Theodore813 wrote: ↑Thu 22 January 2026 8:35 pmharalampopoulosjc wrote: ↑Thu 22 January 2026 3:51 pmUpon further consideration it only seems reasonable to conclude that World Orthodoxy fell from grace after the 1983 Anathema Against Ecumenism was issued. Any earlier synodal condemnations did not have the required number of hierarchs (12) to anathematize the state synods.
Hmmm….doesn’t a local council operate in a similar fashion to an ecumenical council? Meaning, it is the role of the bishops to discern what is true in Heaven and to bind/loose on earth? Can a church sever themselves off from the Church, depriving themselves of sacramental grace, even before the convening of a local council?
The only difference between a local council and a pan orthodox council is a local council is just one synod of bishops, where as a pan orthodox council is all synods of all bishops. The only difference between a pan orthodox synod and an ecumenical synod is a pan orthodox synod is called and hosted by the bishops and is only church law where as an ecumenical council is called and hosted by the emperor and is both church and state law.
If by "church sever themselves off from the Church" you mean a local jurisdiction severing itself off from the Church by all of its member bishops embracing heresy and preaching it publicly then yes, even before a council they are heretics and we must flee from them.