What would you like to know about the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith? Submit your question.
Is it possible to disagree with the church on certain issues, such as ritual purity laws (i.e., prohibiting of Eucharist during a woman’s monthly cycle or after manslaughter)?
Is it possible to disagree with the Church on specific issues? Absolutely! It is possible for anyone to pick and choose what they want to believe or practice and create their own theology. Do Orthodox Christians strictly adhere to every canon and tradition? I think not, rather, most of us are a work in progress.
The Orthodox faith is not a religion, it is “a way of life” with guideposts to aid in each person’s journey of theosis. Theosis is similar to the western meaning of salvation but not the same. The will of God for us is to participate in and be transformed through His grace and mercy: to become what He is by nature.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:4, NIV)
The Eastern Orthodox Church is a living, breathing organism that is not confined to a corporate legalistic set of rules carved in stone. The guidelines for the faith are spelled out in the canons. A “canon” is defined in the Greek as “likened to a measuring stick,” and as a standard that expresses a principle that is true.
Even though a canon may dictate a certain path, it is up to the Church to apply it in a way that is most beneficial and yet preserves the principles and spirit of the holy canon. The Church does this, when necessary, by a practice called “economia” which may determine that people’s salvation is achieved by a less strict or exact application of the canons of the Church.
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, NIV)
In regard to receiving the Eucharist (communion), let me first define it as the principal sacramental mystery and centerpiece of the Orthodox Church. It is not a simple memorial of the Last Supper which is only occasionally observed, but the holistic experience of communion with the Living God.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:53-54, NIV)
The Eastern Orthodox Church, according to the teachings of Scripture and Tradition, believes that in the chalice is the presence of Christ and the Body of Believers (the Church), which we receive in the sacrament of communion.
Ritual purity laws concerning a woman’s monthly cycle
There are certain canons which limit or exclude women in some areas of liturgical participation, such as taking holy communion, by the concept of them being impure once a month during menstruation and for a period of 40 days after giving birth. Examples of ritual purity laws can be found in the Old Testament book of Leviticus. Judaic spirituality exerted a strong influence on the development of early Christianity.
In 262 A.D., St. Dionysius of Alexandria wrote in his second canon: “If one is not wholly clean both in soul and in body, he should not approach the holy mysteries.” I do not read this as referring to bodily hygiene, but to the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit as described in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Despite what St. Dionysius says, ideally one should approach the Chalice as a repentant sinner, knowing that the grace and mercy of God overcomes all sins. One’s natural functions should not prohibit in the participation of communion.
There were other theologians and church fathers who addressed these issues. Some use the example of the woman who had the flow of blood and touched the garment of Christ, found in Matthew 9:20-22, to support their position. This woman was not scolded for approaching Christ while “unclean.” The “Didascalia Apostolorum” is very strong in prohibiting Christians to observe any Levitical laws. It excuses menstruating women to be able to receive the Eucharist, based on the reasoning that the Eucharist is consecrated through the Holy Spirit and since Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, why would anyone be denied receiving the Eucharist?
Around 600 A.D., St. Gregory the Great Pope of Rome said, “It is the property of pious souls to see sin where there is none.” He also says:
A woman should not be restricted from going to church and receiving the Eucharist. Now the option of a woman who does not want to receive should be praised. However, if she wants to live religiously and receive Communion out of love, one should not stop her.
So how does the Church approach these issues? Canons are modified through the process of economia, which was discussed earlier. Since the concept of sin has everything to do with will, a woman cannot be blamed for menstruating, which the body does naturally and involuntarily.
There are disagreements among the jurisdictions on this matter. It is my understanding that the Antiochian Holy Synod ruled some time ago that women experiencing their monthly periods should not be excluded from the Eucharist. In other synods, this question is left up to the spiritual father, and in many cases, to the episcopal guidance of a bishop or metropolitan of the diocese or jurisdiction.
Ritual purity laws concerning manslaughter
The priest should consult with his bishop or metropolitan as to whether the person in question should be granted economia concerning manslaughter. Priests are often left to their own decision-making because giving immediate attention can be imperative.
St. Basil indicates in Canon 13 that those who come back from war and have taken a life should voluntarily exclude themselves from receiving communion for a period of three years. Killing is always sinful and breaks the commandment “thou shalt not kill,” even if it’s in self-defense.
Herein is where we must rely on the sovereignty of the Almighty God. As we approach Him with a repentant heart, doesn’t His divine providence protect and cover all things ultimately? Where we lack, God by His grace, mercy and unconditional love for us, fills in to make us whole. God loves you, He really does!
Blessings.
Think for yourself. Draw your own conclusions.
If I am reading your comment correctly….Mankind has always had the greatest desire “to be like God” as was the case in the garden with Eve when Satan told Eve if she eats of this fruit “you can be like God.” I guess the song that best describes this is “I did it my way.” Drawing our own conclusions and as brilliant as man thinks he is often times produces a life time of suffering and despair. The benefit of the “wisdom of God” is completely 100% for us, however, as children of God we often times rebel when we are offered the medicine to free ourselves from the “prison of self-centeredness.” Blessings to you and yours…
If I am reading your comment correctly….Mankind has always had the
greatest desire “to be like God” as was the case in the garden with Eve
when Satan told Eve if she eats of this fruit “you can be like God.” I
guess the song that best describes this is “I did it my way.” Drawing
our own conclusions and as brilliant as man thinks he is often times
produces a life time of suffering and despair. The benefit of the
“wisdom of God” is completely 100% for us, however, as children of God
we often times rebel when we are offered the medicine to free ourselves
from the “prison of self-centeredness.” Blessings to you and yours…
I was trying to politely say, “don’t let the church think for you”.
Forgive me if I offended you in any way. In social media it is hard to discern what one is conveying. Depending on which “Church” you are talking about that may be true as far as “the church attempting to think for you.” In most churches there are a set of “rules” that you have to adhere to be saved or get that “ticket” to slide into heaven. However, in the Eastern Orthodox Church the emphasis is on personal transformation of the heart (the nous) by choice and with and by the aid of a sacramental life, through the Presence and direct experience of the Holy Spirit of God in the Church. Christianity is not a religion, it is a “way of life.” And once one gets beyond the point of viewing “The Church” as a dictator, rival, or threat to one’s freedom or independent thinking, it is then that you become truly illumined in the wisdom of God, that the benefit of this sacramental life is and always has been 100% for its recipients. Blessings to you and yours..+
Forgive me if I offended you in any way. In social media it is hard to
discern what one is conveying. Depending on which “Church” you are
talking about that may be true as far as “the church attempting to think
for you.” In most churches there are a set of “rules” that you have
to adhere to be saved or get that “ticket” to slide into heaven.
However, in the Eastern Orthodox Church the emphasis is on personal
transformation of the heart (the nous) by choice and with and by the aid
of a sacramental life, through the Presence and direct experience of
the Holy Spirit of God in the Church. Christianity is not a religion,
it is a “way of life.” And once one gets beyond the point of viewing
“The Church” as a dictator, rival, or threat to one’s freedom or
independent thinking, it is then that you become truly illumined in the
wisdom of God, that the benefit of this sacramental life is and always
has been 100% for its recipients. Blessings to you and yours..+