Folia Theologica et Canonica 10. 32/24 (2021)

Ius canonicum

FOLIA THEOLOGICA ET CANONICA (2021) 147-154

Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem.

SUBTLE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ‘ANATHEMA’ AND ‘EXCOMMUNICATION’

Development of Disciplinary Meaning up to the 9th century*

Introduction; I. The Hellenistic Meaning of ‘Anathema’; II. The Old Testament Meaning of ‘Anathema’; III. ‘Anathema’ in the New Testament; IV. Interpretation of ‘anathema’ and ‘excommunication’ within the Early Church; Conclusion

Keywords: anathema, herém, excommunication, Early Church, Decretum Gratiani, Liber Extra

Introduction

The ‘anathema - according to Joseph N. Gignac’s description expresses something or someone that one vehemently disliked; or according to a specific ecclesiastical meaning: a formal curse by the pope or some type of councils, excommunicating a person or denouncing a particular doctrine.1 The meaning ‘curse’ does not seem a proper expression if we analyze precisely the patristic disciplinary and doctrinal sources as compared with the Hellenistic term. The Cambridge Dictionary describes it as: “something that is strongly dislike or disapproved.”2 The 'anathema' according to its etymology, signifies a concrete thing offered or consecrated to God3, in short: “anything devoted”4.

In the light of these two major definitions, it is important to underline that ‘anathema’ is a Greek term which has been closely related to divinity since the Hellenistic period. It includes the act of offering to gods or holy places. The donations and actions thus offered are separated from those objects and actions which were used for secular purposes because of their sacredness. It can be seen that the original term of ‘anathema' has been extended to include

* This paper was written at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Ciendas Juridicas Básicas (Las Palmas), in the International Canon Law History Research Center (Budapest), and in the Wilmington Community of St. Michael ’s Abbey of the Norbertine Fathers (Los Angeles, CA). It was presented at the 32"d International Biblical Conference (Szeged, August 24"’ 2021).

1 Gignac, J. M., Anathema, in Herbermann, Ch. G. et alii (ed.), Catholic Encyclopedia, I. New York 1903.2 455-457, especially 455.

2 https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/anathema(consulted:December8ll,2021

).

3 Vacant, A., Anathéme, in Vacant, A. - Mangenot, A. (ed.), Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique, I. Paris 1923. 1168-1171, especially 1168.

4 Davis, J. D., A Dictionary of the Bible, Philadelphia, PA. 1934. 36.