and have one of the repentant fruits of such a life – love for enemies (prayer for those who persecute, blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate), and, at a minimum, urge themselves to such a life. Under “church” we will understand an organization, a gathering of people, united by a hierarchy, which has apostolic succession, sacraments, creed expressed in various forms (word, music, icon, etc.), liturgy. And to the church belongs the one over whom was performed by a lawful priest, who has apostolic succession, the rites of two sacraments of baptism and chrismation (this is the entry minimum) – such have the right to call themselves Christians and be members of the church – to take full part in the life of the church and partake of the Eucharist. We see from such designations that the “Church” contains the “church”, but does not coincide with it entirely. A few of those who belong to the church (organization) are members of the Church (this is always the “little flock”, as the Lord says). But the one who has become a partaker of the Holy Spirit necessarily becomes, in this form of existence, a member of the Orthodox church, which has apostolic succession ordination and keeps pure the Tradition – the creed and laws of proper spiritual life (we are talking about the historical Orthodox church). The rite of the sacrament and the sacrament – are different things; therefore the rite of the sacrament can be performed (by which we become a member of the church-organization), and the sacrament (by which we become a member of the Body of Christ – the Church) not! (examples and arguments see below).
“P.S.” – “post scriptum” – a word after a word. A word that summarizes conclusions, which are not obvious from the context of the above said, or something important, which does not directly relate to the above said, but has great significance for the reader, in this case, for his spiritual life.
“Adam” – this word we will use in two senses – as the proper name of the progenitor, and in the sense: man, humanity.
P.S. Always in discussion, polemic, conversation demand objective (which can be verified without “mysticism”) arguments: “Where did you get this from?!”. But agree in advance (to not waste time on idle chit-chat!), that we do not rely on bare subjective experience, or the experience of others (e.g.: because I believe so; I am convinced, I know; I had a revelation, an angel appeared to me; or someone had a revelation and I trust them…) we do not rely on them (and they cannot be relied upon – they are in the past, they are not, only fruits are; – “there was a revelation!”, “someone said”, or “I saw, heard” – this cannot be verified, but you can verify the fruits, that is what is now, “objectively”, and both of us can experience, verify. “By their fruits you shall know them”, whether they have knowledge from God, or they dreamed it up, or some other source! How can I know, who appeared to you – a bright angel or “Satan in the guise of an angel of light”?! Only by the fruits the past is known, and as the apostle says – their fruits are evident!), only on objective – which are subject to verification either rationally-logically, or by feelings and experiential testing at the level of the soul-body world (i.e., the method of verification and facts, which objectively confirm the theory)! If you trust someone, that is, rely on the experience of another – again, why do you trust him?! By what criterion do you judge the truthfulness of someone else’s experience, not being a partaker of it?! Only by building this format of communication can a positive result be achieved. And in the coordinates of subjectivism – “because I want so, I believe so…”, – nothing sensible will come out! There must be a common plane (reality “here and now”, that is , fruits, not “was” or “will be”), otherwise one about “kilograms of the past”, another about “meters of the future” – there is no truth there!
You say that you or someone you trust had a revelation?! – And I had a revelation, that you and your prophet had no revelation (or: a demon appeared to you or your prophet in the guise of an angel of light, and you think it’s from God)! Such is not how dialogue or discussion are built! Therefore, we talk about fruits and discuss fruits! For example: Muslims stick to one thing – this is the starting point of this pagan religion, – that Muhammad received a revelation from God, and the Quran – is the Word of God, the fruit of non-earthly origin. They, Muslims, believe this; but was there a revelation, and if there was, then from whom? Only by their fruits… And the fruits are evident: the “salvific teaching and religion” was imposed by fire and sword…