The document “Canonical Resources and Policies for the Reception of the Heterodox” (made public on 9 January 2024, and updated on 11 January 2024) from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland ruled by Metropolitan Silouan Oner, contains the following grave theological errors:
- The change of the Orthodox definition of Salvation to the meaning of “spiritual health.”
When quoting Saint Cyprian of Carthage in the preface, the document states the following: “There was ‘no salvation outside the Church.’ ‘Salvation’ in this context meant spiritual health. This approach mandated the exceptional remedy of baptism, NOT as some rigorists today suppose, for ALL heretics or schismatics, but for some of them.” This new interpretation and redefinition is contrary to the actual meaning of Salvation: being united to Christ in His One and Unique Body, the Orthodox Church. Also in the statement: “There was ‘no salvation outside the Church’”, the past tense is used, which presents the teachings of Saint Cyprian of Carthage as obsolete.
This redefinition of Salvation is blasphemy against Christ Who was crucified for us in order that we may be united to Him, not for a vague notion of “spiritual health”. Baptism is not “an exceptional remedy” but is the only door of entry into the Kingdom of God, which is the Orthodox Church ( Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20, John 3:5 ).
- The ubiquity (state of being everywhere at the same time) of the Grace of Salvation outside the Orthodox Church (as condemned by the Synod of Carthage 258), which states that salvation exists outside the One and Unique Body of Christ.
The idea of “incomplete baptism” is corroborated by the term “ubiquity” of the Grace of Salvation in the preface of the policy document. The term “ubiquity” of the Grace of Salvation is in direct contradiction to the Holy Gospel and the teachings of the Holy Fathers(e.g. St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyprian of Carthage, St. Diadochus of Photice, St. Theodore the Studite and St. Ignatius Brianchaninov). There is only the One and Unique Church that is complete (catholic), where regeneration in Baptism and Salvation can be found.
- The redefinition of the terms ‘economia’ and ‘akribeia’ contrary to their well-established meanings according to the teachings of the Holy Fathers and to the Holy Canons.
The document states that “Two common misconceptions are to think that economia means a dispensation and that akribeia is the norm. In fact, economia means ALL the possible rules of the household, akribeia being the strictest of those.” In fact, there is no misconception, as according to Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite, the well-established definition for ‘akribeia’ is exactitude, meaning the use of the formally valid canons, and the definition for ‘economia’ is tolerance regarding the temporary, exceptional adaptation of the Holy Tradition for the spiritual benefit of persons who find themselves in exceptional situations. In other words, ‘akribeia’ is in fact the rule whereas ‘economia’ is the exception.
The transformation of economia into rule of the Church is not in the spirit of the Holy Fathers.
- A new “canon” that stipulates the excommunication of any lay person and the deposition of a clergyman who receives a “corrective” baptism.
According to the abovementioned policy document, a new “canon” of the Church was promulgated without any synodal approval in Section F, which states that: “Any lay person who receives a ‘corrective’ baptism will be excommunicated and a clergyman will be deposed. This is a serious offence breaking the unity of the Church and as such, is dealt with in an uncompromising manner,” where “corrective” baptism is when a person receives an Orthodox baptism after being received by Chrismation only. The “canon” also states that a person who receives a “corrective” baptism is not eligible for ordination. An accusation is also made against the laity and clergy who desire the Orthodox Baptism of all non-Orthodox, as “a minority and often schismatic tendency in the Orthodox Church” and “extremists”.
It is a misnomer to call it “corrective” baptism, it is actually the one and unique Baptism in the Orthodox Church. According to Saint Cyprian of Carthage, “we declare that no one can be baptised outside of the [Orthodox] Church, there being but one baptism, and this being existent only in the [Orthodox] Church.“ This means that the Sacrament of Chrismation can neither replace an Orthodox Baptism, nor “perfect whatever was lacking in [a] non-Orthodox baptism.”
A bishop cannot make decisions against the Holy Gospel and the Holy Canons of the Orthodox Church. This policy document has also misinterpreted and misused the Holy Canons, ignored Apostolic Canons 46 and 47, and misquoted the Holy Fathers Saint Cyprian of Carthage and Saint John of Damascus.
By adopting this Anti-Gospel policy document, the Doors of the Kingdom of God have been closed to the heterodox in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland.
Please see the attached “Canonical Resources and Policies for the Reception of the Heterodox” document, from 11 January 2024 and the “Open Letter in Response to the Archdiocesan Policy on the Reception of the Heterodox” from 17th January 2024.
