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Relative or Honorary Veneration in

the Holy Bible

DISCUSSION BETWEEN AN ORTHODOX AND A PROTESTANT

by Fr. Epiphanios TheodoropoulosA Publication by the Orthodox Philanthropical Society Saint John the Merciful -

Athens 1959

Foreword by the Author

A pious and God-loving brother, having been influenced by other teachings, resorted

to my lowly person asking for a solution to the questions that had arisen inside

him. I discussed with him certain matters, among which was the subject of relative

or honorary veneration. Accordingly, I selected some evidence from within the Bible

so that based on it, I would prove as correct the teaching of our Orthodox Church. At

a later date, I deemed it proper, upon completing and processing those rough

thoughts, to proceed to publish them in printed form, for the sake of obstructing

those mouths that perpetually bark against the Orthodox Faith, but also to supportthose Orthodox who may have been swayed by other teachings.

I have set out the subject in the form of a dialogue (between an Orthodox and a non-

Orthodox), having considered this means to be the more conclusive one. In

confronting my adversary, I was not abandoned for a single moment by honesty; I

believe I always adhere to this trait, in my polemical studies. That is to say, I do not

present the others positions as being inconsistent and unsupported, by omitting any

strong arguments (assuming they exist of course), and by presenting only the weak

and easily overthrown ones. Not only do I set forth without exception all arguments

by my adversary found in books by heretics but I also conceded to includepositions that he could have taken but did not. In other words, I have taken care to

provide him with as many more arguments as I could invent, in his favour. I have

literally strained my thought, in order to find any kind of response to my words, any

kind of objection even the most insignificant and place it in the mouth of my

interlocutor. And this, not only for the sake of honesty, but also for the sake of

expedience. Because this way, heresy is truly rendered entirely defenceless, while

Orthodoxys victory over it is rendered even more crushing. It is only when despite

my every care and every painstaking attempt I have not managed to invent any

argument whatsoever that can serve my adversary, only then am I forced to present

him as silenced and subdued