Prologue in Sermons: January 1

 

The Proof that our Church is Orthodox, and the Schismatic Church is Not Orthodox, is that We Perform Miracles, While the Schismatics Do Not.

January 1
 
(The Miracle Saint Basil Performed in Nicaea)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Proof, on the one hand, that our Church is true, holy, and Orthodox, and, on the other, that a schismatic Church is not Orthodox, but a Church of the deceivers, can be found, among other things, in the fact that in our Church, as in the past, true miracles have been, are still being, and, of course, will continue to be performed. Among the schismatics, however, true miracles do not exist, have not existed, and never will exist. To illustrate this, brethren, we will give you an example. 

The Greek Emperor Valens, an Arian heretic in faith, closed the Orthodox churches in his empire, surrendered them to the control of the Arians, and ordered the expulsion of all Orthodox bishops. The Orthodox said to the Emperor, "Before carrying out your decree concerning us, allow Basil [the Great] to enter into a discussion of faith with the Arians. If they triumph over Basil in it, we shall all submit to you without question." The Emperor agreed and summoned Basil to Nicaea. Basil, having told Valens that God would judge between him and the Arians, proceeded as follows: he ordered the doors of one of the churches locked and said to the Arians: "Do you wish to judge whose faith is right through these doors? If, through your prayer, they open of their own accord, we will know that the truth is on your side; but if they open through our prayer, then everyone will have to admit that we, and not you, are Orthodox." The Arians agreed, praying from morning until evening for the doors to be opened, but "there was," as it is said, "neither a voice nor obedience." Then came the turn of the Orthodox. Saint Basil, with the clergy and Orthodox people, approached the church, knelt, and began to pray. "And suddenly there was a loud thunderclap, and the church doors opened." Everyone was terrified and glorified God. The Emperor ordered the return of the churches to the Orthodox, rewarded Basil with great gifts and sent him away in peace.

The example seems compelling. As you can see, the Arian heretics prayed all day for the church gates to be opened, but there was neither a voice nor obedience. The Orthodox prayed, and the doors opened of their own accord. Clearly, then, the Orthodox were blessed with the grace of God, with which all things are possible for the believer. The heretics lacked this grace, and their prayers remained in vain. The same thing is happening today. In our Orthodox Church, even now, the incorrupt relics of saints are being revealed, and great miracles are performed by the power of God. These same great miracles are also manifested by the holy saints who have reposed, by holy icons, and, finally, by the Lord in general.

Do we see anything like this among the schismatics? No, all we see are mutual disputes: there is priestly factionalism here, priestless factionalism there; there are runaways, wanderers, and so on, endlessly. Meanwhile, all of them believe according to the same old printed books. Can there be the grace of God among them? Can miracles occur? Certainly not, and salvation is impossible for them. Therefore, flee from the schismatics, brethren, and ensure that "no one deceives you with philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Col. 2:8). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.