This is a complex question, and it is not sufficiently addressed in this book. Well, those who wish can get acquainted with the early Christian understanding of the Eucharist from the works of priests Cyprian Kern, Nikolai Afanasiev, Alexander Schmemann...

11. In conclusion, one more reminder for the Orthodox: it is never shameful for a Christian to repent.

Yes, our church life is far from normal. Yes, there are many sins in our history and in the present. Not everything that is and has been in church life or in parish practice needs to be justified. About something else, it must be said directly: this is a sinful habit that has taken root in our churches contrary to the teaching of our own Church (for example, the icon of the New Testament Trinity, depicting God the Father in the form of an old man, contrary to the decree of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the Hundred Chapters Council of the Russian Church).

Protestants do not know how to talk about the illnesses or sins of their communities. They are brought up in the spirit of incessant boasting, incessant self-praise: "I used to be a sinner because I was an atheist, but now I am a saint, and he is a saint, and all our people are holy!" This is something that should not be imitated by Protestants.

A repentant, honest conversation about Orthodoxy is, among other things, a means of disarming sectarian criticism against us. We live within the Church, so we know our illnesses better than strangers. But in addition to them, we also know the spiritual light that exists in Orthodoxy. We extinguish this light with our sins – but it still shines. Through all the centuries the Church's lament for herself passes: "Or do you not know that the body of the Church is subject to greater illnesses and misfortunes than our flesh; is it more likely to be damaged and heal more slowly?" (St. John Chrysostom).258 "You ask, what are our affairs? Extremely bitter. Churches without pastors; the good perishes, the evil is outward; It is necessary to sail at night, the guiding stars do not shine anywhere. Christ is asleep" (St. Gregory the Theologian).259 "And the Church is in almost the same position as my body: there is no good hope in sight: things are constantly leading to the worst" (St. Basil the Great).260

It is unwise to pretend that everything is fine with us, if only because in most cases a Russian Protestant is a person who tried to be Orthodox, he came to our church, but something frightened him, pushed him away.

So, theologically, historically, the sin of schism lies with the Protestants, and humanly – with us. "Man looks at us with inquiring eyes: Do we not have the compassionate face of God?" 261, and because he does not see him with us, he goes to others.

Therefore, we should not look down on our interlocutor, not see him as an enemy, but as a lost brother. We lost him, did not come up in time, did not stretch out a hand, did not explain, did not support...

Once we did not say to him, perhaps, only one kind word – and now, in order to explain ourselves, we have to talk with him for hours. Once one parishioner, seeing how long I was talking with sectarians who came to our church, half-jokingly said to me: "Now I understand how you can achieve a long and individual conversation with you: you just need to sign up for some sect."

And one more thing: do not build your defense of Orthodoxy only on the opposition of "Russian" to "American." Orthodoxy is not a national, but a universal, world religion. And in America itself, the Orthodox Church has several million members. The following argument can be appealed to the heart: "What are you? is it not bitter to be a foreigner in one's own country?..".

But even turning to reason, with the Bible in hand, it is quite possible to explain the correctness and depth of patristic thinking.

A more detailed comparison of Orthodoxy and Protestantism, first of all on the most important question – the question of the mutual relationship between Scripture, the Eucharist, Tradition and the Church – is given in my book "Tradition, Dogma, Rite".

Notes