Orthodox America
St. Vincent of Lerins
+450 Commemorated May 24
A
leading theologian of the Church of Gaul in the 5th century, St. Vincent settled
in the island monastery of Lerins off the southern coast of France in order that
"avoiding the concourse and crowds of cities... I can follow without
distraction the Psalmist's admonition, “Be still, and know that I am
God.” Here he wrote his celebrated Commonitorium, a
"Reminder," where he wrote down "those things which I have
truthfully received from the holy Fathers ," which they "have handed
down to us and committed to our keeping." Among these things is the
celebrated definition of orthodoxy as quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab
omnibus: that which has been believed in the Church "everywhere,
always, by everyone." St. Vincent lived in an age of great historical
uncertainty; barbarian tribes were a constant menace and although four hundred
years of Christian tradition had already passed, the foundations of the faith
had been only recently clarified by decisions made in the Ecumenical
Councils--the Council of Nicea (325), the Council of Constantinople (381) and
the Council of Ephesus (431). It is, therefore, not surprising that St. Vincent
was so concerned to preserve the authority of Christian tradition. This is not
to say that he was opposed to progress or doctrinal development; each age must
face its won particular problems and develop a Christian response in answer to
them. "But it must be progress in the proper sense of the word, and not a
change in faith. Progress means that each thing grows within itself, whereas
change implies that one thing is transformed into another .... The growth of
religion in the soul should be like the growth of the body, which in the course
of year develops and unfolds, yet remains the same as it was."
"In ancient times, our forefathers sowed the seeds of
the wheat of faith in that field which is the Church. It would be quite unjust
and improper if we, their descendents, gathered, instead of the genuine truth of
wheat, the false tares of error. On the contrary, it is logically correct that
the beginning and the end be in agreement, that we reap from the planting of the
wheat of doctrine the harvest of the wheat of dogma. In this way, none of the
Characteristics of the seed is changed, although something evolved in the course
of time from those first seeds and has now expanded under careful cultivation.
What may be added is merely appearance, beauty, and distinction, but the proper
nature of each kind remains."
His defense of the traditions of the Fathers and his
condemnation of innovation and novelty in the Church are as appropriate today as
they were in his time:
"The Church of Christ, zealous and cautious guardian
of the dogmas deposited with it, never changes any phase of them. It does not
diminish them or add to them; it neither trims what seems necessary, nor grafts
things superfluous; it neither gives up its own nor usurps what does not belong
to it. But it devotes all its diligence to one aim: to treat tradition
faithfully and wisely; to nurse and polish what from old times may have remained
unshaped and unfinished; to consolidate and to strengthen what already was clear
· and plain; and to guard what already was confirmed and defined. After all,
what have the councils brought forth in their decrees but that what' before was
believed plainly and simply might from now on be believed more diligently; that
what before was preached rather unconcernedly might be preached from now on more
eagerly."
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust
(I Tim. 6:20)
Subscribe (and order back issues) to
Orthodox America
Order Books from Orthodox America
If you note problems with this site, please contact the Webmaster
© 1998-2006 by Nikodemos Orthodox Publication
Society