Economia

In the Eastern Orthodox Church there exists a text called the Pedalion or Rudder. It is a collection of guiding canons composed by the Apostles, the Fathers, the local or regional and general or ecumenical Councils, and used by the hierarchs to govern the church. This text has always been understood to be a “Guide” and not a “Rule Book”. The Orthodox clergy have the ability to relax the strictness of the guide in special cases. This ability is called Economia. Economia means leniently. Akreveia means strictly. Since the Orthodox Church structure is based on the concept of spiritual guidance, it has always been understood that every situation is different and nothing can be treated in a legal way or automatically (latae sententiae). According to the canon law of the Orthodox Church economia is “the suspension of the absolute and strict applications of canon and church regulations in the governing and the life of the Church, without subsequently compromising the dogmatic limitations. The application of economia only takes place through the official church authorities and is only applicable for a particular case. Because of this concept, In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Love, Mercy,and Compassion remain more in control than absolute law.