Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Part of a series on the
Eastern Orthodox Church
Christ Pantocrator (Deesis mosaic detail)
Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia
Overview
Background
Organization
Autocephalous jurisdictions
Autocephalous Churches who are officially part of the communion:

Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure:

Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches:

Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church:


Autonomous jurisdictions

Semi-Autonomous:

Episcopal assemblies
Noncanonical jurisdictions
Ecumenical councils
  • Other possible ecumenical councils:
  • Other important councils:
History
Theology
Liturgy and worship
Liturgical calendar
  • The four fasting periods:
Major figures
Other topics

The canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church consists of the ecclesiastical regulations recognised by the authorities of the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with the discipline, study, and practice of Eastern Orthodox jurisprudence.[1]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, canon law is a behavioural standard that aims to apply dogma to practical situations in the daily life of Eastern Orthodox Christians.[2] According to Mihai Vasile, unlike the canon law of the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox canon law is corrective rather than prescriptive, which means it is formulated in response to certain questions, challenges, or situations.

Eastern Orthodox canon law is the formalised part of the divine law,[3] and ultimately aims to promote the "spiritual perfection" of church members.[4]

The canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church is uncodified; its corpus has never been organised or harmonised into a formal code of ecclesiastical law. Consequently, some canons of Eastern Orthodoxy contradict each other, such as those related to the reception of heretics in the Church and the validity of their sacraments.[5]

  1. ^ Psarev, Andrei (2011). "Canon Law". In John Anthony McGuckin (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. John Wiley & Sons. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-4051-8539-4.
  2. ^ Viscuso, Patrick (2007) [2006]. Orthodox canon law: a casebook for study (2nd ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: InterOrthodox Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-935317-16-6.
  3. ^ Vasile, Mihai (2017). "Introduction". Orthodox canon law reference book. Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-935317-45-6. OCLC 856076162.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Vasile, Mihai (2017). "Introduction". Orthodox canon law reference book. Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press. pp. 2, 8, 32. ISBN 978-1-935317-45-6. OCLC 856076162.