I enjoyed the way you described those rejecting the appointed times/festivals, and categorized their excuses for observing Pagan idolatry!
Roman History needs to be taught in this manner exposing the truth... The Roman Empire has consequently changed the traditions of the world, and you articulated that so well!
I love it when the Holy Spirit guides me where to read…
This is a powerful piece. I am currently working on an essay showing the roots of pagan Saturn worship and how it still affects us today.
I just finished the section on how Babylonian Astral-theology affects our calendars and routines today. Later today I am tackling Rome’s influence. I will be touching lightly on its influence in Christianity. I’m mainly focusing on Saturnian influence in the west as a whole.
I am grateful for this essay because you really hit the pagan Rome takeover of Christianity hard.
In a few weeks I’ll be diving deep into the pagan influences of Christmas.
I appreciate your work. You are write very well with well thought out research and structure, and are one of my favorite Substacks.
However, may I try to challenge some of your arguments?
1. As for Easter symbolism you write "Named after Eostre/Ishtar, positioned at spring equinox, incorporating fertility symbols (eggs, rabbits)". Who exactly named it this way? In Orthodox Christianity, this holiday is and has always been called Pascha (Greek for Passover). Orthodox Christians never used rabbits as its symbol (where did you, guys in the West, take it from?). As for eggs, the Holy Tradition traces its usage back to Saint Mary Magdalene who shared the Gospel with the Emperor Tiberius showing him a white egg turning red as she mentioned the Resurrection of Jesus.
2. Jesus Christ resurrected on Sunday right after the day of Sabbath. The Liturgy on Sunday commemorates His Resurrection. Isn't it just logical to have it the same day of the week the Lord rose from the dead?
This was my first Orthodox reaction upon reading your findings.
You are correct, however the Council of Nicea did not define the canon. The EOTC accepted the Trinitarian formula from Nicea while simultaneously and consistently, preserving the complete 81 book canon that the later, Roman-influenced councils in the West would eventually edit.
Their acceptance of Nicea's core doctrine actually proves my point: they were connected enough to receive essential theological truth, but isolated enough to be protected from the later political and editorial processes that corrupted the canon in the West. They took the good fruit from the tree while refusing the poisoned fruit that grew from the same root later on.
Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict that arises when truth collides with a cherished belief.
Most believers silence the discomfort instead of asking why it’s there. But that tension is the Spirit knocking on the walls of our mental fortress.
Excellent!!!!!
I enjoyed the way you described those rejecting the appointed times/festivals, and categorized their excuses for observing Pagan idolatry!
Roman History needs to be taught in this manner exposing the truth... The Roman Empire has consequently changed the traditions of the world, and you articulated that so well!
Yes.. Bravo 👏
Bravo!! Beautifully written.
I learned something reading this. Thank you.
I love it when the Holy Spirit guides me where to read…
This is a powerful piece. I am currently working on an essay showing the roots of pagan Saturn worship and how it still affects us today.
I just finished the section on how Babylonian Astral-theology affects our calendars and routines today. Later today I am tackling Rome’s influence. I will be touching lightly on its influence in Christianity. I’m mainly focusing on Saturnian influence in the west as a whole.
I am grateful for this essay because you really hit the pagan Rome takeover of Christianity hard.
In a few weeks I’ll be diving deep into the pagan influences of Christmas.
I appreciate your work. You are write very well with well thought out research and structure, and are one of my favorite Substacks.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your thought-provocaticve article!
However, may I try to challenge some of your arguments?
1. As for Easter symbolism you write "Named after Eostre/Ishtar, positioned at spring equinox, incorporating fertility symbols (eggs, rabbits)". Who exactly named it this way? In Orthodox Christianity, this holiday is and has always been called Pascha (Greek for Passover). Orthodox Christians never used rabbits as its symbol (where did you, guys in the West, take it from?). As for eggs, the Holy Tradition traces its usage back to Saint Mary Magdalene who shared the Gospel with the Emperor Tiberius showing him a white egg turning red as she mentioned the Resurrection of Jesus.
2. Jesus Christ resurrected on Sunday right after the day of Sabbath. The Liturgy on Sunday commemorates His Resurrection. Isn't it just logical to have it the same day of the week the Lord rose from the dead?
This was my first Orthodox reaction upon reading your findings.
Thank you for digging deep!
Nicea is considered a Holy Ecumenical Council by the Tewahedo Church, guided in Truth by the Holy Spirit
You are correct, however the Council of Nicea did not define the canon. The EOTC accepted the Trinitarian formula from Nicea while simultaneously and consistently, preserving the complete 81 book canon that the later, Roman-influenced councils in the West would eventually edit.
Their acceptance of Nicea's core doctrine actually proves my point: they were connected enough to receive essential theological truth, but isolated enough to be protected from the later political and editorial processes that corrupted the canon in the West. They took the good fruit from the tree while refusing the poisoned fruit that grew from the same root later on.