HOLY SCRIPTURE
AND THE SACRED CANONS
FORBID DIALOGUE WITH HERETICS
"Have nothing to do with them, for they are self-condemned"
Nations hold dialogues with other nations for various reasons, often offering mutual compromises to settle issues. This has produced the art of diplomacy and the maintenance of embassies in various countries.However such dialogue and compromise is foreign to the Orthodox Church, even though many have done so over the centuries. A dialogue with those outside the Church to learn of their misbelief and correct them is always permitted, but it is forbidden to recognize them as brothers and fellow believers. The reason is that heresy is extremely infectious and dangerous to the soul. If a member of the Orthodox Church holds a wrong belief, it is the duty of every Orthodox Christian to strive to bring him back in a spirit of firmness and love. But concerning a man who is a heretic totally different rules apply, as St. Paul and the Fathers declare.
HOLY SCRIPTURE
"A man that is a heretic admonish a first and second time, after that have nothing to do with Him, knowing that such a person is self condemned" (Titus 3:10)
CANONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
CANON 46
"We order any Bishop or Priest, that has accepted any heretic’s baptism or sacrifice be deposed; for "what consonance has Christ with Belial? Or what part has the
believer with an unbeliever?"
CANON 45
"Let any Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon that only joins in prayer with
heretics be suspended, but if he has permitted them to perform any
service as clergy let him be deposed."
"A man that is a heretic admonish a first and second time, after that have nothing to do with Him, knowing that such a person is self condemned" (Titus 3:10) . In this command, no provision for dialogue is established. Instead of dialogue, a rebuke is ordered, and after that"have nothing to do with him, knowing that such a person is self condemned". Admonish him who is in heresy, then if he does not respond and return to truth , have nothing to do with him for, or you will get infected from him, and his heresy condemns him before God.
