Economy and Strictness

Economy, from the Greek οἰκονομία (oikonomia) for "household management," the "law of the house," or "house building," and refers primarily to two related concepts in the Orthodox Church—the divine plan for salvation and the specific episcopal application of the canons in the life of the Church. The latter usage is a derivation of the former.

Economy is one of two ways of applying the canons of the Church, the other being strictness, from the Greek ακριβεια (akriveia), meaning strict adherence, precision, or exactness). Whereas the application of economy is generally regarded as being a more flexible application or interpretation of the canons, strictness is regarded as being a more precise and strict one. Pastoral discretion is of key importance in either application.

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Further Reading

• Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia. “ ‘Economy’ according to Orthodox Theology: Its Application to Non-Orthodox Sacraments,” Chrysostom, 5 (1961), 6-8.

External links

• The Ecclesiastical Principle of oikonomia and the ROCOR under Metropolitan Anastassy, by Nun Vassa (Larin) (includes a thorough primer in the introduction on the nature of oikonomia)

• Myriobiblos Library. Baptism and "Sacramental Economy": An Agreed Statement of The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation. St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary, Crestwood, New York, June 3, 1999.

• Strictness and Economy: Resolution of the ROCA Synod of Bishops on the Reception of Converts by Protopresbyter George Grabbe.

• The Basis on Which Economy May Be Used in the Reception of Converts by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky).