History

15 May 1821

The Reverent Levi Parsons had a conversation with a priest in Paphos:

Had some profitable conversation with the priest who accompanied us. I requested him to prove from the scriptures the articles of his creed; such as the duty of offering prayers to the Virgin Mary, praying for the dead etc. He declined, and appealed to the fathers. He added, “The Bible is not capable of affording instruction without the aid of the holy fathers”. But in what a deplorable situation I replied, does this place the greater part of Christians! They must search a thousand folio volumes to learn their duty. Where is there one out of ten thousand, that would not die in ignorance of the will of God?