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Which sources hold doctrinal authority in Eastern Orthodoxy?
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Eastern Orthodoxy
Jesus Christ, detail of the Deesis mosaic, from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, 12th century.
In Eastern Orthodoxy, doctrinal authority is understood as a living experience within the communion of the church rather than a reliance on external criteria of truth. The primary sources of this authority include:1
- Scriptures: The foundational texts of the faith.2
- Ancient Creeds: Essential statements of belief that summarize the apostolic faith.2
- Ecumenical Councils: Specifically the decrees of the first seven ecumenical councils, which the church recognizes as authoritative expressions of the original faith.12
- Church Tradition: This encompasses the works of the Church Fathers—the early theological authorities—as well as the uninterrupted life of the liturgy, the lives of the saints, and the collective faith of the people of God.12
While various "confessions" were produced in the 17th century, they are generally viewed as having only historical importance today. Ultimately, the Orthodox perspective holds that truth is a living reality made accessible through the sacramental fellowship of the church, and legitimate definitions of faith aim to exclude error rather than exhaustively define the truth itself.1