What is the Orthodox Church’s view of Roman Catholic ‘sacraments’?
Orthodox Sacraments: Heterodox Sacramental Forms In the simplest terms, the (Orthodox) Church believes that there are no sacraments outside the Church. Thus, according to strictness or the strict view (in Greek ‘akrivia’), any Roman Catholic or Protestant who wishes to join the (Orthodox) Church must be received by baptism, for they are considered not to have been baptised. This is the practice on Mt Athos, in Greece, on Cyprus and in other parts of the Orthodox world, especially in Serbia. This is not ‘rebaptism’, which is specifically rejected in the Nicene Creed. ‘Rebaptism’ could only take place when (Orthodox) Church baptism had already occurred, which is utterly contrary to our Faith. However, there also exists a less literal or fundamentalistic approach, which uses a certain discernment. This practice uses mercy, pastoral dispensation (in Greek ‘ikonomia’ or ‘economy’). This says that a Roman Catholic (or a Protestant) should not be treated as one who has never known Christ as t
