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Georgios's avatar

Note on the quotation from my article, the one who wrote this was Inok (I.e. ‘Monk’) Paul, Ambrose of Belaya Krinitsa just professed and signed off on the document during his enthronement as a Metropolitan for Belaya Krinitsa hierarchy (mainstream priestly Old-Believer hierarchy)

Benjamin John's avatar

Thank you for the clarification.

Georgios's avatar

Still argument has as much weight because 1. Inok Paul is also an Old Believer Saint; 2. He is probably even more important that Met. Ambrose because he was the main “brain” of Old Believers at Belaya Krinitsa, he wrote the catechism, typicon etc. And he is the one that found a Greek bishop (Ambrose) who agreed to become a head of the Old Believer hierarchy.

Canaan Myskowski's avatar

Great article, I will share with my EO friends. This is one of the issues that helped me return to the Catholic Church, from Orthodoxy. Love your work, it has been very helpful to me.

Anthony's avatar

Really good article!

You said: "the concupiscence of the marital act is precisely what causes the newly conceived flesh to be stained with original sin" citing the teaching of St. Augustine.

How would an IVF child be categorised? Obviously there is the question of the morality of IVF, and the morality of the aquisition of the male gametes. If there was a way to do this 'without passions' would the child be free from original sin? I'm sure the IVF child would have original sin but it is a difficulty I had whilst reading that.

Benjamin John's avatar

Interestingly, Fr. Daniel Sysoev addresses this very question. He's obviously not a Catholic authority, but I would concur with his assessment:

"And the children born through in vitro fertilization (IVF)? That is a passionate conception as well because the person is born tainted by pride, since pride is present in those who use IVF; they consider themselves almost gods. Thus, this type of birth is also impure."

Questions to Priest Daniel Syseov, q. 99.

VIBRATIONS of the Most High's avatar

Why? Mary was conceived in the natural manner. It was Jesus who was immaculately conceived.

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34,35)