Orthodoxy and Christianity stand on the solid rock of the Gospel and the teaching of the Holy Fathers. From the beginning, the Church never accepted the idea that one man, even the Bishop of Rome, could be infallible.
The Orthodox Church teaches that only Christ is infallible, and the truth is preserved through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the whole Body of the Church.
This article will explore why the Orthodox Christian Faith rejects papal infallibility, grounding everything in Scripture, the Holy Fathers, and the lived tradition of the Church.
The Meaning Of Infallibility
Infallibility means that someone cannot make a mistake when teaching on matters of faith or morals.
The Roman Catholic Church officially declared papal infallibility at the First Vatican Council in 1870. According to this teaching, when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, he is preserved from error by the Holy Spirit.
Orthodoxy cannot accept this. Christianity, as preserved in the Apostolic Church, knows no such teaching.
The Church Fathers constantly warned against placing trust in a single person.
Saint Paul wrote:
“Let God be true, but every man a liar”
Romans 3:4
Only Christ is sinless. The Apostle Peter himself fell into error and was corrected by Paul, as Scripture says:
“I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed”
Galatians 2:11
If Peter could make a mistake, how can anyone claim that his successors in Rome are without error?
The Orthodox Understanding Of Authority
In Orthodoxy, the highest authority is not the word of a single bishop but the consensus of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul says that the Church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
This truth is not kept by one man, but by the Body of Christ.
The Apostles acted together in council, as seen in the Book of Acts. When the first great dispute arose about whether Gentile converts should keep the Law of Moses, the Apostles and elders met together in Jerusalem to decide (Acts 15:6).
They did not ask Peter alone. Instead, they prayed, discussed, and agreed in unity:
“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”
Acts 15:28
This is the Orthodox model of authority.
Historical Witness Against Papal Infallibility
The first centuries of Christianity show clearly that the Pope was never seen as infallible. Local councils, great Fathers, and even Popes themselves admitted the possibility of error.
In the eighth century, the Pope himself condemned the addition of the Filioque to the Creed as an error. He recognized that to alter the Creed was a heresy. Yet later Popes reintroduced the Filioque and forced it upon the Roman Church.
How can one be infallible while contradicting his own predecessors?
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Saint Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, defended the faith against papal innovations and called the Filioque a blasphemy. He emphasized that the Holy Spirit proceeds “from the Father” (John 15:26), not “from the Father and the Son.” This error shows again the danger of trusting in one man rather than the universal Church.
The Witness Of The Holy Fathers
The Fathers of the Orthodox Church repeatedly stress that no bishop alone has the final word.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage wrote: “None of us sets himself up as bishop of bishops, or by tyrannical terror compels his colleagues to the necessity of obedience.”
Saint Gregory the Theologian declared: “Faith is not mine, not yours, but ours.”
Faith is a treasure kept in common by the whole Church.
Saint Maximos the Confessor defended the true faith against heretical Patriarchs and even against pressure from Rome itself, proving that no single see guarantees the truth.
Scriptural Proof Against Papal Infallibility
The Bible shows that all men are subject to error and need correction.
- Psalm 116:11 (LXX): “Every man is a liar.”
- Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- Proverbs 11:14: “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
- Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”
These passages remind us that Orthodoxy finds safety in the conciliar life of the Church, not in the claims of one man.
Why Orthodoxy Stands Firm
The Orthodox Church has kept the Apostolic Faith unchanged for two thousand years, often at great cost. The martyrs shed their blood to preserve the truth.
The Ecumenical Councils defined the faith not by one man’s voice but by the agreement of the entire Church under the Holy Spirit. This is why Orthodoxy does not need papal infallibility.
Christ Himself promised:
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the age”
Matthew 28:20
His presence is the guarantee of the Church’s truth.
Differences Between The Modern World And Orthodox Christianity On This Issue
- The modern world trusts individual leaders or experts. Orthodoxy trusts the Holy Spirit in the whole Church.
- The world sees authority as power. Orthodoxy sees authority as service and humility.
- The world accepts change and innovation as progress. Orthodoxy preserves the unchanging Apostolic Faith.
- The world values personal opinion above tradition. Orthodoxy treasures the Holy Tradition received from the Fathers.
- The world often believes truth can be decided by majority vote. Orthodoxy believes truth is revealed by God.
- The world elevates institutions and politics. Orthodoxy elevates holiness and the life in Christ.
- The world admires charisma and influence. Orthodoxy honors humility and repentance.
- The world is comfortable with contradictions. Orthodoxy seeks harmony in truth.
- The world prefers quick solutions. Orthodoxy calls for patience, prayer, and council.
- The world thinks infallibility belongs to men. Orthodoxy confesses infallibility belongs to Christ alone.
The Hope For Christian Unity
Orthodoxy does not reject love toward Roman Catholics or anyone else. But true Christian unity can never be based on falsehood. It must be based on the truth of the Gospel.
The Orthodox Church prays for all, calling everyone back to the fullness of the faith.
Unity is not achieved through compromise of truth but through repentance and return to the Apostolic Tradition.
A Word For Orthodox Parents Explaining To Their Children
Children can be told very simply: In our Church, we believe that only Jesus is perfect and never makes mistakes. The Pope is a bishop, but he is still a man, and all men can make mistakes.
This is why in Orthodoxy we do not follow one man, but we follow Jesus Christ together in the Church.
We listen to the Bible, we pray, and we follow the teaching of the saints. That way, we are always close to the truth.
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