Difference between revisions of "Anathema"

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An '''anathema''' is an expulsion from the Church.
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'''Anathema''' is the most extreme sanction that the Orthodox Church can take against a member of the Church for wrong doing. An anathema is a complete separation, an expulsion, from the Church.
  
:''Now suppose that some member not only refuses to abide by the rules but also holds many views completely opposed to those of the society and even rises up against its very goal. He not only does not himself observe temperance but even reviles temperance itself and disseminates notions which might tempt others and deflect them from temperance. What does the society ordinarily do with such people? First it admonishes them, and then it expels them. There you have an anathema!'' — St. [[Theophan the Recluse]]
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The Orthodox Church distinguishes between [[excommunication]], that is "separation from the communion of the Church", and other penances and anathema. Under excommunication a person remains a member of the Church even though his or her participation in its mystical life, particularly communion, is restricted until the [[repentance]] of the one under excommunication. Whereas those under anathema are considered to be completely separated from the Church until repentance.
  
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The two principal causes for which a person may be anathematized are [[heresy]] and [[schism]]. Anathematization is used by the Church only as a last resort, and must always be preceded by pastoral attempts to reason with the offender to bring about his restoration to the faith.
  
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==Source==
 
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*[[Wikipedia: Anathema]]
==See also==
 
*[[Excommunication]]
 
*[[Heresy]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.orthodox.net/articles/anathema-bp-theophan.html What is an Anathema?] by Bp. Theophan the Recluse (translated from the Russian text published in ''Pravoslavnaya Rus'', #4, 1974)
 
*[http://www.orthodox.net/articles/anathema-bp-theophan.html What is an Anathema?] by Bp. Theophan the Recluse (translated from the Russian text published in ''Pravoslavnaya Rus'', #4, 1974)
 
*[http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/library/st_john_maximovich/on_anathema.htm Examples of Anathema from the Holy Canons]
 
*[http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/library/st_john_maximovich/on_anathema.htm Examples of Anathema from the Holy Canons]
*[[w:Anathema|''Anathema'' at Wikipedia]]
 
  
 
[[bg:Анатема]]
 
[[bg:Анатема]]
  
 
[[Category:Liturgics]]
 
[[Category:Liturgics]]

Revision as of 15:20, October 13, 2010

Anathema is the most extreme sanction that the Orthodox Church can take against a member of the Church for wrong doing. An anathema is a complete separation, an expulsion, from the Church.

The Orthodox Church distinguishes between excommunication, that is "separation from the communion of the Church", and other penances and anathema. Under excommunication a person remains a member of the Church even though his or her participation in its mystical life, particularly communion, is restricted until the repentance of the one under excommunication. Whereas those under anathema are considered to be completely separated from the Church until repentance.

The two principal causes for which a person may be anathematized are heresy and schism. Anathematization is used by the Church only as a last resort, and must always be preceded by pastoral attempts to reason with the offender to bring about his restoration to the faith.

Source

External links