Man, that goes WAY back.

There are some good reasons for thinking that the documents were forged either by Jesuits or by Calvinists trying to make the Orthodox out to be PRotestant allies.

As a former Calvinist, I take it to be heterodox as well. One point of heterodoxy is tht Calvinist monergism is an effect of their Christological monoenergism and monothelitism. We explore this quite often on my blog, so pay us a visit. Calvinism is therefore inconsistent with Chalcedonian Christology. This is apparent even by Calvinist scholars like Muller’s Christ and the Decree.

I’m intrigued by Lucaris and his ministry. Here was the Patriarch of Constantinople, and I believe Alexandria too, and he’s known, at least, for espousing Calvinism…. I hadn’t heard that there was any real disupte about the authenticity of his documents until somewhat recently. I know that many Orthodox greatly dislike Calvinism, despite the lip service given to Augustine despite his similar teachings. Yet, it hasn’t really been proven that the Lucaris documents were forgeries, and if he did study among the Protestants, this would certainly account for accepting Protestant views on issues such as justification and a Reformed view of predestination.

I have to say that I was saddenned when I found that Metropolitan Jonah called Calvinism heretical when he addressed the Anglicans in Texas recently and urged that they abandon Calvinism to unite with the OCA. I wrote him a message that I posted on Virtue Online, as I wish that modern Orthodox Chrisitans would reconsider what we Calvinists call the “doctrines of grace.”

Anyway, take care, Perry, and God bless you.

John Peters
(Miserable Sinner, but Thankfully Forgiven)

Second there is no intrinsic reason why the Orthodox can’t have an ecumenical council.

Third, the errors of Calvinism were anticipated and refuted in the teaching of Maximus the Confessor and the Sixth Council’s teaching on the two wills of Christ and the theology of the gnomic will. Calvinism is inverted Origenism.

Cyril Lucaris was a godly, learned man, who sought to magnify the grace and glory of God in his ministry. I stand with him and affirm that we find the forgiveness of sins by grace alone through Jesus’ death and resurrection, apart from our good works or even ultimately our own sincerity, and by God’s choice.