Cheerem – anathema (A curse)

All that the Old Testament called cheerem – accursed – had to be destroyed, for it was an abomination to the Lord and could infect all the people (Deut 7:26). This is analogous to a dangerous epidemic which causes death. Such spiritual epidemic is the heresies, the result of which is the loss of faith and eternal death.

An Israelite considered a curse to be a kind of consuming poison which causes decay of soul and deprives of strength. A curse devours the land and smites its inhabitants with disease, drought, barrenness, natural disasters and evils of all kinds. Everything that the accursed man touches is doomed to destruction. (see Deut 28:16-68). The immediate cause of a curse is godlessness and idolatry. The man stricken with a curse became a danger to his surroundings; even his corpse (Deut 21:23) and his possessions (Jos 7:24) had to be removed.

In the war, cheerem meant total destruction of everyone and everything by fire and sword (Deut 7:1-5). To take possession of whatever out of the things that were cursed would bring down a curse upon all the people of Israel (Deut 7:26). For that reason both Jabesh-Gilead (Jdg 21:10f) and Jericho (Jos 6:26) were destroyed.

In the life of law and religious life of the Israelites, cheerem was a punishment for apostasy from the Lord (Lev 20:2-6). In Deut 13:13-18, this punishment extends to settlements and cities which were guilty of idolatry.

In the time of Jesus, a curse (cheerem) meant to be cut off from the congregation of Israel. It was accompanied by curses (Deut 28:16-46). An accursed man was deprived of all religious and social rights (cf. 1Cor 5:11; 2Jn 10f).

This all will help us to understand better some places in the New Testament speaking about a curse. The Greek anathema – let one be accursed – corresponds to the Old-Testament cheerem, i.e. subjected to God’s judgement.

In 1Cor 16:22 and Gal 1:8-9, God through the Apostle utters a curse against those who proclaim a different gospel and do not love the Lord Jesus.

In the Epistle to the Romans 9:3, Saint Paul himself wishes to be accursed for the sake of his brothers that they may be saved.

In 1Cor 12:3, the term anathema = be accursed – relates to the one who does not have the Spirit of Christ. In no case does it concern the one who has God’s Spirit.

The hierarchy in the time of Christ, which acted in God’s authority, fell under God’s curse: cheerem –anathema. They excluded themselves from God’s kingdom and serve as an example of obstinacy for all generations.

Even today God’s Word declares an anathema on apostates who received the spirit of heresy and thus proclaim a different gospel. The Apostle emphasizes: let him be accursed (anathema)!

Gal 1:7-9: “Not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema esto).”

This curse fell upon every bishop who received a different gospel (through HCT - apostasy) and another spirit (the spirit of antichrist). To him refers the warning given by the Apostle John: “Do not give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” (2Jn 10-11)

Promulgation of an anathema – cheerem

On 24th May 2010, an anathema (cheerem) was promulgated on 2271 bishops and some time earlier on 1612 bishops, i.e. 3883 active bishops altogether. All cardinals fell under an anathema on 15th September 2009. Besides, an anathema fell upon 989 bishops emeriti who had also been appealed to confess the faith and denied it (some of the bishops emeriti were not appealed by reason of ill health, dementia etc.).

God has already executed His judgement upon the apostatical hierarchy through the orthodox Catholic Bishops’ Synod of the UOGCC.

+ Eliáš OSBMr

+ Metod?j OSBMr

+ Markian OSBMr

+ Samuel OSBMr

Lvov, 24th May 2010

Address: Synod of the UOGCC, 3 Sosnova St., Lvov - Bryukhovychi, 79491, Ukraine

www.uogcc.org.ua, www.community.org.ua; pidhirci.community@gmail.com