www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Saints on both sides

Hello, we have a Cathedral and a whole Eparchy named for St. Josaphat for the UGCC! Although... It's also noted that St. John the Baptist is obviously worshiped beyond all praising in both Rites, celebrated exactly a half a year before the Nativity of his cousin, and Divine Lord, Jesus Christ. Although I can't recall if I've ever served at this feast in the Eastern Rite, but I have attended Masses in his honor in the Latin Rite a lot. Although, I'm sure at the Eparchy of Parma Cathedral, since the Cathedral is of his namesake, it's probably a huge traditional feast day of obligation for them. Might want to visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist once it's on a weekend again.

I know of no Orthodox or Catholic Christian that worship St. John the Baptist. Veneration does not equal worship. We must be careful of the terms we use. λατρεια/latreia (Worship) is for God alone. We show veneration to Saints and Icons.

Haha, listen to Mr. Technicality here. I think you know where I was trying to go with this, but...yeah.

This is very interesting.

I think it is important to use correct terminology. Worship and veneration are two distinct things. I am not trying to be "mr technicality" and I mean no offence but there are those who accuse us of worshiping Saints and Mary, ect. So we need to be careful because many people read the forum who are new to Orthodoxy or Catholicism.

In fact, there is no such thing as a "Chrismation by blood." There is a "Baptism of blood" but the Orthodox Church of the Czech and Slovak lands does not dispute that Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague were baptised Christians.

The only thing His Beatitude said in that interview with respect to this is that they died for the purity of faith or Orthodoxy. That is, in fact, a stretch by any calculation and is certainly not a canonical declaration (nor can it be) at least with respect to Hus.

With respect to Jerome, we DO know that he became an Orthodox Christian in Latvia and his Orthodox baptismal certificate has been found and positively identified.

The Orthodox canonization of Hus will be probably one of the most fascinating hagiographic events ever, in my opinion. How this will be finally justified in terms of Orthodox theology is yet to be seen. But it is certain that His Beatitude is determined to canonize Hus and Jerome.

St Nikolai Velimirovich even wrote a book on Hus entitled "Saint Jan Hus" (sic). The Old Catholics of the 19th century once approached Orthodoxy to ask that if they ever joined with Orthodoxy, would they be allowed to venerate Hus and Jerome (the answer was given in an edition of the Czech Orthodox Calendar at that time and I don't remember the year nor have I ever been successful in tracking down a copy).

The point is that the legacy of Hus is spiritually and culturally very important to the Czech soul. What His Beatitude is doing, however one understands it, is simply brilliant, from my point of view.

More power to him. AND, I might add, mention was made in one of the articles on this of my humble Akathist to Jan Hus which I originally wrote for private use by those who venerate him (including Hussite and Lutheran converts to Orthodoxy).

Alex