'Canonicity'

[Paul Schmidt]

I have been asked to prepare a paper explaining the etymology, history and doctrinal implications of the term "canonicity" as used by the Church; and how the term may or may not have affected the Church in today's world. Perhaps someone can point me in the right direction as far as resources and/or ideas are concerned...help! Paul

[Paul Cowan]

Dear Paul,

I am not sure your professor knows what he is asking of you. As you yourself are discovering, this quesiton will take lifetimes to answer if only compileing the informaiton from all the Church fathers.

I cannot help you other than to advise you to scourage through the rest of this site. I am sure this is one of the reasons Matthew created this site for easier access to just such questions.

Good luck,

Paul

[Herman Blaydoe]

Some thoughts that might provoke some avenues of research:

Canon means guide or rule, a standard or criterion. One compendium of the Canons is called the Pedalion or "Rudder". The Canons are the rudder that keeps the Church "on course" as properly wielded by the appointed helmsmen, the Bishops.

[Paul Schmidt]

I believe what he would like me to research is how the term "canonicity" has gone from being a guideline to a form of acceptance i.e., "You're not canonical", within the greater Orthodox community.

[Herman Blaydoe]

That is a loaded question. The situation in the US, generally speaking can be called very "uncanonical" but it really depends on who you ask. A good case can be made that the OCA is the only "canonical" jurisdiction in the US, unless you ask the Ecumenical Patriarch, who has a very different opinion entirely.

Canonicity has been used by schismatics as justification for their actions. But they are usually "cherry-picking" which canons suit their purposes and just about everyone can be found to be violating one canon or another. I guess the best resource would be to get a copy of the Pedalion but even that advice has heavy caveats...

[Paul Schmidt]

I agree with you 100%...it is a loaded question. But simply put, "canonicity" means that which complies with the canons of the Church. The vast majority of the jurisdictions do. Yet some jurisdictions pick and choose who they consider canonical or not. For example, "You're not canonical, so we're not in communion with you."

So, short of an ecumenical council, who has the right to say who is or who is not canonical? And what's the criteria? The Pedalion is a guideline and not a juridical text. Who decides? Is it the major jurisdiction who simply by number and force of will decide?

All of the different jurisdictional splits only harm the Church and cause disention among its members. What I'm trying to research is how the situation here in America became fractured and how we might be able to unite the Church.

[Father David Moser]

A good case can be made that the OCA is the only "canonical" jurisdiction in the US,

Actually, when I was first learning about Orthodoxy I read Ware's The Orthodox Church (1972 edition) and was pretty much convinced by his history of the Church in North America in the 20th century that the Russian Church Outside Russia was the only "canonical" jurisdiction in the North America. And as Herman well knows I too was received in an OCA parish (he knows because we were received into Orthodoxy in the same parish). The parish later came under ROCOR for reasons not at all related to my above statement (long story - don't ask) which is part of how I ended up where I am now. I think that the depending on how you read the canons ROCOR, the MP and the GOA could all make a very good case for being "the only canonical jurisdiction". But then Orthodoxy is not about making "cases" - it's about life. And there is enough Orthodoxy to go round, not only in the three jurisdictions already mentioned, but in all the various jurisdictions. The chimera of "jurisdictional unity" is only a red herring when the real issue is that "Orthodox is Orthodox" and as long as we remember that, all will be well.

Fr David Moser

[Andrew]

I think that the depending on how you read the canons ROCOR, the MP and the GOA could all make a very good case for being "the only canonical jurisdiction". But then Orthodoxy is not about making "cases" - it's about life. And there is enough Orthodoxy to go round, not only in the three jurisdictions already mentioned, but in all the various jurisdictions. The chimera of "jurisdictional unity" is only a red herring when the real issue is that "Orthodox is Orthodox" and as long as we remember that, all will be well.

Fr David Moser

Amen. And in addition, instead of spending so much energy on jurisdictional issues, we should put our focus as the Church in this land on producing saints. Each parish should have the goal of producing at least one saint. It is highly unlikely that I will be, but maybe my paltry efforts combined with the great deeds of my parish may contribute to the sanctity of a holy man generations from now, and maybe because of his great love his prayers will benefit me. If we produce saints we will be greatly benefited in all ways pertaining to our Life in Christ.

And there are saints in America, by the grace of God.

[Herman Blaydoe]

So, short of an ecumenical council, who has the right to say who is or who is not canonical? And what's the criteria? The Pedalion is a guideline and not a juridical text. Who decides? Is it the major jurisdiction who simply by number and force of will decide?

The Captain tells the helmsman which way to go. The helmsman decides how much "pedalion" to use. It depends on the situation, the skill and judgement of the helmsman for the conditions at the time. It is for the bishop to decide how to apply the canons. Of course, if his judgement is seriously incorrect, his reason-endowed sheep, seeing the rocks coming dangerously closer, may well express their concern in various ways.

The Captain, which for my illustrative and allegorical purposes, is the Holy Spirit, directs the ship of the Church through Holy Tradition which includes but is not totally incompassed by, the Canons of the Church. The Bishops are the helmsmen who apply the Canons as they deem appropriate.

I'm sorry, but as the previous posters have shown, there really are no "hard and fast" rules. Attempts to create them is part of why we are in this "canonical" mess to start with! I have to suspect that it is the inappropriate and inconsistent application of canons that causes these separations.

Canons are important. Rudders are important. Without them there is no way to "guide" or steer. But in an unskilled hand or under poor judgement, can cause more harm than good. I am a sailor, I used to teach sailing. But I cannot tell a student how much rudder to use in every situation. I can only provide "guidelines" for different conditions and tbhat student has to decide what is right. Sometimes they choose wrong, things get scary for a time but hopefully they learn from the experience and do better next time. It is also important for the rest of the crew to let the helmsman do his job. If the helmsman is not doing a good job, the canons provide the proper way to either make the helmsman better or to get a better helmsman. To step outside the guide is to introduce chaos, disorder, and a wrecked ship!

Hopefully there is something useful in all this rambling, otherwise, my apologies.

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[Nina]

Each parish should have the goal of producing at least one saint.

This is the most innocent and beautiful thing I ever read on monachos. :)