Question:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I wrote you a message a few Weeks ago. I wanted to know about the teachings of our church about the original Sin and the Holy Virgin Mary. I now knew that we call it "Tinte
Abiso" but what does it mean exactly? Ok, I saw also that you follow the teachings of all other Orthodox Churches, but still i didn´t found any official statement of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in Eritrea. Up to now i understood that the Holy Theotokos is not free from original sin but from any personal committed sin. Is it a matter of the definition of original sin? Did his holiness [Grace] Abuna Macarius wrote about this matter, even if there is a split between the dioceses, to correct this point. Because i think if someone will teach it in church there will be some problems. But if a bishop clears this matter everyone will follow.
I hope i will get an answer. I am looking forward to your reply.
Thank you very much.
In Christ
Yours faithfully,
Eskender
Answer:
The Holy Virgin Mary:
His Grace Makarios, Bishop of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of North America, taught extensively about the Holy Theotokos St Mary.
In his lecture, His Grace clarifies the confusion & disagreement that arose in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In his comprehensive teachings, His Grace emphasizes the Orthodox Church teaching and that of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. For your edification, I highly advise you watch the video. Please, kindly, find the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/user/medhanialemeotcks#p/u/1/VJJF7qyfGH0
The “Original Sin”:
On the subject of the “Original Sin”, His Grace Bishop Makarios will give a lecture in due time. Nonetheless, the Eritrean Orthodox Church believes that we inherited Adam’s fallen human nature and a mind that is corrupted and distorted. We did not inherit Adam’s actual sin. Again, I recommend you visit our website at the following link and you will find resourceful articles, written by Pope Shenouda: Furthermore, please click here and look for “Original Sin & Atonement” (PDF: 43 kb), under the section, named, “Soteriology.”
God’s richest blessings,
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