Oriental and Eastern Orthodox: questions

[John Charmley]

Dear Solly,

What an interesting discussion! I am finding out so much.

As I understand it, and I really would crave correction if this is wrong, the view of the Copts towards what became the BOC was to ask whether what we believed was Orthodox, and whether our Liturgy and our Christology was in line with Orthodox belief. They were not hung up on Councils, language, ethnicity or any of these man-made accretions - the simple question was whether what we believed and how we worshipped was in line with the undivided Church - which, of course, is the Coptic Church's own praxis.

Again, correct me if I am wrong, but Pope Shenouda was entirely happy that that was the case and welcomed us into his jurisdiction, recognising our Orthodoxy. He did not 'make' us Orthodox, he recognised what we were, rather in the manner of the early Church, where St. Paul would find a congregation and recognise its Orthodoxy.

If this is the case, it does seem a much healthier - as well as Apostolic approach to these matters.

Perhaps one of our long-standing members could correct any mistakes I have made, and put us right?

In Christ,

John