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Arian Catholic Church

The Arian Catholic Church, officially known as the "Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" from the Apostles' Creed or simply "Catholic Church" and named "Arian Catholic" to distinguish the Church from other catholic churches, is the Christian (Messianic) Church in full communion with the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ (Jeshua the Messiah) and spread by the Twelve Apostles, which itself was in communion with Jewish Messianic communities at the time that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls and Gabriel's Stone.

Arian Catholics assert that "Arianism" is the name attached to the early Christian ideology that was defended by Arius of Alexandria in the fourth century (between 319 and 336 A.D.). Arianism was not founded by Arius, but named after him by officials of the evolving Greco-Roman Catholic church. Its beliefs were founded, without a name, by Jeshua the Messiah and his Apostles.^[1]

Though not strictly Anomoean nor Semi-Arian, the Arian Catholic Church teaches that Jesus was a man to be followed, not worshipped, who was the spiritual Son of God and applies logic, reason and modern understanding of both the Universe and the Scriptures to the early Church (sometimes referred to as "Early or Primitive Apostolic Christianity") that Arius of Alexandria fought to protect, and which it believes brings true Christianity into the 21st century.

<<Picture: Chi-Rho>>

Arian Catholicism is claimed by the Arian Catholic Church to be the ecumenical ideology and theology of the early Church (the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church), upholding the doctrine and teaching of Jeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and his apostles through the early Church and following the guidance of Arius of Alexandria, which is a Christian Church in its own right, teaching that God the Father and the Son were not co-eternal nor of the same substance, seeing the pre-incarnate Jesus (known as Immanuel) as a divine being (though not God, a god or a demi-god but more like an Archangel^[2] (Messenger of God) i.e. the "Angel of the Lord"^[3] and the Angel of His presence]]^[4].) but nonetheless created by (and consequently inferior to) the Father at some point, before which the Son did not exist.

^ Archangel (Messenger of God), see LXX Isaiah 9:6 - "The Angel of Great Counsel". Also Exodus 23:20-21 (NRSV) - "I am going to send an angel in front of you ... my name is in him." And "this name is the name by which he will be called: 'the Lord is our Righteousness.'" in Jeremiah 23:6.

^ Exodus 3:2 (NRSV) “Angel of the Lord” and Exodus 14:19 (NRSV) “The angel of God.”

^ The "Angel of His presence" in Isaiah 63:9.

<<Picture: St Arius of Alexandria>>

Arian Catholicism

Arian Catholicism, as the name suggests, adheres to the teachings of St. Arius of Alexandria, who taught, among other things, that Christ was not of the same substance, i.e. not co-substantial, with God and therefore was not God, and therefore was not co-eternal with God, seeing the pre-incarnate Jesus as a divine being but nonetheless created by (and consequently inferior to) the Father at some point, before which the Son did not exist.^[5] Arius concluded that Jesus Christ was not an eternal being ('Once there was a time when he was not'). Other theologians and bishops have argued along similar grounds resulting in the religious concepts of Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism/Eutychianism, Monothelitism.

The Arian doctrine was historically deemed heresy by trinitarian Christians, but the Arian Catholic Church likewise deems trinitarian Christians to be heretics and apostates. See [6] the 33 Theses against the heresies of the trinitarian churches.

<<Picture: Arius Left>>

Historical background

The Early Church

The Arian Catholic Church believes that a great Apostasy and Heresy occurred in the fourth century when at the first Council of Nicaea Sylvester I (Patriarch of Rome - NB the office of Pope did not formally come into use in the western church until the early 5th century when bishop Leo I declared himself Pope over all other bishops, but being rebuffed in 451 AD by the Council of Chalcedon) surrendered the church to Emperor Constantine I who oversaw the Council (Sylvester I was not recorded as even being in attendance) and marched many of the world's clergy and faithful out of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and into what it considers to be a Christo-Pagan sect known as Roman Catholicism; altering the ecumenism of the church and began to destroy scriptures that were not in keeping with the newly authorised beliefs ^{[citation needed]} and to possess a gospel not approved by the church was made a penal offence. Ironically Emperor Constantine I converted to Arianism, being baptised on his deathbed in 337 AD by Eusebius the Arian Bishop of Nicomedia.

Although when Arianism was at its height Arians actually outnumbered the Roman Catholics, especially among the Goths, Teutons, Lombards, Burgundians, Vandals, Visigoths, Franks and their kindered tribes and families ^[7]^[8]. They boasted Arian Emperors such as: Constantine I and Constantius II and two Arian Patriarchs of Rome: St Felix II and Liberius. Arian views were rejected by the later mainstream Christian churches in favour of trinitarianism, but they continued to be held throughout history.

Arians Though History

St Arius (Presbyter of Alexandria) himself along with Eusebius (Bishop of Nicomedia and Patriarch of Constantinople (d. 342)), Maris of Chalcedon^[9] and Theognis of Nicaea were students of St Lucian of Antioch (c. 240 - 7 January 312) who was honoured by them as their master and mentor; there are many who have followed in their footsteps, some prominent Arians and proponents of Arian Catholic theology through history were:

Origen: early Christian scholar, theologian, philosopher and one of the most distinguished of the early fathers of the Christian Church (b. c. 185, d. c. 254) | Paul of Samosata: Patriarch of Antioch from 260 to 268 (lived from 200 to 275 AD) | Eusebius: Bishop of Caesarea (c.263 - c.339) | Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (Constantine I): Augustus Caesar of the Western Empire (Tetrarchy) 25th July 306 (at York (Eboracum)) - 324, first sole Roman Emperor 324 - 337 (b. 27 February c. 280, (baptised Arian on his deathbed) d. 22 May 337 AD) | Asterius the Sophist: Arian Theologian (died c. 341) | St Dionysius: the Arian bishop of Milan (d. 355) | Flavius Iulius Constantius (Constantius II): Roman Emperor 337 - 361 (b. 7 August 317, d. 3 November 361) | St. Artemius of Antioch (Challita): imperial prefect of Roman Egypt (d. 363) | George of Laodicea: often called the Cappadocian was from 356 to 361 Arian Archbishop of Alexandria (b. about the beginning of the 4th century, d. 24th Dec. 361) | St Felix II: Arian Patriarch of Rome (355 - d. 365) | Liberius: Patriarch of Rome (d. 366) | Acacius of Caesarea: Bishop, successor in the Palestinian see of Caesarea (d. 366) | Aëtius of Antioch: Deacon and Theologian (Ordained 350 AD) (b. in Syria early 4th century - d. c. 367) | Eudoxius of Antioch: eighth bishop of Constantinople from 27th January 360 to 370, previously bishop of Germanicia and of Antioch (d. 370) | St Wereka (Ouerkas): Gothic Arian Presbyter (martyred c. 370, Feast day: Arian: 26th March (Gothic: 23rd October)) | St Batwin (Bathouses): Gothic Arian Presbyter (martyred c. 370, Feast day: Arian: 26th March (Gothic: 23rd October)) | Auxentius of Milan: Arian theologian and Bishop of Milan (c. 355; d. 374) | Fritigernus (Fritigern): Gothic military leader (d. c. 380) | Ulfilas (Wulfila): Bishop of Dacia "Apostle of the Goths" (c. 311 - c. 382) - whose Arian teachings to the Gothic peoples resisted Rome until the 8th century | Demophilus of Constantinople: Bishop of Berea and Constantinople (d. 386) | Apollinaris of Laodicea (c. 310 - c. 390) | Eunomius of Cyzicus: Anomoean Arian Bishop (b. c. 333, d. c.393) | Auxentius of Durostorum: Bishop of Milan (d. early 5th century) | Alaric I (Alareiks): King of the Visigoths from 395 - 410 (b. c. 370, d. 410) | Pelagius^[10] (ca. 354 - ca. 420/440) | Athaulf (Visigoth King 410 - 415), Sigeric (Visigoth King 415) | Wallia (Visigoth King 415 - 419) | Nestorius: Patriarch of Constantinople ^[11] (b. c.386, patriarch: 428 - 431, d. c.451 - Nestorius' theories spread throughout the Byzantine Empire during the early 5th century and caused much argument. In 431 the Council of Ephesus declared the Nestorian beliefs to be a heresy and drove him out of the empire, they also persecuted his followers. The Nestorians sought refuge in Persia, India, China and Mongolia where in early medieval times the Nestorian church became quite powerful.) | Theodoric I (Visigoth King 419 - 451) | Thorismund (Visigoth King 451 - 453) | Eutyches: Presbyter of Constantinople (c. 380 - c. 456) | Theodoric II (Visigoth King 453 - 466) | Euric (Visigoth King 466 - 484) | Odoacer (Odovacar): first barbarian King of Italy 476 - 493 (b. 435, d. 493) | Alaric II (Visigoth King 484 - 507) | Gesalec (Visigoth King 507 - 511) | Theodoric the Great (Flavius Theodoricus): King of the Ostrogoths (488-526), ruler of Italy (493-526), and regent of the Visigoths (511-526) (b. 454, d. 30th August 526) | Amalaric (Visigoth King 526 - 531) | Theudis (Visigoth King 531 - 548) | Theudigisel (Visigoth King 548 - 549) | Agila I (Visigoth King 549 - 554) | Athanagild (Visigoth King 554 - 568) | Liuva I (Visigoth King 568 - 572) | Liuvigild (Visigoth King 569 - 586) | Hermenegild (Visigoth King 580 - 585) | Sergius I: Patriarch of Constantinople (patriarch 610 - 638), many Gothic families and communities maintained their Arian beliefs through the ages, Gothic monastic orders (c. 664 - c. 12th century) | members - to the present day) | some quarters of the Cistercian order of the Poor Knights of Christ (c. 1098 - 1119, with a tradition surviving to the present day, see acOSB) and the Knights Templar (1119 - 1312) | a Welsh monastic community as late as 1115 was still found to be holding Arian Catholic beliefs, observing Saturday Sabbath and the biblical feasts | Albigenses (1119 - c. 1333) | the Inquisition were noted to have still been trying to eradicate Arianism between 1435 and 1560 | Dr Michael Servetus (1511 - 1553) | Katherine Vogel of Krakow (1539) | Laelius Socinus ((Lelio Sozini) 1525-1562) | Fausto Socinus ((Fausto Sozini) 1539-1604) | Rev John Ashton (1548) | Jan (John) Kiszka (c.1552-1592) | Gabriel Hojski (c. 1555 - 1632) | John Biddle (1615 - 1662, he was rescued from burning at he stake by Oliver Cromwell) | Sir Isaac Newton (1643 - 1727) | William Whiston (1667 - 1752) | James Peirce (c.1674 - 1726) | Samuel Clarke (1675 - 1729) | Thomas Emelyn of Dublin (1703) | De Benneville (lived 1723 and 1741) | Joseph Priestley (1733 - 1804) | John Adams (a Unitarian, 2nd President of the United States 1797) | Francis William Newman (1806 - 1897) | Charles T. Russell (1852 - 1916) | Rev Ernest Penn (Unitarian Minister and teacher in Hull, b. 1919 - d. 2006).

^ Pelagius, by his theology on the nature of Jeshua the Messiah.

<<Picture: Ulfilas (Wulfila): Bishop of Dacia "Apostle of the Goths" (c. 311 - c. 382)>>

Their legacies have lasted, openly in some cases, for centuries and have continued (often in hidden circles because during the middle ages the penalty for being Arian was to be burned to death at the stake) to the present day. Arian beliefs survived through the middle ages in Teutonic families, in the hearts of the consecrated, Catholic, Nasorean and Messianic Jewish clergy who maintained these beliefs. It is a doctrine of the Arian Catholic Church that in spite of the bloody attempts by trinitarians to eradicate Arianism through history, there has always been and will always be Clergy of the true faith set out by Jeshua the Messiah.

In the early 18th century Britain (1707 - 1747) there was a strong Arian movement within the Church of England. Its leading exponents, William Whiston and Samuel Clarke, were among the prominent scientists of the day and disciples of Sir Isaac Newton in both their scientific and their theological views, believing that Christianity had gone astray in the 4th century, accepting scripture as embodying divinely given truth, but interpreting it not so much with the aid of tradition as with that of reason, characteristic of the emerging scientific age. They found themselves impelled in a broadly Arian direction^[12].

Theology

Arian Catholicism claims to be based on the early Catholic Church, claiming that the followers of Jesus and the early Christians were monotheistic both by instinct and by teaching. They lived in the very centre of monotheistic faith and it was logically impossible for them to regard Jesus in a way which would annihilate the absolute gulf which existed in their minds between man and God. Consequently Jesus remained essentially distinct from deity. The role which they had attributed to him was of Messiah. It had a connotation which adhered to Orthodox Judaism and conformed to the Jewish nationalistic aspirations. This is obvious from Acts 1:6 when the disciples ask Jesus: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?"

Arian Catholics point out that this is confirmed by the late 2nd century Apostles creed which makes no reference to the trinity or the divinity of Jesus. In fact the trinity was first written about by Tertullian of Carthage ((140-230 AD) a Roman Montanist heretic and the son of a Roman Centurion) at the end of the 2nd century, his ideas being taken from Greek and Hindu ideologies (such as the Hindu "Trinity" dogma of Brahma, Ishwara and Devendra), but was not formally adopted into Christianity until the first Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (which was overseen by Emperor Constantine I, also known as "Pontifex Maximus", the title of the pagan chief priest of Rome, a title which he would hold until he was baptised as an Arian Christian on his deathbed in 337 AD and which was subsequently adopted by later patriarchs of Rome). The concept of a trinity, Arian Catholics maintain, was completely unknown to Jesus and was never advocated by him.

<<Picture: Arius Right>>

Doctrine

Some of the Doctrinal assertions of Arian Catholicism include:

Monotheism

A strict belief in One God.

Anomoious Christology

As a created being Jesus Christ was unlike the Father in substance. A logical view that Jesus was the spiritual Son of God, not recognising the trinity, which is not recognised as having any direct biblical basis. The antonym to Anomoious (Greek: unlike) is the unscriptural term: homoousios (Greek: con-substantial), which was used in the Nicene Creed.

Textual Criticism

Recognising that there have been many redactions to the canonical Gospels and Epistles^[13]; yet believing also that all authentic historical texts should be available and not suppressed; that the biblical cannon as constructed in the fourth century after the Council of Nicaea is incomplete; The books: the Epistle of Barnabas and The Shepherd of Hermas from the Codex Sinaiticus should be restored to the biblical canon; the old testament Apocrypha though not part of the Hebrew canon were included in the Greek Septuagint since 200 BC, which was referred to by the apostles and disciples from the quotes used in the Second Testament; several texts from the Pseudepigrapha (including the Books of Enoch) were referred to in canonical books thus testifying to their canonicity (e.g. the book of the Apocalypse of Enoch from the Pseudepigrapha that is referenced in the New Testament Epistle of Jude 1:14-15); also the New Testament Apocrypha (including the Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel According to Judas, Acts of Phillip and Gospel of Mary) should also be included as an Apocrypha alongside the broader Biblical canon.

The Broader Canon

The Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament and the Apocrypha The Old Testament of the traditional Christian bible contains 39 books, these are the same as the 24 books of the Jewish Tanakh (comprising three sets of books: Torah (Law / Pentateuch), Nevi’im (Earlier & Later Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings / Hagiographa)) although the order of the books is different and some books in the Christian OT are merged into fewer books in the Jewish Tanakh. Therefore the Hebrew Bible differs considerably from the arrangement and order of the Septuagint, which have been adopted by the Vulgate and the Protestant versions. The Torah contained the five books of Moses in the unvarying order of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Nevi’im comprised the four books of the Earlier Prophets, in the unvarying order of: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings; and the four books of the Later Prophets: Isaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, Minor Prophets (all twelve counted as forming one book). The Ketuvim comprised the remaining eleven books, the poetical works, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the five Megilloth, or Rolls (Canticle of Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecelesiastes, Esther), and finally Daniel, Esdras, Nehemias, Chronicles; twenty-four books in all.

The Protestant Apocrypha and Roman Catholic Deuterocanonical books comprise the following books, the seven additional books in the Roman Catholic Old Testament canon are highlighted in bold (Some books are included within the texts of existing canonical books:

1 Esdras

2 Esdras

Tobit

Judith

Prayer of Manasseh

Wisdom of Solomon

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Baruch

Letter of Jeremiah (Baruch ch. 6)

Song of the Three Young Men (Daniel 3:24-90)

Susanna (Daniel 13)

Bel and the Dragon (Daniel 14)

Additions to the Book of Esther (Esther 10:4-10)

1 Maccabees

2 Maccabees

The following books appear in the Greek and Slavonic Bibles but not in the Roman Catholic Canon:

1 Esdras (Slavonic: 2 Esdras, appears as 3 Esdras in the appendix to the Vulgate)

Prayer of Manasseh (in the appendix to the Vulgate)

Psalm 151, following Psalm 150 in the Greek Bible

3 Maccabees

The following books appear in the Slavonic Bible and in the Latin Vulgate appendix:

2 Esdras (Slavonic: 3 Esdras, appears as 4 Esdras in the appendix to the Vulgate)

Note: In the Latin Vulgate, Ezra appears as 1 Esdras and Neheiah appears as 2 Esdras.

The following book appears in the appendix to the Greek Bible:

4 Maccabees

The Arian Catholic Broader Canon includes all of the Deuterocanonical / Apocryphal texts from the Roman, Protestant, Greek and Slavonic bibles, which are found in the Greek Septuagint.

The terms: “Hebrew Bible” or “First Covenant” are preferred for the Hebrew Bible as its authority is recognised by the Church, whereas the term: “Old Testament” implies that its authority has been superseded by the “New Testament”; Jesus himself frequently referred to the Torah and spoke of it’s validity (e.g. Matthew 5:17-20).

The Holy Bible - Broader Canon

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) (aka: Old Testament / First Covenant)

Torah (Teaching/Instruction/Law) (aka: Pentateuch (Five Containers))

Nevi’im (Prophets)

Ketuvim (Writings)

The Hebrew Apocrypha (Old Testament Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical books, see NRSV Apocrypha)

Traditional Apocrypha with...

Baruch,

3 & 4 Maccabees,

the 151st Psalm,

3 & 4 Esdras,

the Prayer of Manasseh,

1 & 2 Enoch

The New Covenant (New Testament)

The Synoptic Gospels

The Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel According to John

Acts

The Didaché

I Clement

Shepherd of Hermas

The Epistles (Traditional Canon)

Epistle of Barnabas

Apocalypse of Peter

Revelation (Apocalypse of John)

The New Covenant Apocrypha & Q (New Testament Apocrypha / Nag Hammadi)

Including the non-canonical texts of the Nag Hammadi

Pistis Sophia (comparing the different versions)

Gospel According to Judas

A reconstruction of the Q Gospel (Q1, Q2 and Q3).

<<Picture: Scriptures>>

<<Picture: Nag Hammadi>>

<<Picture: Gospel of Thomas>>

The Ten Commandments (Decalogue)

The Arian Catholic Church strictly follows the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) as written in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 as part of the Laws of Moses which contains a total of 613 laws including the Ritual Decalogue in Exodus 34:10-26. The Arian Catholic Church points out that Jeshua the Messiah taught us that not one word or Iota would pass from the Law until his return (Matthew 5:17-20) and of the Mosaic Laws the greatest of these commandments Jeshua explains in Mark 12:28-34 are: "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength," which represents the first four Commandments that have regard to our relationship with God (Cardinal Commandments), and "you shall love your neighbour as yourself," the last six Commandments that have regard to our relationship with our fellow-men and women (Human Commandments).

Eternal Law and the Prophets

The Law of Moses is eternal, this is a doctrine of the Arian Catholic Church. The Church asserts that the 613 Mosaic Laws were never abolished by Jeshua the Messiah, he stated that the greatest of these Commandments were the Ten Commandments by describing the Commandments that pertained to our relationship to God and our relationship to our fellow men and women (Mark 12:28-34).

The Arian Catholic Church teaches that neither Paul of Tarsus nor the Apostles in any way claimed or sought to abolish the Mosaic Laws. Furthermore many people misinterpret the writings of Paul by not knowing the Gospels fully and quoting him out of context. The Arian Catholic Church points to 2 Peter 3:15-18 as evidence that Paul's writings were hard to understand by those who did not know the teachings of Jeshua, Peter warned not to be carried away by the error of the Lawless.

Hebrews and Acts - Requirements of newcomers to the faith.

A fundamental part of the Laws of Moses is the observance of the Biblical Feasts which were appointed by God in the first covenant:-

Leviticus 23:1-2 (NRSV): 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: These are the appointed festivals of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.

In Matthew 5:17-20 (NRSV) Jeshua the Messiah says...

17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.

18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The law of the Torah has not yet been fulfilled, Jeshua will yet return to do this.

Paul of Tarsus was a follower of the Torah. Evidence includes:-

Acts 24:14b (NIV) "...I believe everything that agrees with the law and that is written in the Prophets,"

Acts 24:14b (NRSV) "...I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets."

2 Peter 3:16 (NRSV) "So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures."

I Cor. 5:7-8 (NRSV) "...For even Christ our PASSOVER is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast..."

It could not be stated more clearly: "Therefore, let us keep the feast [of Passover]." Further evidence of first century Christians celebrating the feast days is found in the book of Acts.

Acts 18:21 (NRSV) "...I must at all costs keep the approaching festival in Jerusalem, but I will return to you, if God wills."

Acts 20:16 (NRSV) "For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost."

Therefore the Law of the Torah, which Jeshua himself followed, along with the Apostles and Paul of Tarsus, is still valid and is a part of the second Covenant.

Biblical Feasts

The Arian Catholic Church teaches that there are seven sacred feasts commanded by God (Yahweh) to be celebrated each year, and specifically outlined in Leviticus chapter 23, which describes the whole annual cycle of special convocations. Yahweh designed these appointed times, the mo'adim, for His people to come together to worship Him. "His people" includes anyone who chooses to follow Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach) and the Angel (Messenger) of Great Counsel. The Feast days hold a wealth of lessons and they unlock important truth. They also are keys to prophetic events as they explain the plan and purpose of the Messiah's coming and his role as the King. The Church emphasises that it is for all people everywhere to be obedient to what Yahweh established for the good of His people. According to Arian Catholic doctrine God's Feasts were just as much a part of His law as the Ten Commandments.

Around 160ad, Bishop Anacetus of Rome tried to pressure Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, to keep the Roman Easter instead of the biblical Passover held on Nisan 14. Anacetus was unsuccessful, because Polycarp said he was following a tradition learned from the Apostle John. Fifty years later, another Roman bishop, Victor, threatened to excommunicate the eastern churches for not adopting the Roman date of Easter. Again they refused, and they continued to follow true apostolic teaching. ^[14]

"Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles ... No man should appear before the LORD empty handed." (Deuteronomy 16:16)

The first three feasts are in the Spring (April or May). The first three major events for believers in Jesus the Messiah: His Passion and Death, Burial and Spiritual Resurrection, fell precisely on the first three feasts, and the symbolism of the feasts is beyond coincidence:

Passover (Pesach), Jesus was our Passover Lamb - 14th day (between evenings) of Nisan - 15th night of Nisan.

Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot), Jesus was our sinless Messiah - 15th day of Nisan.

First Fruits (Early First Fruits: Yom HaBikkurim, Later First Fruits (Counting of the Omer): Lag B'Omer), Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead - first Sunday after Nisan 15th and then on Iyar 18th - 19th.

Pentecost (also known as the Feast of Weeks or Shavu'ot), The Holy Spirit descended - 6th day of Sivan.

There is a break until Autumn (September or October) before the next three feasts.

Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), "The Blowing of the Shofar" will announce Jesus' return - 1st day of Tishrei.

Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Judgment Day - 10th day of Tishrei.

Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot), The Kingdom Banquet - 15th day of Tishrei.

The Seven Biblical Sacraments and Sacramentals

Presentation of a Baby or Child - (Luke 2:22; Luke 18:16-17)

Baptism - (Luke 3:23)

Conversion (including confession) -

Eucharist - (John 6:55-56)

Marriage - (Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:9; Ephesians 5:22-33)

Ordination -

Anointing of the Sick (including Extreme Unction and Exorcism) - (Mark 6:13; James 5:14-16)

Idolatry

In respect of the second commandment the worship, veneration and adoration of any graven image are forbidden. However this commandment does not prohibit statues for the purpose of symbolism, art and decoration as indicated by the two angel statues on the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25:18-20.

Iconoclasm

The Arian Catholic church teaches that worship, veneration and adoration of any graven image are forbidden, this includes Icons, however the second commandment does not prohibit the use of drawings, paintings or Icons for the purpose of learning, symbolism, art and decoration. Exodus 26:1, 31 and Exodus 36:8 provide examples where images of cherubim were required to be worked onto the fabric of the Tabernacles. Icons are usually full of symbolism and when on display in a church, other religious place or a Christian home they serve as reminders of the teachings of the bible. 1 Kings 6:23-38 gives us an example of how holy places were decorated. Old Icons that have been on display within an old church will be saturated with centuries of frankincense which carried the prayers of the faithful, and may have been repainted several times thus locking in centuries of prayer from that place. For these reasons Christian images such as Icons are respected as being special and along with other pictures, tapestries and murals are an important part of a Christian environment.

The Communion of Saints

The Arian Catholic Church asserts that all who have been baptised in the Holy Spirit and kept faith are Saints.

- - Example of the Transfiguration ***

It is therefore not unreasonable to ask God for the intercession of the saints who have died and to pray for them. However praying to the saints is a violation of the first and second commandments and is therefore forbidden.

The word "canon" comes from the Greek word "kanon" meaning a standard or measuring rod. The custom of canonization began in the early church by popular acclamation. Hence the custom of calling all the apostles "Saint." The Church does not "create" saints, but simply applies the standard of gospel holiness to those God permits the Church to know are in heaven with Him. One principle way for God to affirm the presence of an individual in heaven with Him is through the performance of miracles through the intercession of that person.

It is Paul who calls all his fellow believers "saints," (The word in the Bible for "saint" or "saints" is the word "hagios" also translated "sanctified" or "holy ones" (1 Tim 1:9; 1 Pet 2:5,9, etc)) and not just the notably holy ones. Paul also uses the term for both those who are living and for those who are dead (Phil 4:21, Eph 2:19, Rom 12:13, 16:15, 1 Cor 16:1, 15, 2 Thess 1:9-10 and Jude 14-15).

This practice corresponds to one of the earliest creedal statements of Christian faith: The Apostles Creed: "I believe in the communion of saints." Communion of saints refers to the bond of unity among all believers, both living and dead, who are or have been committed followers of Jesus Christ. In the eyes of God, in eternity, the distinction between His People who are "living" or who are "dead" is not at all important (Mk 9:4, 12:26-27, Lk 23:43, Rom 12:5).

Apostolic Descent

It is a doctrine of the Church that there has always been an overseer (Episcopos) of the Church upholding the true faith at any one time. The Apostolic descent of the Holy Spirit through the Church has passed from the Early Church and through good clergy upholding the true faith who have been a vehicle for the Holy Spirit through Roman, Orthodox and Anglican traditions. The continuity of the Arian faith has survived the darkest times when it was an offence punishable by burning at the stake to hold Arian beliefs, yet history shows that many people, particularly clergy suffered just such a fate and that the Inquisition was busy trying to eradicate Arianism.

Paul of Tarsus

The Apostleship of St Paul is not recognised although he is accepted as a great theologian and father of the early church, although some of his writings were difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16).

Petrine Primacy

In concurrence with the Eastern Orthodox church St Peter is not believed to have ever visited Rome, all the Apostles however were regarded as equals, as were subsequent Patriarchs of the Early Church. ***In Matthew 16:18-19 Peter is the "Stone" (Stone in Greek = Petros = Peter) as were all the Apostles and disciples (1 Peter 2:4-10, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Romans 9:30-33, Luke 20:17-18, Matthew 21:42-44, Mark 12:10-11) and Jeshua was the "Rock" upon which he would build his Church!*** The tomb of St Peter is believed to have been found on the Franciscan monastery site called: "Dominus Flevit" in Jerusalem in 1953^[15] (See [|Saint Peter's Jerusalem Tomb]). Therefore the Roman Catholic doctrines of the Petrine Primacy and Papal Infallibility are false.

Saint James the Just

Is recognised as the biological brother of Jesus and the head of the Church in Jerusalem after Jesus' death. He is also recognised as an Apostle and a pillar of the Church (Galatians 2:9).

Saint Joseph

Is recognised as the biological father of Jesus.

Original Sin

In concurrence with the Eastern Orthodox church the doctrine of Original Sin is not recognised as it is not taught in the bible. Infant baptism is not a requirement of the Church, Arian Catholics prefer to follow Jeshua's example where babies and young Children are presented to God at a designated Holy Place as a sacrament (Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 2:22 and Luke 18:16-17). Baptism in the holy spirit and for the forgiveness of sins is usually given to individuals who are old enough to accept God ino their life of their own accord and understand what that means.

Virgin Birth

The belief that the doctrine of the virgin birth is based on a mistranslation of the Hebrew word "almah" meaning "a young woman of marriageable age", in the Hebrew book of Isaiah 7:14b, into the Greek word "parthenos" meaning "virgin" in the Greek Septuagint (The Greek equivalent to the Hebrew "almah" is "neanis"!), which was then quoted out of context by the author of the Gospel according to Matthew whom clearly worked from the Greek Septuagint and not the Hebrew Torah. The concept of the virgin birth ties in closely with the well known story (at the time) of the pagan man-god Mithras. NB The oldest Gospel, Mark, makes no mention of the virgin birth and the NRSV corrects this error in the translation of Isaiah 7:14b. Consequently the Roman Catholic doctrines of the immaculate conception, assumption into heaven and heavenly queenship of Mary are denied.

Resurrection

The resurrection was a spiritual event and not a physical raising of the body. Jesus Christ's bones (i.e. in an ossuary marked: "X Yeshua` bar Yehosef") is believed to have been discovered along with other family members in the Talpiot tomb between Bethlehem and Jerusalem in 1980^[16] (see The Lost Tomb of Jesus).

Transubstantiation

The Eucharist is a sacrament using bread and wine (or a suitable equivalent) as a memorial representation of the Spiritual Body and Blood of Jesus the Messiah, who through his passion and sacrifice died for our sins to offer spiritual cleansing for all who follow him. According to Arian Catholicism the concept of Transubstantiation, where it is claimed that the bread and wine actually become the physical body and blood of Jesus is a myth and suggests a lack of understanding of the sacrament.

Seventh-day Sabbatarian

Arian Catholics maintain the Saturday observance of Sabbath in keeping with the Early Church. Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and concludes at sunset on Saturday. Sunday as the first day of the week is marked as the Lord's Day (in common with the early Church and the Eastern Orthodox church) to honour

Ordination of Women

In keeping with the early Church women are welcomed into the clergy as Deaconesses.

Abortion

Abortion is forbidden with the exception of cases where the quality of life of the unborn child and the whole family are threatened by severe disability or when the unborn child is the product of rape then the parents have a choice. This is in line with the importance of responsibility and quality of life that was held by the early Church and is taught in the bible (see Exodus 21:22-25; Ecclesiastes 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 5:8).

The right to Self Defence

Arian Catholics believe that the right to self defence is biblical (1 Samuel 25:13, Numbers 31:3, Psalms 144:1, 1 Timothy 5:8, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 22:36, Revelation 12:7). The Church teaches that with an understanding of Hebrew culture it is clear that Matthew 5:38-42 is teaching us to assert our equality in the face of aggression and is not a passive statement as it may at first appear (ref: [|Self Defence]).

Homosexuality

Arian Catholics believe that the act of Homosexuality is a wholly unnatural act condened throughout the bible as an abomination before God (Ref: Genesis 19:5–8; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17; Judges 19:22; 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7; Romans 1:24, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:9, 10) and are opposed to the ordination of homosexuals. However while sodomy is frequently described as a sin in the bible, it is not specifically a sin to be a celibate homosexual. What was a sin in the eyes of God around 2,700 and 1,960 years ago is still a sin today.

The Arian Catholic Creed

The Arian Catholic Church recognises two creeds: the Apostles' Creed and The Arian Catholic Creed. The following is the Creed of the Arian Catholic Church which lists the fundamental beliefs of Arian Catholicism:-

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD,

Creator of Heaven and earth,

And of all things visible and invisible.

And in his Spiritual Son, Jesus Christ,

Whom was born of Mary and Joseph,

Was not consubstantial nor co-eternal with God the Father almighty,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried.

On the third day His Spirit was resurrected.

He ascended into Heaven,

And sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty.

Whence he shall come again to judge the living and the dead,

Of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,

The communion of saints,

The forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the Spirit,

And life everlasting.

Amen.

Arian Catholic Ministry

The Arian Catholic Church has an active clergy base and although currently small, as was the case in the early church, is engaged in training new clergy, ministering the sacraments, providing counselling, raising funds for charity, holding services both in members' homes and in other churches with permission and generally meeting people to teach the Gospel. The Church also reaches people through leafleting, organising events, by post and through the World Wide Web. The Arian Church Society was re-launched as the Arian Catholic Theological Society (ACTS) along with the launch of the Church's website on 1st May 2005, however the Ministry of the Arian Catholic Church has been running much longer and has been continued from person to person.

The Primus Inter Pares (First Among Equals) is the Administrative leader of the Church, the role is normally filled by a Bishop. The Church maintains that the Apostles regarded each other as equals and therefore all Bishops within the Church have equal placing in the brotherhood of the episcopate of Christ. ***The Church has three offices relating to the three pillars (Peter, James and John) in the early Church; the offices relate to Teaching (Rabinical/High priestly), the Temporal (Apostolic/Laity) and the Prophetic, according to Galatians 2:9, the Didaché and also the Manual of Discipline 8:1 and the Damascus Document from the Dead Sea Scrolls.***

The current Archbishop Primus Inter Pares is Rev Dr Brian B Michael John Mackenzie-Hanson, taking "Michael John" as his Oblation Name, who was ordained in 1987 and quickly took on his role as an Arian Catholic minister, he took lay Oblation and formally established his Arian Catholic ministry with an Arian Church Society on 24th May 1996 (Pentecost), was ordained as an Arian Presbyter on 12th May 2005, then on 22nd February 2006 was consecrated as an Arian Bishop on the 19th Aniversary of his first apostolic ordination to the Diaconate and the 1,700th Anniversary year of Constantine I becoming Emperor at the same location in York. Rev Dr Michael John is the first Arian Minister to publicly establish a disciplined and structured Arian Assembly (Ecclesia) with clear doctrine and law since the last Barbarian and Teutonic Bishops were driven underground by the Roman Catholic's in the 8th century and John Biddel's attempt to raise an Arian society that was outlawed in 1548; the subsequent Unitarian Church has merged with Universalism and does not hold to the formal doctrines of the Early Church.

The Arian Catholic Church also has affiliations with other organisations which share similar theologies such as the Arian Catholic Order of St Benedict and associate members from other churches also sharing Arian Catholic beliefs including Bishops and Messianic Rabbis.

Arian Catholic Theological Society (ACTS)

The Arian Catholic Theological Society has members and associates around the world and also maintains an [ACTS (Arian Catholic Church and Theological Society) Web Forum] on a sub-domain of the Arian Catholic Church's [website].

The precepts for Laity of the Arian Catholic Church

To assist at Mass every Saturday and Holy Day of Obligation (or if unable to do so for legal and ecclesiastical reasons, to follow the instructions advised their Deacon, Priest or Bishop).

To examine their consciences regularly and to seek sacramental absolution when needed for mortal sin, and at Easter time to make Confession in obedience to the Arian Catholic tradition.

To receive Holy Communion at least once a year, at Easter. To make each and every act of Communion (especially when receiving more frequently) only after due and careful preparation.

To uphold the holy commandments.

To keep the Church's law of marriage.

To observe the periods of fasting according to the Arian Catholic tradition.

To give Alms regularly and to assist the Church in finding funds to support its operations.

Preter-MillenArianism

The early Church had a distinct Premillenialist belief, which was ruled to be heresy by Rome in the fourth century. The Arian Catholic Church recognises the partial fallibility of the scriptures and especially of the manuscripts that have conveyed their messages, and the metaphoric language used in the books of the bible such as Genesis, Daniel, Matthew, 1 Thessalonians and the Apocalypse (Revelation), however they believe that the scriptures may not be as far fetched as one might believe when account is taken of their true meaning through their metaphors.

For example it could be argued that the first day of creation lasted 15 * 10(^-33) of a second, and that the second day of creation lasted about 9.35 Billion years. The 1,000 years referred to by John (in Revelations 20:1-10) could simply mean a long time that exceeds living memory. The timings given in the bible mean different things to different authors and seldom can be taken literally.

The Arian Catholic Church teaches that most prophecies have both a short term and a long term outcome and while the book of Revelation refers to the time of Nero and the massacre of the Jews (Preterism), it also refers to a future time when Christian (Messianic) Jews return to Israel (Millenarianism). Many Messianics believe in a literal 7000 year period for the human history of the world, with Messianic Millennial Sabbath Kingdom before a final judgment.

However, caution is always advised where prophecies are concearned as in all truth no one is 100% sure as to what they really mean and up until now, when a prophecy is fulfilled it isn't until after the event when people begin to realise what has happened.

References and Notes

^ Introduction to Arian Catholicism: http://arian-catholic.org/arian/arian-introduction.html
^ Theological Turning Points: Major Issues in Christian Thought, By Donald K. McKim, Published by Westminster John Knox Press, 1988, ISBN 080420702X, 9780804207027, Page 38.
^ Ecclesiastical Law and Liturgy of the Arian Catholic Church, http://arian-catholic.org/arian/liturgical_lore.html
^ Brother John Raymond: "Arianism Versus the Council of Nicaea," http://www.monksofadoration.org/arianism.html
^ Wikisource: Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Dictionary/M/Maris, bp. of Chalcedon: Maris (2): http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_Christian_Biography_and_Literature_to_the_End_of_the_Sixth_Century/Dictionary/M/Maris,_bp._of_Chalcedon
^ The Lost Tomb of Jesus official website, http://www.jesusfamilytomb.com/
^ Saint Peter's Jerusalem Tomb, http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/peters-jerusalem-tomb.htm
^ Maurice Wiles: "Arianism," Hastings, Mason and Pyper: "The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought," Oxford University Press, (2000), Page 38.
{note|misquoting-jesus} Misquoting Jesus, The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, by Bart D. Ehrman, HarperSanFrancisco, 2005, ISBN-10: 0-06-073817-0.
^ Arius (Heresy and Tradition (Revised Edition)), by Rowan Williams, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1 Jan 2002, ISBN: 0-8028-4969-5.
^ When Jesus became God, by Richard E. Rubenstein, Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1999, ISBN: 0-15-100368-8.
^ F. Paul Peterson: "Peter's Tomb Discovered In Jerusalem," (1960).
^ B.M. Metzger, M.D. Coogan, "The Oxford Companion to the Bible," Oxford University Press, (1993), Page 57.
^ Project Canterbury, The Seventh General Council and the Doctrine of Icons, Conference in the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster, December 2, 1918. London: SPCK, 1919.
^ Hermann Fulda, author of "The Cross and Crucifixion."
^ The Oxford Encyclopaedic English Dictionary: Arianism.
^ Catholic Encyclopaedia: "Divisions of Christendom and their causes"
^ Civilization Past & Present, Wallbank, 6th ed., p. 133

External links

[17] Arian Catholic Church and Theological Society website (Arian Catholic viewpoint).
[18] Arian Church in Rome - St Agatha.
[19] The Lost Tomb of Jesus official website.
[20] Saint Peter's Jerusalem Tomb.