WHO RENT THE SEAMLESS ROBE?

Today we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council convened in the God-protected city of Nicea  in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) by the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostle Emperor Constantine specifically to condemn the false teaching of the arch-heretic Arius, who confessed the eternal Son of God, Who is of one essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to be a mere creature.  Thus it was Arius who rent the seamless robe of Jesus Christ, Who is confessed by the Church to be one Person in two natures--at one and the same time both fully human and fully divine.   Therefore it was Arius who taught Nestorius not to call the Holy Virgin Mary "Theotokos"--the Birthgiver of God--but rather "Christotokos."

It should be emphasized, however, that the Holy Fathers in no wise proclaimed a new and unheard of doctrine.  They were merely defining with greater precision the dogma revealed from the beginning by Christ to His Apostles and sealed by the blood of the martyrs.  For Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the doctrine of the Church is not subject to change or development over time.  The same Lord Who descended into Hades to proclaim the good tidings to the captive souls held in bondage to the power of death is the same Lord Who also ascended into the heavens, opening the gates of Paradise to the faithful of all ages, deifying fallen human nature through the power of His Divinity. 

Nowadays, the term "Theology" is applied indiscriminately to any branch of study vaguely connected to religion--such as "pastoral theology" and "liberation theology."  In truth, however, true theology (literally, "God words") consists solely in doctrines and teachings concerning the Holy Trinity.  And it is only in the Church, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that this doctrine is revealed to the human heart purified and sanctified by the grace of God. The Ecumenical Councils were all convened in order to correct false teachings concerning the Holy Trinity, because any distortion of this teaching--however seemingly slight and insignificant by human standards--imperils the very salvation of the faithful.

Thus, if Jesus Christ is not truly the eternal Son of God, of one essence with the Father, our deification by grace and our transformation into sons and daughters of God is not possible.  On the other hand, if He is not fully human, we cannot be saved, because it is only by assuming the fullness of our human nature from the pure blood of the Virgin that He can grant healing and salvation to our souls--because, according to the Holy Fathers, only that which is assumed can be saved.

For this reason we must be ever vigilant, guarding ourselves against every false and heretical teaching of the heterodox, that we may be enlightened by the Holy and Life-creating Spirit and granted the gift of discernment--lest we be deceived and beguiled by the Enemy of the human race and cast aside from the path of salvation.  May we, therefore, strive--along with the Holy Fathers and martyrs of the Church--to hold firm unto the end to the divinely revealed teachings of the Church, ever bearing witness in our lives to He Who proclaimed, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the life."