The Reception of the Heterodox in the Orthodox Church in the Light of the Canonical-Juridical Provisions of the Kormciaia Kniga

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the canonical and juridical regulations concerning the reception of heterodox believers into the Orthodox Church, as they are reflected in the Kormciaia Kniga, one of the most important collections of ecclesiastical law in the Slavonic tradition. Based on the Byzantine sources adopted and adapted by this compilation, as well as on the historical and ecclesiastical context of the Slavic world, the study highlights how the Eastern tradition addressed the issue of heterodox Christians, navigating between the rigors of akribeia and the pastoral applications of ikonomia. Special attention is given to the sacramental status of heterodox communities, the conditions for ecclesial reintegration, and the variations in pastoral practice.

The article offers a comparative analysis of the Kormciaia Kniga, the Pidalion, synodical canons, and the canonical commentaries of modern Orthodox theologians such as Ioan N. Floca, Ioan Milaș, Liviu Stan, Nico­lae V. Dură, and Cătălina Mititelu.

The conclusions reveal the pastoral discernment and canonical balance within the Kormciaia Kniga, along with its historical influence on later codifications in the Romanian Orthodox space.

This study demonstrates that the Orthodox Church has always sought to remain faithful to its canonical tradition while applying it with discernment and compassion, especially in cases involving those who sincerely seek communion with Christ and His Church.