Orthodox Canon Law

Abstract

Abstract Canon law is the application in the Christian life of the divine and of Orthodox faith experienced in divine worship. For the first-millennium Christian Church, Orthodox canon law became a tool to preserve God’s teaching and to promote a well-organized and meaningful life. Orthodox canon law is thaumaturgic rather than punitive, its purpose aligned with the framework of God’s plan of redemption and salvation—the theology of the Orthodox Church. Uniquely, Orthodox canon law focuses on edifying the individual rather than on security and prosperity for many. Secular society takes pride in equal treatment by the law; Orthodox canon law treats each individual as a personality rather than as a member of the community who committed a crime. The resistance of the Orthodox Church to codify ancient law rather than revise and adapt it to the times organically comes from the Church Fathers’ profound awareness of the theological character of sacred dogmas, whose meaning and limited understanding are transmitted through revelation. As ultimate truths come from Christ as “law and lawgiver,” the church through the work of ecumenical councils “found” the immutable truths of faith and established a divine canonical tradition that guides the faithful toward salvation. The divine canonical tradition, with the wisdom of the Church Fathers and experience of the early church, equipped the faithful with a clear understanding of humankind’s priorities. In these times of integration and globalization, the Orthodox Church continues its mission and adapts to new circumstances.