Church CanonsEcclesiastical Judgments

Source of Church Authority• Matt 18:

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

− “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

• Punishment of Ananias, with Sapphira (Acts 5)• “…deliver such a one to Satan for the

destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1Cor 5)

• Purpose: “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” (1Tim 5)

Degrees and Types of Punishments• Depends of type of sin, and its

reoccurrence, and ecclesiastical rank• Only one punishment per sin

−If a deacon or priest re-marries after widowhood

• Deposition from ecclesiastical rank• Not excommunicated

−except heresy – multiple punishments• Deposition from ecclesiastical rank• Separation from congregation

(Excommunication)• Anathemaied

− Arius, Nestorius, Macdonius• If a monk, also stripping from monasticism

Degrees and Types of Punishments• Excommunication (طرد) : separation from the

believers• Anathema (حرم) : banished, exiled, accursed

−"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

• Depose (سقط) : falling/removal from rank−Stripping (شلح) from rank

• We may hear of someone who is “ma7room” (banished) محروم−Which judgment? −Banished from what? Communion? Entering the

church? −For how long?...

Suspension of Ecclesiastical Services• A priest may be suspended from

performing one or more or all ecclesiastical services, depending on the situation:−If there is suspicions of his faithfulness in

keeping the canons• e.g. allows marriage for divorcee, he may be

suspended from performing marriages

• May be a precautionary step until a full investigation is performed−May be decreed by the bishop before/until a

council/trial is held• May be a continual suspension (depose)

No Judgment Without Trail• If a bishop deposes a priest without

investigation or trail, he himself may be subject to trial.−Thus, a bishop must not hasten to judge

• To give the defendant a chance to explain and defend himself

• Witnesses must be questioned and investigated −False witness arose against Christ Himself −False witness are to be punished:

• “Thou shall therefore cast him out of the congregation as a murderer of his brother.” (Didascalia Apostolorum Book II)

• Defendant may appeal from one ecclesiastical rank unto another until reaching the Holy Synod

Characteristics of the Bishop• “A bishop then must be blameless…temperate, sober-

minded…not violent…gentle, not quarrelsome”(1Tim 3)• “But concerning bishops, we have heard from our Lord,

that a pastor who is to be ordained a bishop for the churches in every parish, must be unblameable, unreprovable, free from all kinds o wickedness common among men…” (Didascalia Apostolorum Book II)

• “Be not therefore ready and hasty to cut off, nor do thou easily have recourse to the saw, with its many teeth; but first use a lancet to lay open the wound, that the inward cause whence the pain is derived being drawn out, may keep the body free from pain.” (Didascalia Apostolorum Book II)

Reasons for Deposition of Clergy• If ordained by “Simonism” (bribe) (Acts 8)

−He and who ordained him are deposed• If ordained twice to same rank• If violent and strikes someone• If he curses his bishop

−“For if the divine oracle says…"He that curses his father or his mother, let him die;" how much more should the word exhort you to honor your spiritual parents, and to love them as your benefactors and ambassadors with God, who have regenerated you by water, and endued you with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who have fed you with the Word as with milk, who have nourished you with doctrine…” (Didascalia Apostolorum Book II)

• If he lends with interest

Reasons for Deposition of Clergy• If he takes on a worldly position (works)• If he participates in the liturgy and does not

partake of Communion• If he refuses a repentant

−“In the first place, therefore, condemn the guilty person with authority; afterwards try to bring him home with mercy and compassion, and readiness to receive him, promising him salvation if he will change his course of life, and become a penitent; and when he does repent, and has submitted to his chastisement, receive him: remembering that our Lord has said, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents."” (Didascalia Apostolorum Book II)

• If he disregards his flock• If separates from his bishop (secede from Church)

Church “khoros” (Divisions)• In the early church, the nave had divisions

(khoros) separating the congregation, based on the judgments they were under:−Believers−Repentants −Prostrators (kneelers)−Catechumens/ “Listeners”−Weepers

• Depending on the sin and sinner, the judgment may be for several years, and he would advance from one khoros to another until he is returned back to the “believers”

Khoros of the Weepers• Were not allowed inside the church!

−“Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.” (Ps 93)

• They stood outside weeping, and entreating those who are entering to pray for them.

• Usually wear sackcloth• When they complete this period of

their judgment, they were allowed in the church.

Khoros of the Catechumens/ “Listeners”• At the back of the church• Sinners who completed the “weeping”

judgment, • Catechumens (those who are learning the

faith) • They listen to the readings and the sermon,

then they exit the church−“… stand with trembling, let us attend”−This is the time when they were exiting, and the

deacon is directing the believers to “attend” to the prayers

−The deacon’s response included “No catechumen or unbeliever is to be standing here”

Khoros of the Prostrators (Kneelers)• Closer to the “believers” khoros• Not allowed to attend the liturgy nor

offer gifts• They attend the readings while

kneeling• Also, before they exit, they would

kneel and the priest would pray on them.

Khoros of the Repentants• Last period of the judgment• They attend the liturgy but they do

not partake of Communion.• The church accepts their offerings

Khoros of the Believers• AKA Khoros of the Saints

−“The Holies are for the Holy”• Closest to the Altar• Eligible for Communion• Eligible for offering gifts (Korban)

−Church does not accept the offerings of:• Sinners• “You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the

price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.” (Deut 23:18)

• Those who collect money in unacceptable ways:• Hoarding from widows or orphans, stealing,

lottery

These Judgments are not Applicable Today• They used to last for seven, or ten or

even twenty years• People can not endure such

judgments these days• Catholic Church suspended these

canon in the early years• The Eastern Orthodox Churches

suspended them in the eleventh century

• The churches are not built with these divisions anymore.