Russians Flock to See Virgin Mary Relic

MSNBC ^ | 11/23/11 | Mansur Mirovalev

[marshmallow]

Tens of thousands wait for hours in freezing temperatures to kiss belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother

MOSCOW — Braving freezing cold temperatures and ice-covered sidewalks, tens of thousands of Russians stood in line Wednesday to see and kiss a newly arrived relic of the Virgin Mary in Russia's largest Orthodox cathedral.

The Virgin Mary's Cincture, a belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother, was brought to Russia last month from Mount Athos, a monastic community in Greece.

Kissing the relic, which is encased in an ornamental box, is believed to help barren women conceive and heal other ailments.

The line of people, mostly women, waiting to enter the golden-domed Christ the Savior Cathedral stretched for 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the Moscow River despite temperatures that dropped to below minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit).

[CynicalBear]

Yeabut did you put on infallibility when you said that. The Pope gotta put on his infallible hat when he makes infallible statements you know. I think he has to wave a smoky globe too.

[smvoice]

AH. A link to “truth”. I think that following God’s word of truth, rightly divided, is the way to be approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. 2 Tim. 2:15. Not H A Ironside, or Bullinger or the early church fathers, or Rome or Ivo of Chatre. But thanks for your concern.

[don-o]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_A._Ironside

wiki bio of Harry Ironside who effectively demolishes your erroneous and fringy belief system using Scripture only. He’s not a Catholic.

Of course, this is what you get with folks arguing who is interpreting the Bible correctly. Bullinger made his interpretation in the early 19th century. Ironside was refuting it in the early 20th.

[smvoice]

And parade the big bagel on the pole around. Make mine cinnamon with strawberry cream cheese, please sir.

[don-o]

Pope smvoice 1 has spoken. Pope smvoice 1 shall rightly divide before our very eyes!

Do it yourself popery is an awesome concept.

[smvoice]

You actually have NO IDEA what my “belief system” is. You want to put people into boxes, label them, tie a bow around the box and put it on the shelf. It’s comforting when a person THINKS they know exactly what another believes. It makes it easier to dismiss their words. “Oh, he’s a...” or “she MUST be a...”. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m a follower of Christ. Who is saved by grace through faith. Who has been reconciled to God by the finished work of Christ. Who cares to be an effective workman for God, who will not be ashamed when I stand before Him. Who doesn’t have a religion ribbon to wear, saying “I’m a ...”

[smvoice]

SOMEONE didn’t get the white smoke message, Hoss...

[HossB86]

If I may, your Hossusness, FOTFLOL! Now HERE’S a NetPope I can support!

Yes you may. While you're on the floor, don't forget to kiss the toe of my red, white, and blue shoes.

:D

Hoss

[HossB86]

Hey --- no, no, no -- narses has already elected me as NetPope. You cannot elect someone else Pope unless he's gonna be the Anti-NetPope.

I have spoken ex interwebzia and I AM wearing the pointy hat.

Hey... history repeats itself!

Hoss

[HossB86]

Yeabut did you put on infallibility when you said that. The Pope gotta put on his infallible hat when he makes infallible statements you know. I think he has to wave a smoky globe too.

How dare you question my infallibility! When I speak ex interwebzia I am speaking "as if wearing the pointy hat and red white and blue shoes."

You, sir, are flirting with heresy.

Are you genuflecting yet?

Hossus NetPopius I

[HossB86]

White smoke? Who's copying my gig?

:D

NetPopius Hossus I

[FormerLib]

Why limit yourself? Read as many as you can.

It’s not as if your afraid you’ll learn something about the faith, right?

LOL.

[HossB86]

And parade the big bagel on the pole around. Make mine cinnamon with strawberry cream cheese, please sir.

So as it is requested, so it shall be.

Genuflect before the PoleBagel Creamcheesius.

NetPopius Hossus I

[HossB86]

I think he has to wave a smoky globe too.

Ooooh. That sounds cool. Where do I get one of those?

You want the job of swinging it around for me?

NetPopius Hossus I

[FormerLib]

There is one thing that consistently comes out of threads like this one: these people really, really HATE the Roman Catholic Church.

[Jvette]

*****RnMomof7 is exactly right. And you are exactly wrong.****

This is your opinion, and I, thankfully, am not bound by that opinion.

*****The ages were changing from “Time Past” to “But Now”. Read Gal.,Chapter 2. THere was a change taking place, and Peter realized it through Paul. THAT’S why Peter extended to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. That Paul would go to the Gentiles and Peter would remain preaching to the Jews. ******

Really? Paul spends 15 days with Peter and then uses that time he spent with Peter to lend credence to the gospel which he taught, after telling them he had not received the gospel from any man, but from Jesus. But, after having received it from Jesus, Paul goes to Peter and later to some of the others to confirm that what he is teaching is not in vain.

Gal 1:18
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 2:2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.

Why would Paul need to consult first Peter and then Peter and the others? He had received the gospel from Jesus, not from man, but he still went to receive an imprimatur from them.

“in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.”

****Paul was introducing a NEW commission, given to him by the RISEN Christ****

Are you here saying that the Risen Christ was different from the Christ that walked with and taught the Apostles?
That the message that Paul received was different from that of the twelve?

I believe that Christ is the same, The One who was, and is and is to come.

[don-o]

You put yourself in the box. The beliefs you post here are called ultra dispensationalism by mainline dispensationalists. Dr Ironside names it heresy. Dr Ironside also claimed to rightly divide the Word. Most sola scriptura believers reject this fringy belief that we find in what you post.

Just to clarify what I believe you have posted in the past, please answer a couple of questions.

Do you believe the Church began at Pentecost? Yes or No

Do you observe the two ordinances that Protestants do, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Yes or No

Do you accept the four Gospels aa applicable to the present Church? Yes or No.

You spend an amazing amount of time flailing against the Catholic Church. I would like to see your own rather unusual beliefs clearly understood by your Catholic hating allies.

[Jvette]

****He doesn’t reveal it to all.****

Really?

1 Tim 2:4For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[Jvette]

And yet another protestant responding with non answers to the question posed.

And all the usual suspects crowed and laughed and dared me to post the questions that have never been answered.

And so I did, and have gotten the same wresting of Scripture and non answers such as this nugget of profound doctrine which I am to believe simply because it has been said by a protestant.

He doesn’t reveal it to all.

Thank you all for playing, next time try following the rules.

[metmom]

You know, this teaching by the RCC that priests have the power to bind and loose, to forgive or not forgive sins, is ludicrous.

Do Catholics not think through what they are taught?

WHY would Jesus give mere men the power to not forgive sins?

Did Jesus EVER *NOT* forgive someone who repented and confessed????

WOULD He ever not forgive anyone who repented?

Then why, in heaven’s name, would He impart that power to mortal, corruptible men? And where did He ever instruct them to pass that power down through any kind of succession?

As far as forgiving someone who didn’t repent and confess, if the person is unrepentant, yes, we can forgive them for our part, but that does not mean that they are going to make it to heaven. If someone doesn’t want to repent and meet God, who is any man to force that on them?

Even if a priest has the power to forgive ALL a person’s sins, if they continue in rebellion against God, they immediately fall back into sin and are again condemned.

So, that doesn’t work either.