Sins in Orthodoxy

The Orthodox Church holds to the general Christian doctrine that there are a number of acts that are sinful and unworthy of a Christian. The classification of acts on this basis is founded on biblical texts and the Church's interpretation. If a believer sincerely repents of a sin committed, then after confession the sin is considered absolved, that is, forgiven.

The nature of sin

In Orthodoxy, sin is an unnatural state of man:

• «Sin is a voluntary departure from that which is in accordance with nature into that which is unnatural (contrary to nature)» (John of Damascus).
• «Sin is a deviation from the purpose appointed to man by nature» (Theophylact of Bulgaria).

According to the theologian A. I. Osipov, sins are a consequence of the fall of man, but, unlike original sinfulness, man bears direct responsibility for them, since he must struggle against them and overcome them. This view is connected with the biblical assertion that there is no man «that liveth and sinneth not, and that no one is clean of defilement, even if he should live but one day upon the earth» (Job 14:4-5). Also, on the basis of the Gospel, the Church holds that it is impossible for man to overcome sinful passions by himself, without God's help: «for without Me ye can do nothing» (John 15:5).

According to John Chrysostom:

The venerable Pimen the Great also writes of the need for man's constant struggle with his own sins: «When a pot is heated from below by fire, neither a fly nor any other insect can touch it; but when it cools, they settle upon it; the same happens with man: as long as he remains in spiritual sobriety, as long as he watches over his heart, the unseen enemy cannot strike him».

List of sins[

In the Orthodox Church there is no universally recognized complete list («canon») of sins, just as there is no strict classification of them. For example, pride is a sin against God, against one's neighbor, and even (ultimately) against oneself. Moreover, pride is present in many other sins, or rather, in all of them, just as pride includes vanity, self-conceit, and many other sins, passions, and vices: «For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all» (James 2:10).

In Orthodoxy, pride is considered the foremost sin against God.

Protodeacon A. V. Kuraev notes that

The most terrible sin, of course, is considered to be suicide. Because it is already irreparable. It is the only sin for which repentance, and consequently forgiveness from God and the salvation of the soul, is impossible. Having divorced, spouses can reunite; what has been stolen can be returned; but suicide can no longer be undone. There is no clear gradation of the remaining sins in Orthodoxy.

See also

• Cardinal sins
• Sins in Catholicism
• The Sacrament of Confession
• Mortal sin
• Penance
• The Ten Commandments
• The Gospel Beatitudes
• Church commandments