procession of the holy spirit

[Moros]

What is it and how does it relate to orthodoxy? (IE: a roman catholic innovation?)

[Philip]

What is it and how does it relate to orthodoxy? (IE: a roman catholic innovation?)

The procession of the Holy Spirit describes the "origin" of the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. The Father is the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity. We believe that Scripture is explicit about this:

John 15:26
But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;

The original version of the Symbol confirmed this.

Catholics (and other Western Christians as well) believe that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. When offering evidence of this, they usually confuse the eternal procession of the Spirit with His temporal mission.

[Moros]

Isn't that the Filoque?

[Philip]

Yes.

Filioque = 'and the Son'.

[Moros]

Okay. I knew that.

I was confusing the word "Procession" with parade.. anybody who has seen Godfather III knows what im talking about. A scene shows a long line of people marching a large statue of Mary around, followed by a Mass. What's up with this? I have seen this a lot in other movies too.

[MariaRegina]

We have processions in the Orthodox Church also.

Have you ever been to the Holy Friday Services in the Orthodox Church during Holy Week? We process around the outside of the Church.

Members of the OCA also process around the Church on Pascha and on Palm Sunday.

Whenever a Church is consecrated, the people and the priests process around the Church sanctifying the grounds. I plan to attend a consecration of a new Temple in November, God willing.

[Moros]

This isn't around a church, it's like a huge parade down main street.