‘’I CONFESS ONE BAPTISM…’’

By Protopresbyter George D. Metallinos, D. Th., Ph. D.

Dean of the University of Athens, School of Theology

By the Kollyvades and Constantine Oikonomos (A contribution to the historico-canonical evaluation of the problem of the validity of  Western baptism)

Interpretation and Application Of Canon VII of the Second Ecumenical Council

Translated by: Priestmonk Seraphim

____________________________________________________________

This is a translation and edited version, With additional material of the book in Greek by the same title,Ομολογώ εν Βάπτισμα, Which was published by the author in Athens in 1983.

First Printed by St. Paul’s Monastery, Holy Mountain, 1994

630 87 DAPHNE, Greece

ISBN 960-85542-0-9

____________________________________________________________

CANON VII - of the Second Ecumenical Council,

Constantinople, 381 A.D.

On how heretics are to be received:

As for heretics who convert to Orthodoxy and join the portion of the saved, we receive them in accordance with the following procedure and custom: We receive Arians, and Macedonians, and Sabbatians, and Novatians who call themselves Catharoi and Aristeroi, and Tessareskaidekatitæ otherwise known as Tetraditæ, and Apollinarists, when they submit written statements, and anathematize every heresy that does not believe as the holy, catholic, and Apostolic Church of God believes, and are first sealed with holy Myron on the forehead, and the eyes, and the nose, and the mouth, and the ears; and in sealing them we say: ‘’Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.’’

Eunomians, on the other hand, who are baptized with one immersion, and Montanists who in this [City] are called Phrygians, and Sabellians who teach the son-fatherhood [of Christ], and who do other evil things as well; and all other heresies (for there are many hereabout, especially those hailing from the region of the Galatians), all of them that wish to join Orthodoxy we receive as pagans. And on the first day we make them Christians; on the second, catechumens. Then on the third day we exorcise them with the threefold blowing into their face and ears. And then we catechize them, and oblige them to spend sufficient time in the church and to listen to the Scriptures. And then we baptize them.

Foreword

Preface to the Greek Edition

Preface to the English Edition

Abbreviations

Introduction

A. THE PRINCIPAL FIGURES

1. The ‘’Kollyvades’’ Fathers of the Holy Mountain

2. Constantine Oikonomos of the Oikonomoi (1780-1857)

3. Cyril V, Patriarch of Constantinople

B. INTERPRETATION OF THE CANON

1. Ecclesiological and canonical presuppositions

2. Authenticity of the Canon

3. Interpretation of the Canon

4. Summary

C. APPLICATION OF THE CANON

1. Latins are ‘’heretics’’ and ‘’unbaptized’’

2. Latins are ‘’in need of baptism’’

3. Explanation of the Orthodox Church’s action in dealing with the Latins

a) Until the Council of Florence

b) After Florence

 

D. CRITICAL EVALUATION

1. The position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

2. The action of Patriarch Cyril V

3. The policy in Russia

 

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX 1. Holy Canons dealing with Baptism

a) Canons of the Holy Apostles (as recorded by Clement)

b) Canons of Ecumenical Councils

c) Local Councils

d) The Canonical Letters of St. Basil the Great (d. 378 A.D.)

APPENDIX 2. Oros of the holy Great Church of Christ on the baptism of converts from the West

APPENDIX 3. (Re)baptism of Latins on the Ionian Islands in the Nineteenth Century