The following is my response to one of my catechumens to the question of why the Orthodox Church practices a closed communion. Basically, Communion creates and defines our community, our being one with one another in Christ—i.e. eating of the one bread and of the one cup. Historically, some people/groups separated themselves from the communion of the Church through heresies or immorality or aligning themselves with a heretical bishop. Therefore, they are…
Some of you may have noticed that I seldom use the word “heresy” or “heretic” when I speak of heterodox versions of Christianity and those who follow them. I have thought that, perhaps, some of you might have gathered the wrong idea that I do not think that heterodox opinions are heretical. This is not the case. However, I also think that the word “heresy” is not a very useful word when…
