The common Orthodox canonical tradition essentially represents the church law of the Byzantine Empire. This becomes evident when comparing the pre-Constantinian and post-Constantinian canonical orders. Before Emperor Constantine, the canonical order was primarily based on biblical exegesis, charismatic decision-making, customs, the advice of prominent bishops, advisory opinions of local synods, and pseudepigraphic church orders attributed[…..]
David Heith-Stade
Postdoctoral fellow in Eastern Christian studies and Orthodox theology at the University of Vienna and the treasurer of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches.
