Are all intentional sins in Eastern Orthodox considered 'mortal'?

[BenSinner]

Since the Eastern Orthodox Church doesn’t believe in the difference between venial and mortal sin, and that sin is sin…does that mean ANY sin, committed intentionally will land one in hell if left unrepented?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Not necessarily. Nor is this something believed by Roman Catholicism. An sin committed intentionally according to the Roman understanding isn’t necessarily a mortal sin. In the Eastern mindset I would say that a sin committed unintentionally and left unrepented doesn’t necessarily cut you off from communion with God, but it does demonstrate a strong attachment to sin - a deeper sickness if you will - that could be a step down the road towards complete separation.

 

[Mary888]

No. The terms “venial” and “mortal” are not used but there is a degree between sins, very similar in meaning of gravity to the Catholic mortal sins. The equivalent of “mortal” is in my prayer book named “screaming at the sky” (I don’t know how to translate it). They are:

• murder and abortion;
• sexual acts against nature;
• oppressing the defenseless;
• social unjustice;
• disobeying and torturing one’s own parents:
  There are also other sins that are called blasphemies against the Holy Spirit that endanger salvation because they are not forgiven:
• too much trust in God’s forgiveness;
• desperation as to one’s own salvation;
• a clear denial of truth and denying the orthodox faith;
• envying the spiritual gifts of your brother;
• being in a state of sin and at the same time willfully resisting into evilness;
• indifference towards contrition until the end of one’s life.

 

[Spyridon]

screaming at the sky” (I

We call them “sins that cry out to heaven [for vengeance].”

 

[Genesis315]

When did the EO Churches stop believing in the difference between venial and mortal sins?

In the Catechism prescribed by the Council of Jassy in 1643, it states:

What is voluntary mortal Sin ?

Answer.

Voluntary mortal Sin is that which, after having received
Baptism, and being arrived in Years of Discretion, laying
aside the Love of God and of our Neighbour, and of our
own free Will we commit against the manifest Command of
God. By which Sin we are deprived of the divine Grace
that we received in holy Baptism, and of the Kingdom of
Heaven, and become Captives to eternal Death : As saith
the Apostle {Bom. vi. 16), Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves Servants to obey., his Servants ye are to whom ye obey ;
whether of Sin unto Death, or of Obedience unto Righteousness ?
This Sin is taken away by Repentance and the Mercy of
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, when his Priest absolveth
the Penitent at Confession from his Sins.

And then

What is venial Sin or Sin not mortal ?

Answer.

Sin not mortal, or, as it is called by some, venial Sin, is
that which no Man that is born, except Christ and the Virgin
Mary, can be without. However, this Degree of Sin doth
not deprive us of the Grace of God, nor devote us unto
eternal Death. Of this Kind of Sin the Scripture thus
teacheth us (John i. 8), If we say that we have no Sin we
deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. Not any particular
Sin, indeed, can be described by this Name, but, in general,
whatever are not reckoned in the Number of mortal Sins
may be referred to this Class of venial Sins. Nevertheless
these Sins are not to be disregarded and suffered to pass
unamended ; but we ought daily, in our Beds, and in the
Night Season, to call them to Mind, and bewail and lament
before God for them, as well as for our other Offences :
According to the holy Psalmist (Psal. iv. 5), Stanid in
Awe, and sin not ; commune with your own Heart in your
Chamber, and be still. And again (Psal. vi. 6), / am weary
of my groaning ; every Night wash my Bed and water my
Couch with my Tears. For these, therefore, is Pardon also
to be sought, through the Intercession of the holy God-
bearing Virgin and the Choir of the Saints ; for how hateful
even these smaller Offences are in the Sight of God is
manifest from Scripture (Prov. xv. 26), Wicked Thoughts are
an Abomination to the Lord. And without they be cleansed
away by sincere Repentance, they open the Way to mortal
Sins, chill and weaken the Piety of Man, and render him
slothful and negligent of the Commands of God.

(The approval of this Catechism by the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, states: "this book is in perfect accordance with the dogmas of the Church of Christ and with the sacred Canons; that it contains nothing contrary to the Church: and we declare, assembled in Synod, that every pious and orthodox Christian, who is a member of the Apostolic Church of the East, ought to read this book, and not to reject it.).

 

[BenSinner]

Are there 'degree’s within some of the sins listed on the list?

For example

disobeying and torturing one’s own parents:

Would not putting a dirty plate in the dishwater after your mom tells you to be a damnable sin?, or is the context meant for more serious matters ?

Also:

being in a state of sin and at the same time willfully resisting into evilness

Is this saying if one is in a state of serious sin and refuses to repent, or just they have any sin (whether small or big) that they refuse to repent of?

 

[Mary888]

First one I do not know. I EO specific cases resolved between one’s pastor and the layman are kind of like the rule. Since it mentions torture I feel it is abused serious cases of abuse and disrespect. I once confessed in high school disobeying parents and the old priest with very piercing eyes asked me if I fasted for at least 7 days. And I said yes. And he asked me if I ate anything that morning and I said no I haven’t eaten or drank anything. And he said go to line to receive communion. I was bulversed at that time and then I looked at the priest and he was so so old but staring at me with grey blue eyes and there was so much warmth. I will never forget it. Thing is my parents never were with faith and they thought I was with friends that morning not at church. So it was… I disobeyed them …to be with God. He saw it right through.
There is no screen when we confess in the EO.
Second case - to me not a scholar is pretty obvious that it refers to the refusal of repenting.Whether the sin is great or small. It makes sense to me. Someone may steal because they needed it, but they broke God’s law. Why would they not, in their heart, feel sorry for breaking his law? To not repent means a state of conflict with God. Christ was never in a state of conflict with Him not even when he was tempted to disagree. If Christ did not do it who are we to do it? It is about contrition in one’s heart not necessarily going to authority and expect worldly justice. Only a heart filled with pride and self glory would not repent in front of God. Again it is case sensitive I think only priests know when it applies. Is not a rule anyone can just apply to themselves to self judge. That is my opinion. I am not a scholar by far.