And Let My Cry Come To You: Exorcism in the Orthodox Christian Church Open Access
Chetsas, Alexander (Spring 2024)
Abstract
The Orthodox Christian Church recognizes several exorcism prayers for the deliverance of the faithful from demonic attack, including the rare phenomenon of possession. They are found within the Church’s Great Book of Needs, and these prayers are different than the exorcisms of baptism and other commonly celebrated services. There are three exorcisms attributed to Basil the Great and four to John Chrysostom; few rubrics accompany the liturgical texts, and the Orthodox Church offers clergy little official guidance in their use. These exorcisms are now rarely read within the daily life of the Orthodox Church. In addition to the guidance problem, there are concerns surrounding the intersection of medical, psychological, and spiritual issues with parishioners. Further complications in using these prayers include general cultural fascination with the topic of exorcism, the influence of Orthodox folk practices, and wide interest in unconventional spiritual practices, such as Wicca. The question of clergy fitness is also a consideration: while every Orthodox priest is technically an exorcist, perhaps not every Orthodox priest should take on this role. Despite these concerns and barriers, the prayers of exorcism exist within the Great Book of Needs for the sanctification and healing of the faithful. The Orthodox Church maintains their relevance, and these prayers connect the faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church can take action to address the issues surrounding exorcism, enabling the safe, efficacious use of these prayers within the parish setting. A primary aspect of this effort is the need for hierarchical direction: clergy need to understand paradigms for seeking permission for exorcisms. Clergy also need specific guidance on how to proceed once permission is given; mentoring relationships among clergy could be helpful, including field training. Further, a system of evaluation needs to be established by hierarchs, considering medical, psychological, and spiritual concerns. An investigative checklist would help ensure clergy are taking every factor into account before pursuing exorcism. Finally, the reintroduction of the ancient office of exorcist could be of help in addressing clergy fitness.
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