<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>One of the ecumenically most problematic aspects in the history of the Orthodox Church is the anathemas of 431, 451 and especially the abrupt set of anathemas prescribed in 553, as several prominent Church fathers were condemned centuries after having passed away in peace with the Church. Most of them were authoritative or at least influential teachers for the holy fathers, and a number of their writings have been in use in the Orthodox tradition up to our times. Due to their de facto influence, they have an integrated presence and even important position in the tradition of the Church. Could this fact perhaps, with a fresh reading, have some ecumenical potential for our times, especially in relation to the Pre-Chalcedonian Churches and Roman Catholics?</p></abstract>

One of the ecumenically most problematic aspects in the history of the Orthodox Church is the anathemas of 431, 451 and especially the abrupt set of anathemas prescribed in 553, as several prominent Church fathers were condemned centuries after having passed away in peace with the Church. Most of them were authoritative or at least influential teachers for the holy fathers, and a number of their writings have been in use in the Orthodox tradition up to our times. Due to their de facto influence, they have an integrated presence and even important position in the tradition of the Church. Could this fact perhaps, with a fresh reading, have some ecumenical potential for our times, especially in relation to the Pre-Chalcedonian Churches and Roman Catholics?

Anathematized Church Fathers: a Gateway to Ecumenism?

Systematic Theology and Patristics (Orthodox studies)

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Anathematized Church Fathers: a Gateway to Ecumenism?"}

One of the ecumenically most problematic aspects in the history of the Orthodox Church is the anathemas of 431, 451 and especially the abrupt set of anathemas...

Anathematized Church Fathers: a Gateway to Ecumenism?

Published Online: May 13, 2019

Page range: 10 - 28

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2019-0002

Keywords
Patristic, Orthodox, anathema, authority, heretic, Origen, Pseudo-Macarius, Didymus, Evagrius, Diodore

© 2019 Serafim Seppälä, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Anathematized Church Fathers: a Gateway to Ecumenism?

Published Online: May 13, 2019

Page range: 10 - 28

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2019-0002

KeywordsPatristic, Orthodox, anathema, authority, heretic, Origen, Pseudo-Macarius, Didymus, Evagrius, Diodore

© 2019 Serafim Seppälä, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Patristic, Orthodox, anathema, authority, heretic, Origen, Pseudo-Macarius, Didymus, Evagrius, Diodore