Does the Orthodox Church have a form for exorcism?

[MrPolo]

Does the Orthodox Church have a form for exorcism?

 

[Christos Anesti]

Exorcism​

Rev. George Mastrantonis

"To banish the demons who tempt people, the Church instituted and uses a special service called exorcism. The verb exorcism comes from the Greek word, exorkizein; ex means "out," and horkizein means "to bind by an oath" from horkos, "oath"; to expel or drive off (an evil spirit) by adjuration, especially by use of a holy name; to deliver (a person, place, etc.) from evil spirits. Consequently exorcism means an act or process of exorcising; conjuration of evil spirits. In the third century, the Church instituted the office of exorcist to officiate the service of exorcism for catechumens before their baptism. Prior to the third century, the deacon officiated at this service, but because "Seven deacons, according to the Acts of the Apostles, should be appointed for each great city" (Canon 15, Synod of Neocaesaria), there were not enough deacons to serve all the needs of the Church. Therefore, the office of exorcist, along with many other offices (sub-deacon, reader, cantor, doorkeeper), was instituted to serve this need. The office of the exorcist is ranked higher than the reader; those who hold these offices are considered members of the clergy appointed by the bishop (cf. Canon 26, Synod of Laodicea; Canon 10, Synod of Antioch). The exorcist was considered by the Church to have the gift of curing, and was required to read prayers of exorcism in a clear and understandable voice, which was a criterion for his appointment to this office. The duty of the exorcist was to prepare the catechumen (candidate for baptism) through religious instructions to strengthen him spiritually to renounce Satan. The service of exorcism now is officiated by the priest in the service for the catechumens, which immediately precedes the Sacrament of Baptism.
The development of exorcism was a gradual process.

"Justin the Martyr in his first Apology (ch. 61) and other more ancient sources, such as the Teachings of the Apostles and the Acts of the Apostles, do not mention the renouncement of Satan, exorcism and the blessing of the waters in the service of baptism. Originally they were understood as part of the confession of faith of the candidate when the procedure for catechumens was developed, the text of the service of the catechism being added as elements of expression. Expressions in the text of the catechism relate to the renouncement of Satan. Fastings, beseechings, prayer and genuflections also relate to the meaning of exorcism." (Clement of Alexandria, Theodotos 84, P.G Migne 9, 697).
​

At the same time, exorcism of water appeared (ib. 82) for the banishment of evil spirits from water. Exorcism of evil spirits from water later was carried over to the baptized person (Acts of Thomas, ch. 157, beginning of third century); exorcism of evil from water later was changed into a positive sign by blessing it instead, though its negative form was not entirely eliminated. The renouncement of Satan, the exorcism service and the blessing of the baptismal water are mentioned as occurring before the baptism ceremony for the first time in the third century", (Ecclesiastical History, by Stephanides, p.95). The exorcism prayers in baptism are the church's first steps for banishing evil spirits. Exorcism presupposes the teaching of the Church of the cleansing of original sin of Adam in baptism, in adults and infants as well."

See also:

Exorcism in the Orthodox Church​

Rev. George C. Papademetriou, Ph.D.

Exorcism Orthodoxwiki

 

[Christos Anesti]

The Church performs exorcisms on all people being accepted into the catachumenate. This is the formula used.

FIRST EXORCISM


Priest: Let us pray to the Lord
People: Lord, have mercy
Priest: The Lord rebukes you, O Devil, for he came into the world and dwelt among men in order to shatter your tyranny and free mankind; hanging on the Cross, he triumphed over all the hostile powers, when the sun was darkened and the earth was shaken, when the graves were opened and the bodies of the Saints rose; he destroyed death by death and conquered you, O Devil, who had the power of death. I adjure you in the name of God who revealed the tree of life and appointed the Cherubim and the fiery sword that turns each way to guard it. Be rebuked and depart; for I adjure you in the name of him who walked on the water as if it were dry land, and calmed the tempest whose look dries up the abyss and whose threatening makes the mountains melt away. It is this same Lord who now commands you, through us. Fear, come out and depart from this human being(these human beings), and never return, not hide in him(her/them), neither meet nor act upon him(her/them), not by night or by day, not at dawn or at noontime, but depart to your own darkness until the appointed day of judgment. Fear God who sits upon the Cherubim and looks down into the abyss; before whom tremble Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim; before whom tremble the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. Come out and depart from this soldier(these soldiers) or Christ our God, for he(she) has (they have) been marked with the sign of the Cross and newly enlisted. For it is in His name that I adjure you, the name of the Lord who walks upon the wings of the wind, who makes his Angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire. Come out and depart from this human being (these human beings), with all your power and your angels. For the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is glorified, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen



SECOND EXORCISM Priest: Let us pray to the Lord
People: Lord, have mercy
Priest: God the holy, the fearful, the glorious, incomprehensible and inscrutable in all his works and all his might, who ordained for you, O Devil, the punishment of eternal torment, through us his unworthy servants, orders you, and all the powers that work with you, to depart from him(her/them) who has(have) been newly sealed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our true God. Therefore, I adjure you, most wicked, impure, abominable, loathsome and alien spirit: Come out of the man and never again enter into him. Depart, admit the vanity of your power which could not even control the swine. Remember him who, at your own request, commanded you to enter into the herd of the swine. Fear God, by whose command the earth was made firm upon the waters; who made the heaven, who weighted the mountains in a balance and the valleys on a pair of scales (Is 40,12) who placed the sand as a boundary to the sea and a safe path in the raging waters; who makes the mountains smoke at his touch; who clothes himself with light as a garment; who covers over his lofty dwellings with waters; who laid the foundations of the earth so secure that it should never be shaken from them; who lifts up the water and the sea and returns it as rain upon the face of all the earth. Come out and depart from him (her/them) who is (are) now preparing for holy illumination. I adjure you by the saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and his sacred Body and Blood and his awesome return; for he shall come without delay to judge all the earth, and shall assign you, and all the powers working with you, to the fire of hell, having deliver you to the outer darkness, where the worm constantly devours, and the fire is never extinguished. For the power belongs to Christ our God, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever unto the ages of ages Amen.



THIRD EXORCISM Priest: Let us pray to the Lord
People: Lord, mercy

Priest: O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who heal every illness every infirmity, look upon your servant(s) (N); seek out examine and expel from him (her/them) all the workings of the Devil. Rebuke the impure spirits and banish them, and cleanse the work(s) of your hands; by your swift action crush Satan under his (her/their) feet, and grant to him (her/them) victory over the Devil and his impure spirits; so that, having received your mercy, he (she/they) may become worthy of your immortal and heavenly mysteries and may give glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

 

[Tonks]

Absolutely. It is a common part of any Chrismation ceremony / entry into the Church / etc.

The EO and the RCC view evil etc somewhat differently...so I'm not sure that there is a very good analogue. I would guess that it is 1) much more frequent in the EO and 2) does not have the negative stigma / forensic definitions as it does within the RCC.

 

[MrPolo]

Absolutely. It is a common part of any Chrismation ceremony / entry into the Church / etc.

The EO and the RCC view evil etc somewhat differently...so I'm not sure that there is a very good analogue. I would guess that it is 1) much more frequent in the EO and 2) does not have the negative stigma / forensic definitions as it does within the RCC.

What do you mean view evil differently? And what "negative stigma" does the EO not have?

 

[Sphinx777]

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Exorcism Of Emily Rose - Six Names Of Demons
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[MrPolo]

Exorcism Of Emily Rose - Six Names Of Demons[/URL]
[/CENTER]

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That scene was quite creepy when I first saw the movie back when.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Forgive me...

 

[SeraphimSarov]

And what "negative stigma" does the EO not have?

Probably meaning there aren't too many creepy popular films floating around out there featuring Orthodox exorcisms.

It's really nothing uncommon in Orthodox piety; as an example, many, many people say an exorcism over their beds before retiring for the night (the following is said after making the sign of the Cross over the bed, using a Cross): "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; and as wax melts from the presence of fire, so let the demons perish from the presence of those who love God and who sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and say in gladness: Hail, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for Thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on thee, Who went down to hell and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us thee, His venerable Cross, for driving away all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me with our holy Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, and with all the Saints throughout the ages. Amen." (Source: Myriobiblos -Orthodox Prayer Book)

 

[ProScribe]

Does the Orthodox Church have a form for exorcism?

Yes we do. Your exorcism is your baptism.

 

[ProtectionofMotherofGod]

A Saint for our Times by Sotos Hondropoulos is an excellent book about St. Nektarios. It has a chapter about a girl in Greece who is possessed by a demon because her father cursed her. A priest was called to her house to do an exorcism but each time he went to perform the exorcism, the demon exclaimed his unrepented sins. The demon said that the only one who could exorcise him was the “one with the nails”. The demon was referring to, the intact body of Saint Nektarios whose nails were still growing. The girl was taken to the tomb of the Saint and was finally exorcised.

My priest explained that when an exorcism is needed, the afflicted is taken to a monastery where continuous praying and exorcism services will occur. When buildings are thought to be “affected” by demonic activity, priests will consecrate them with oil and also bless the building with Holy Water.

 

[MrPolo]

A Saint for our Times by Sotos Hondropoulos is an excellent book about St. Nektarios. It has a chapter about a girl in Greece who is possessed by a demon because her father cursed her. A priest was called to her house to do an exorcism but each time he went to perform the exorcism, the demon exclaimed his unrepented sins. The demon said that the only one who could exorcise him was the “one with the nails”. The demon was referring to, the intact body of Saint Nektarios whose nails were still growing. The girl was taken to the tomb of the Saint and was finally exorcised.

My priest explained that when an exorcism is needed, the afflicted is taken to a monastery where continuous praying and exorcism services will occur. When buildings are thought to be “affected” by demonic activity, priests will consecrate them with oil and also bless the building with Holy Water.

Interesting story! I know the term for buildings possessed by the label: "infestation." Although I wouldn't call the Orkin guy.

 

[RobNJ]

Sometimes I think it needs a rite of exorcism for neenernet message boards

 

[Chesterton]

Does the Orthodox Church have a form for exorcism?

Hmm, what "possessed" you to ask such a question?

 

[RobNJ]

Hmm, what "possessed" you to ask such a question?

 

[Blackknight]

Blue car syndrome strikes again. I was just talking about this with my ex the other day, she said she'd call our church if her Mom gets possessed.

 

[ikonographics]

My spiritual father is going to perform an exorcism today. Lord have mercy!

 

[Giantsbran1227]

The Ethiopian archdiocese uses exorcism most frequently, it is a BIG thing over there. I do not see exorcism's outside of baptism or chrismation in the Greek church. They are also not the slight bit dramatic, as they are in Ethiopia.

 

[MrPolo]

Hmm, what "possessed" you to ask such a question?

You know I don't remember specifically now. Sometimes I'll see something like a Catholic rite of exorcism and wonder: I wonder if the Orthodox do that?
More often than not I find the answer to be yes!

 

[MrPolo]

The Ethiopian archdiocese uses exorcism most frequently, it is a BIG thing over there. I do not see exorcism's outside of baptism or chrismation in the Greek church. They are also not the slight bit dramatic, as they are in Ethiopia.

What's the difference between a non-dramatic and dramatic exorcism?