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Question 22.

Π. Χριστοφόρε,
Με ποιον τρόπο και σύμφωνα με ποια κριτήρια έγινε από τους Πατέρες ο διαχωρισμός των κανονικών από τα απόκρυφα κείμενα; Εφόσον τα απόκρυφα ευαγγέλια δεν είναι κανονικά γιατί η Εκκλησία βασίστηκε σε αυτά για τη διαμόρφωση κάποιων θεομητορικών εορτών (Κοίμηση, Εισόδια);

 

Translation of Question 22.

“In which way and according to what criteria was the separation of the canonical from the apocryphal text done by the fathers? If the apocryphal gospels are not canonical, why did the Church rely on them to formulate certain feasts of the Mother of God such as the Dormition and Entry?

 

Answer to Question 22
Dear Constantine,

During the “school seasons” I give a weekly talk for our English speaking parishioners. This season begins on 2/10/08 and I was searching for a suitable subject to start the season until I received your email. Your question on the canonical and apocryphal struck me as the ideal subject for the first talk not only because of the publicity the New Testament apocryphal have received in the past few years, but also because the Church uses the Septuagint version of the Old Testament and most English speaking Christians read from Bibles translated from a different source which understandably are more readily available in English. Thus I have sent you my full answer by email and it is also on the website under the Section “Talks” dated 2/10/08.  See:

Talk on the Canonical and apocryphal writings
 


With love in Christ
Fr. Christopher.