Download or read book WORKS by St. Mark of Ephesus written by St. Mark of Ephesus and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-05 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: [corrections made, Bible quotations - 2021 Aug 18] /// And it is obvious that those who strive for the Divine, this very striving, that is, love, purifies, as Gregory the Theologian says, - while purifying, it makes them godlike, communicates with those who have become, as it were, their own ; why, after death, this striving was much less capable of purifying those who are freed from matter, but there is still a need for a cleansing fire for minor sins? II. Then, it is more characteristic of the goodness of God not to ignore a small good than to consider a small sin worthy of punishment. However, little good in those who have committed great sins will not receive a reward, due to the prevalence of evil. Likewise, a small evil in those who were righteous in great deeds will not lead to punishment, due to the fact that the best deeds win: for if there is not that which represents the greater part, then, of course, there will not be anything that is less. So, one should not believe in the cleansing fire. /// But, okay, let's move on! And after that Council, the Fourth (Ecumenical) Council was assembled, which, after first reading its own decree and both Symbols, accepted both Symbols (Nicene and Constantinople) as if one, and after reading it immediately confirmed: "Suits for a complete knowledge of piety and confirmation - this holy and blessed Symbol of Divine grace "[ [76]]. Do you hear: "Holy Symbol"? So, both Symbols are one Symbol: for the second contains the first. And the third Ecumenical Council spoke of the two Symbols as one. But listen to what follows this: - "For he teaches perfectly about the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Do you hear: "he teaches perfectly"? So, there is nothing in it that is imperfect in relation to the Holy Spirit, and the Symbol of Faith does not need to be added. But how should this Symbol be preserved, they say at the end: "So, through those decrees and determinations that we were pleased to endure, this Holy and Ecumenical Council decided that no one is allowed to introduce a different faith, that is, to write, or compose, or learn, or contribute. Those who dared to write, or form a different faith, such - if they are bishops or clergy - to alienate bishops from the bishopric and clergy from the clergy, and if they are laymen, - to anathematize them. " And the fact that here "faith" is called the Symbol of Faith is clear, I suppose, for those who have reason; for the Council speaks, by no means, of a decree, since after that there were various decrees. The same "faith" is made "different" not only by many words, but also by only one addition or subtraction or change. For "to write," to compose "and" to bring in "clearly indicate the composition of words, and this is prohibited.