Dietary Laws in the Orthodox Catholic Church
May 25, 2015 21:09:34 #
INTRODUCTION:
Most denominations of Christianity are divided on the subject whether pork is still a sin, etc. We need only go to 1John 3:4 to read sin is the transgression of the law. Christians of any denomination or church will say pork eating is their only sin. However they forget that God said we must confess and repent of sin (Confessing any sin, till we grow more and be transformed more into the image of Christ).
Some even go so far as to say we can now eat abominations found in the sea like crabs and toxic barnicles etc. The typical response of todays Christians is they can eat pork now because we have refrigerators, and it doesnt go bad. The farther you go back in time the more it was unimaginable to eat it. Even the Greeks and Romans limited their pork to very few special festivals, where it was eaten quickly.
However it has remained in the historic church a known factor. Several Bishops have been excommunicated from Rome based on their stance of rejecting the new traditions of pork eating, and telling Christians to turn against the Sabbath and feast days of YAHWEH. The purpose of this article is to show there have always been leaders in the historic church who remained true to the word in regards to pork.
Although we need only read from the word of God to form our opinions, this article is to show it has been historically understood.
Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox still have major traditions in all branches for abstaining from all meat. Most monastic orders they often have only one day per week for eating fish. Still in either case, food laws even in Hebrew times were relaxed for the greater festivals, like Tabernacles where it says to eat whatsoever your soul lusteth after. There has remained a tradition on festival days to eat more than you eat on a normal day, even foods that would be considered only a delicacy. However while under no circumstance would I recommend pork, there are those who interpret it in Hebrew theology to include eating of pork on such larger week festivals as Tabernacles.
The historical understanding of Peters sheet was NOT understood to mean that now everyone can eat everything. The verse itself inn fact says it had to do with people, not with foods (Acts 10:9-16).
The early church father Saint Jerome wrote that every creature of God is good, and none are to be refused if received with thanksgiving (1Timothy 4:4) He wrote that this was NOT referring to swines flesh, but that it referred to marriage to a spouse, and partaking in all the cares of having a family.
Jerome said it was a precept that indeed had to do with all the belly desires (like marriage) that concern our lives in this world.
This agrees with 1Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry and abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.(note commanding is not in the original) Verse 4-5 speaks of having prayerful intercourse with the meats?? which couldnt be referring of speaking together with the pork meal
Saint Jerome wrote to the Imperial Lady Salvina who had just been widowed and was still attractive. He said she is one who rightfully rejects pork. He praised her piety in rejecting pork, however, said that its even more pious if she will now as a widow be continuously fasting and reject other more savory and expensive meats like the black cocks of Iona, etc.
He further elaborated about abstaining from meats, wines, etc, and even the verse that every creature of God is good, and none are to be refused if received with thanksgiving he equated all to be a part of the precepts of when we are serving the fleshly life rather than the spiritual life. He said it referred more to all the concerns of bearing children, having a spouse and serving the flesh. However, admonished her, although she was still youthful to remain a widow and abstain from all meats (remarriages/flesh desires) and wines to be a deaconess for the church. Which she did do under ArchBishop Chrystom of Constantinople.
Source: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001079.htm (Letter from Jerome to Imperial Lady Salvina)
Nestorians
The Nestorians (who came out of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Constantinople) continued to guard the dietary laws. As we can prove, the rest of the orthodox have continued to believe its a sin. The Nestorians are known for keeping the Sabbath day and the dietary laws.
"The Nestorians eat no pork and keep the Sabbath. They believe in neither auricular confession nor purgatory." Schaff-Herzog, The New Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, art. "Nestorians"
"They(Nestorians) abstain from pork and every other meat prohibited in the law of Moses. (Wolff's Researches, p. 469).
The Seven Maccabean Saints who were tortured and Martyred for refusing to eat pork.
Gregory of Nazianzus in his fiftheenth oration, commemorated their Martyrdom for abstaining from pork. He said that such civil disobedience in order to keep the dietary laws was to be living in accordance with the cross.
Augustine of Hippo said the Maccabees really are martyrs of Christ.
John Chrystom of Constantinople argued in favor of the martyrs saying that people who were killed for the Law shed their blood for the giver of the Law, (Jesus the Christ)
The Celtic Church was Hebrew and Eastern Orthodox
The Celtic Church which occupied Ireland, Scotland, and Britain, had the Syriac (Byzantine) scriptures instead of the Latin vulgate of Rome. The Celtic Church, with the Waldenses and the Eastern empire, kept the seventh-day Sabbath.
The hundreds of pre-schism Orthodox Saints of Great Britain bear the strongest testimony of these facts. Today the Eastern churches still venerate most of these. For Britain alone we have cataloged 130 official Saints of England who pre-dated Augustine. An example of the most popular pre-schism Orthodox Saints of England can be found online on such sites as http://www.oodegr.co/english/istorika/britain/British_Saints.htm. Our list of the 130 English Saints before Augustine can be found at http://glastonburyculdee.org/130%20british%20Saints%20before%20augustine.pdf
Hebrew Celtic Law
Not only was the Celtic church using a Syriac Byzantine Bible, but they were more successful in guarding the whole law of YAHWEH.
One example of the Hebrew Celtic Law is the Ex Lieber Moisi.
The Liber ex Lege Moisi, was distributed by Saint Patrick and his successors at every Celtic church, whether in England, Scotland or Ireland.
Summary of contents:
1. The seventh day Sabbath.
2. Slavery and the relationship of master to servants
3. Various capital offences.
4. Compensation in money of kind for different crimes.
5. Animals offences against person and property.
6. Animals used as food, clean and unclean, and slaughtering.
7. Sex and marriage.
8. Feminine hygiene.
9. Tithes, first-fruits, vows, and offerings of all kinds.
10. Justice, bribery, witnesses, traduction, and usury.
11. Cities of refuge, asylum, and hospitality.
12. Wizards and necromancy and human sacrifices.
13. Inheritance, and the Sabbatical and Jubilees years, debts.
14. Sights of a true prophet.
15. Cursing and blessing.
This formed the basis of beliefs by the Celtic Christians.
The regulations of Adamnan, accepted that people could eat the unclean swine, but not if it was too fat. The pigs must be lean.
The dietary habits of Columba were clearly described as abstaining from meat and ale. (see Old-Irish Life of Columba, or Amhra Chulimb Chille.)
EARLY ROMAN CHURCH FATHERS
Often the records of their dealings with the early Celtic Culdee church are quite telling.
Irenaeus, A.D. 178, says that the church in his time was spread throughout the World; and especially mentions the churches in Germany, Spain, Gaul, and Britain. He adds: "There is no difference of faith or tradition in any of these countries."...
The credit of introducing Christianity into Britain region has been claimed not only for Paul, but also for Peter, Philip, John, Simon Zelotes, and Joseph of Arimathea...
Venantius Fortunatus, A.D. 560, says: "St. Paul passed over the ocean to the Island of Britain, and to Thule, the extremity of the earth." (Ireland)
...In the biography of Augustine who came from Rome A.D. 596, to convert the heathen Saxons, we are told that he found the people of Britain in the most grievous and intolerable heresies, "being given to Judaizing, but ignorant of the holy sacraments and festivals of the church." i.e. (Didnt know of December 25, pork eating, etc.) (Mrs. Tamar Davis : "History of Sabbatarian Churches," p. 108. Phila 1851.) ..
CONCLUSION
While most know in their own practices to at least limit pork, we believe its important to show that its still a sin that should be completely turned from.
Todays Mainstream Larger Churches
Today there are still many denominations who claim apostolic succession and teach that we should not eat pork as official doctrine. Some examples are:
Syrian Orthodox Church
Coptic Church of Alexandria
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Western Protestant denominations with more than 100,000 members:
The United Church of God (formerly Worldwide Church of God)
The Seventh Day Adventist Church
Israelite Jewish/Hebrew Messianic Assemblies
If this was a blessing to you, then please send it along, or request our larger writings that include how the Orthodox Church has widely kept Sabbath and rejected December 25th in preference of Tabernacles as found at http://christsassembly.com .
Yours in Christ
+++ Abp. Rev. Stephen M.K.
Most denominations of Christianity are divided on the subject whether pork is still a sin, etc. We need only go to 1John 3:4 to read sin is the transgression of the law. Christians of any denomination or church will say pork eating is their only sin. However they forget that God said we must confess and repent of sin (Confessing any sin, till we grow more and be transformed more into the image of Christ).
Some even go so far as to say we can now eat abominations found in the sea like crabs and toxic barnicles etc. The typical response of todays Christians is they can eat pork now because we have refrigerators, and it doesnt go bad. The farther you go back in time the more it was unimaginable to eat it. Even the Greeks and Romans limited their pork to very few special festivals, where it was eaten quickly.
However it has remained in the historic church a known factor. Several Bishops have been excommunicated from Rome based on their stance of rejecting the new traditions of pork eating, and telling Christians to turn against the Sabbath and feast days of YAHWEH. The purpose of this article is to show there have always been leaders in the historic church who remained true to the word in regards to pork.
Although we need only read from the word of God to form our opinions, this article is to show it has been historically understood.
Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox still have major traditions in all branches for abstaining from all meat. Most monastic orders they often have only one day per week for eating fish. Still in either case, food laws even in Hebrew times were relaxed for the greater festivals, like Tabernacles where it says to eat whatsoever your soul lusteth after. There has remained a tradition on festival days to eat more than you eat on a normal day, even foods that would be considered only a delicacy. However while under no circumstance would I recommend pork, there are those who interpret it in Hebrew theology to include eating of pork on such larger week festivals as Tabernacles.
The historical understanding of Peters sheet was NOT understood to mean that now everyone can eat everything. The verse itself inn fact says it had to do with people, not with foods (Acts 10:9-16).
The early church father Saint Jerome wrote that every creature of God is good, and none are to be refused if received with thanksgiving (1Timothy 4:4) He wrote that this was NOT referring to swines flesh, but that it referred to marriage to a spouse, and partaking in all the cares of having a family.
Jerome said it was a precept that indeed had to do with all the belly desires (like marriage) that concern our lives in this world.
This agrees with 1Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry and abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.(note commanding is not in the original) Verse 4-5 speaks of having prayerful intercourse with the meats?? which couldnt be referring of speaking together with the pork meal
Saint Jerome wrote to the Imperial Lady Salvina who had just been widowed and was still attractive. He said she is one who rightfully rejects pork. He praised her piety in rejecting pork, however, said that its even more pious if she will now as a widow be continuously fasting and reject other more savory and expensive meats like the black cocks of Iona, etc.
He further elaborated about abstaining from meats, wines, etc, and even the verse that every creature of God is good, and none are to be refused if received with thanksgiving he equated all to be a part of the precepts of when we are serving the fleshly life rather than the spiritual life. He said it referred more to all the concerns of bearing children, having a spouse and serving the flesh. However, admonished her, although she was still youthful to remain a widow and abstain from all meats (remarriages/flesh desires) and wines to be a deaconess for the church. Which she did do under ArchBishop Chrystom of Constantinople.
Source: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001079.htm (Letter from Jerome to Imperial Lady Salvina)
Nestorians
The Nestorians (who came out of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Constantinople) continued to guard the dietary laws. As we can prove, the rest of the orthodox have continued to believe its a sin. The Nestorians are known for keeping the Sabbath day and the dietary laws.
"The Nestorians eat no pork and keep the Sabbath. They believe in neither auricular confession nor purgatory." Schaff-Herzog, The New Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, art. "Nestorians"
"They(Nestorians) abstain from pork and every other meat prohibited in the law of Moses. (Wolff's Researches, p. 469).
The Seven Maccabean Saints who were tortured and Martyred for refusing to eat pork.
Gregory of Nazianzus in his fiftheenth oration, commemorated their Martyrdom for abstaining from pork. He said that such civil disobedience in order to keep the dietary laws was to be living in accordance with the cross.
Augustine of Hippo said the Maccabees really are martyrs of Christ.
John Chrystom of Constantinople argued in favor of the martyrs saying that people who were killed for the Law shed their blood for the giver of the Law, (Jesus the Christ)
The Celtic Church was Hebrew and Eastern Orthodox
The Celtic Church which occupied Ireland, Scotland, and Britain, had the Syriac (Byzantine) scriptures instead of the Latin vulgate of Rome. The Celtic Church, with the Waldenses and the Eastern empire, kept the seventh-day Sabbath.
The hundreds of pre-schism Orthodox Saints of Great Britain bear the strongest testimony of these facts. Today the Eastern churches still venerate most of these. For Britain alone we have cataloged 130 official Saints of England who pre-dated Augustine. An example of the most popular pre-schism Orthodox Saints of England can be found online on such sites as http://www.oodegr.co/english/istorika/britain/British_Saints.htm. Our list of the 130 English Saints before Augustine can be found at http://glastonburyculdee.org/130%20british%20Saints%20before%20augustine.pdf
Hebrew Celtic Law
Not only was the Celtic church using a Syriac Byzantine Bible, but they were more successful in guarding the whole law of YAHWEH.
One example of the Hebrew Celtic Law is the Ex Lieber Moisi.
The Liber ex Lege Moisi, was distributed by Saint Patrick and his successors at every Celtic church, whether in England, Scotland or Ireland.
Summary of contents:
1. The seventh day Sabbath.
2. Slavery and the relationship of master to servants
3. Various capital offences.
4. Compensation in money of kind for different crimes.
5. Animals offences against person and property.
6. Animals used as food, clean and unclean, and slaughtering.
7. Sex and marriage.
8. Feminine hygiene.
9. Tithes, first-fruits, vows, and offerings of all kinds.
10. Justice, bribery, witnesses, traduction, and usury.
11. Cities of refuge, asylum, and hospitality.
12. Wizards and necromancy and human sacrifices.
13. Inheritance, and the Sabbatical and Jubilees years, debts.
14. Sights of a true prophet.
15. Cursing and blessing.
This formed the basis of beliefs by the Celtic Christians.
The regulations of Adamnan, accepted that people could eat the unclean swine, but not if it was too fat. The pigs must be lean.
The dietary habits of Columba were clearly described as abstaining from meat and ale. (see Old-Irish Life of Columba, or Amhra Chulimb Chille.)
EARLY ROMAN CHURCH FATHERS
Often the records of their dealings with the early Celtic Culdee church are quite telling.
Irenaeus, A.D. 178, says that the church in his time was spread throughout the World; and especially mentions the churches in Germany, Spain, Gaul, and Britain. He adds: "There is no difference of faith or tradition in any of these countries."...
The credit of introducing Christianity into Britain region has been claimed not only for Paul, but also for Peter, Philip, John, Simon Zelotes, and Joseph of Arimathea...
Venantius Fortunatus, A.D. 560, says: "St. Paul passed over the ocean to the Island of Britain, and to Thule, the extremity of the earth." (Ireland)
...In the biography of Augustine who came from Rome A.D. 596, to convert the heathen Saxons, we are told that he found the people of Britain in the most grievous and intolerable heresies, "being given to Judaizing, but ignorant of the holy sacraments and festivals of the church." i.e. (Didnt know of December 25, pork eating, etc.) (Mrs. Tamar Davis : "History of Sabbatarian Churches," p. 108. Phila 1851.) ..
CONCLUSION
While most know in their own practices to at least limit pork, we believe its important to show that its still a sin that should be completely turned from.
Todays Mainstream Larger Churches
Today there are still many denominations who claim apostolic succession and teach that we should not eat pork as official doctrine. Some examples are:
Syrian Orthodox Church
Coptic Church of Alexandria
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Western Protestant denominations with more than 100,000 members:
The United Church of God (formerly Worldwide Church of God)
The Seventh Day Adventist Church
Israelite Jewish/Hebrew Messianic Assemblies
If this was a blessing to you, then please send it along, or request our larger writings that include how the Orthodox Church has widely kept Sabbath and rejected December 25th in preference of Tabernacles as found at http://christsassembly.com .
Yours in Christ
+++ Abp. Rev. Stephen M.K.
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