On refusing to accept a heterodox as a
godfather
Kallinikos,
by the mercy of God, archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical
Patriarch
We
have received the letter of your prelacy, in which a question is raised, that
is, what events are possible to take place if the Latins living there, papists
or protestants, request that a sacrament be given to them; is this possible or
isn’t it?
First,
if a papist in danger is about to die and asks for Holy Communion, is it
possible to give it to him? Everyone knows the answer to this question, namely,
if he is willing to reject his latin faith, that is, his latin way of thinking,
and to accept the faith of the Eastern Church, nothing can prevent him from
receiving the Holy Communion. If, on the other hand, he sticks to his own
religion, but nevertheless requests Holy Communion, it cannot be allowed; for
the same Chalice is intended for only those who have the same beliefs, as alien
minds are impossible to be in communion.
Second,
there is the question, what should be done if a papist or protestant dies, and
a request for a priest is made to carry out the burial service. The answer to
this question is definitely no, as it is not right for the priests to beg God
to put an anathematized person to Paradise along with the righteous. There is
no question that they are heretics; and they have synods that anathematize us
as heretics, and they clearly preach this. We, on the other hand, consider them
heretics, under the anathema of many ecumenical councils, which anathematize
those who trample on the dogmas of the Eastern Church, which they do not even
consider Church. Given that the civilian laws of the christians decide that
whoever tramples on a single dogma is a heretic, then how can we not consider them
heretics, since they have not left any dogma unchanged? Consequently, whoever
is not with me is against me, and whoever does not collect along with me
dissipates. Since they were separated from the Eastern Church and created their
own, which is different, monstrous, and completely separated from the Eastern
Church, there is no question that they are inexcusable heretics. They have no
communion with us, as the united are not divided, and the divided are not
united; their preachings are in vain. Therefore, it is impossible for orthodox
priests to bury heretics.
Third,
a question arose when the British Consul’s wife, who is orthodox christian,
gave birth to a child, and requested that the infant be baptized, with the
French Consul as the Godfather, the question being whether this is possible.
The answer is in the nagative; the baptism can be done only if the godfather is
orthodox. She should be careful enough not to agree to implement the baptism
with a heterodox godfather, papist or protestant. To avoid any political
harassment by them, keep a distance from them peacefully and without fights by
telling them that we are unable to do things that our Church forbids us to do.
That
is all. May the grace of God be with your prelacy.
November
25, 1701.
(Τhe
original text in the Greek language is here:
http://krufo-sxoleio.blogspot.gr/2017/09/blog-post_30.html and here (page 80):
https://archive.org/details/kanonikaidiataxe01gede and here (manuscript, f.
441-443): https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.2427
Special
thanks to Dr. Hatzinikolaou Dimitrios [Associate Professor, University of
Ioannina] for the translation).
Αναρτήθηκε από
δάσκαλος στις 8:17 μ.μ.
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