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I have two coworkers who are from Ethiopia and belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. One just had a baby, and I just got an invitation to attend the baptism on December 31. I am hoping to attend if I can. But I am wondering, I know the Oriental Orthodox Churches are heretical as they reject the Council of Chalcedon, but I'm wondering, are their baptisms valid? Has there been a decree on this issue? They accept the Nicene Creed but reject Chalcedon and all later councils, and I wonder if they even use the correct formula.

I am confident (though not certain) that they use an acceptable formula.

I also think that the Catholic Church and the Coptics, at least, have agreed on a Christological statement satisfactory to both sides.

https://saintgeorgechurch.org.au/uncate ... relations/

I am not sure if a similar agreement has been reached with the Ethiopians, but given their close relationship with the Coptics, I would think that it probably could be.

It's also unclear to me how heretical beliefs have to be to render a baptism invalid. The acceptable range is pretty broad.

They accept the Nicene Creed which is usually considered the sine qua non of orthodoxy

Necessary but not sufficient; they also have to have an adequate Christology.

Well, I'm still going to attend, I'm interested in seeing how the Ethiopians do it

It wouldn't have occurred to me that I shouldn't attend even if it's not valid. Is that a thing? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but it would seem more like going to a justice of the peace "wedding" between two non-Christians than going to something like an attempted second marriage by Catholics. I'd do the former but not the latter.

I know the difference, but am not sure how to explain it sufficiently.

Catholics and EO are duophysite, meaning we believe in the two distinct natures of Christ (human & divine) in the one person of Jesus. Oriental Orthodoxy is miaphysite; Christ is fully human and divine, but in only one nature, not two natures that are in one person.

Hope I explained that clearly.

gherkin wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:08 pm It wouldn't have occurred to me that I shouldn't attend even if it's not valid. Is that a thing? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but it would seem more like going to a justice of the peace "wedding" between two non-Christians than going to something like an attempted second marriage by Catholics. I'd do the former but not the latter.

No, I was always planning on attending, I was just curious if it is valid. I still don't know by the way.

You can always conditionally baptize the baby when nobody's looking.

It's m y understanding that the Catholic Church accepts the validity of Orthodox orders, and therefor accepts the validity of all Orthodox sacraments.

Vern Humphrey wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:46 pm It's m y understanding that the Catholic Church accepts the validity of Orthodox orders, and therefor accepts the validity of all Orthodox sacraments.

Not Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox. The Oriental Orthodox are heretics, they reject the council of Chalcedon and all subsequent councils.

anawim wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:11 pm I know the difference, but am not sure how to explain it sufficiently.

Catholics and EO are duophysite, meaning we believe in the two distinct natures of Christ (human & divine) in the one person of Jesus. Oriental Orthodoxy is miaphysite; Christ is fully human and divine, but in only one nature, not two natures that are in one person.

Hope I explained that clearly.

Yes, I know what their heresies are, that was never in question, the question is whether the heresy is sufficient to render the sacraments invalid.

Insofar as I understand it, OO baptisms are considered valid. There are OO Churches in Kerala, whom we consider to be Christian.

Also I watched a video of such Baptism on YouTube to be sure
https://youtu.be/BssOBlulFvE?si=j7L72PhvOGZWP46I
At around the 28th minute, he says "For life and pardon, in hope of eternal life, Geevargheese (name) receives [literally "immerses/sinks"] Baptism in the name of the father, son and [words unclear]"