Is it possible to remove it?
Despite the fact that anathema, unlike penance, is not temporary, but permanent, it can be canceled. To do this, a person anathematized must bring public repentance and sincerely repent of his sins. According to Christian doctrine, no one can be deprived of the right to salvation, because this contradicts the basic law of Christianity - love for your neighbor.
Only the Supreme Judge can exercise final judgment over people. However, the Catholic and Orthodox churches have different views on this issue. If in the East the anathema is subject to cancellation, then in the West this act is final and irrevocable.
Is it possible to remove the anathema?
Great excommunication is considered the final, most terrible punishment of a person who has committed such a sin that only the Lord by His grace can forgive. And yet, there have been cases in history when the anathema was lifted.
According to the same Orthodox Encyclopedia, this is possible if the sinner repented, renounced his errors or heresy and wished to return to the bosom of the Church. An interesting incident illustrating this rule occurred in 1964 in Jerusalem.
Then Pope Paul VI and the Bishop of Constantinople Athenagoras lifted each other's anathemas, which they had imposed several years earlier. This “amicable” outcome of irreconcilable hostility is explained simply: the priests met and, after long discussions, reached a political agreement.
A completely curious incident happened to Prince Dmitry Donskoy. In the 14th century, Metropolitan Cyprian of Kyiv subjected him to great excommunication for anti-church activities. In the 20th century, without any lifting of the anathema, Donskoy was canonized at the Council of 1988.
Return to Church and Bible Teaching
I was once a Christian, what do you think about the topic of returning to the church or restoration? I'm interested in learning about your understanding of various passages in the Bible. Does Luke 15 (Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son) apply here?
I stopped going to church mainly due to a serious lack of change and repentance in my life. However, I always felt the desire to return to church. Also, how does baptism relate to returning to church? If a Christian returns to church, will his previous baptism be “valid”?
Answer:
First, we must define our terms. Although in some religious groups "restoration" has become a code word for the return of a former member to a church or community, this is not the meaning used in the Bible. Restoration is for brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin (Galatians 6). In fact, we all need restoration from time to time (Psalm 23).
