Interpersonal Forgiveness from an Eastern Orthodox Perspective

Abstract

In the last 15 years, Christian and secular psychologists in the western tradition have written much about interpersonal forgiveness and reconciliation. The eastern Christian tradition (i.e., the Orthodox Church) has not had much of a voice in this discussion. In order to promote dialogue and assist clinicians in their ministry to Orthodox Christians, this article proposes some basic elements of an Orthodox view of interpersonal forgiveness and reconciliation, links those elements with eastern theology and anthropology, and compares them with concepts from western Christian and secular psychology.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Al-Mabuk

R. H.

, Enright

R. D.

, & Cardis

P. A.

(1995). Forgiveness education with parentally love-deprived late adolescents. Journal of Moral Education, 24, 427–444.

Alekseev

(1996). Pis'ma Valaamskogo startsa skhiigumena Ioanna [The letters of the Valaam elder schemaigumen Ioann]. Moscow: Sisterhood of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elisabeth.

Aleksiev

(1994). Strife and reconciliation (R. Doynova, Trans.). Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.

Archimandrite Sophrony. (1974). Wisdom from Mount Athos: The writings of Staretz Silouan 1866–1938 (R. Edmonds, Trans.). Crestwood, NY: St. Vladmir's Seminary Press.

Bass

, & Davis

(1994). The courage to heal: A guide for women survivors of child sexual abuse (3rd ed.). NY: Harper-Collins.

Bassett

R. L.

, & Hill

P. C.

(1998). The ACE model of emotion: Living Jesus Christ while experiencing emotion. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 232–246.

Bassett

R. L.

, Hill

P. C.

, Hart

, Mathewson

, & Perry

(1993). Helping Christians reclaim some abandoned emotions: The ACE model of emotion. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 21, 165–173.

Benigsen

(1997). Ne khlebom edinym [Not by bread alone]. Klin, Russia: St. Tikhon's Brotherhood Press.

Boyd

J. H.

(1998a). A history of the concept of the soul during the 20th century. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 66–82.

10.

Boyd

J. H.

(1998b). Two orientations of the self. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 110–122.

11.

Brandsma

J. M.

(1982). Forgiveness: A dynamic, theological and therapeutic analysis. Pastoral Psychology, 31, 40–49.

12.

Casarjian

(1992). Forgiveness: A bold choice for a peaceful heart. NY: Bantam Books.

13.

Cassidy

, & Shaver

P. R.

(Eds.). (1999). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. NY: Guilford.

14.

Cerling

C. E.

(1974). Anger: Musings of a theologian/psychologist. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 2, 12–17.

15.

Clark

D. K.

(1985). Philosophical reflections on self-worth and self-love. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 13, 3–11.

16.

Cloud

, & Townsend

(1992). Boundaries: When to say yes, when to say no, to take control of your life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

17.

Collins

G. R.

(1988). Christian counseling: A comprehensive guide (Rev. ed.). Dallas, TX: Word.

18.

Cyril of Jerusalem. (1977). Lectures on the Christian sacraments. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

19.

Diadochos of Photiki. (1979). On spiritual knowledge and discrimination: One hundred texts. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1 (pp. 253–296). Boston: Faber and Faber.

20.

Dmitry of Rostov., (1987). No vy liubite vragov vashikh [But love your enemies]. Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii, 10, 47–48.

21.

Dmitry of Rostov. (1997). Uroki blagochestiia [Lessons in piety]. Moscow: Blagovest.

22.

Dorff

E.N.

(1992). Individual and communal forgiveness. In Frank

D.H.

(Ed.), Autonomy and Judiasm: The individual and the community in Jewish philosophical thought (pp. 193–214). NY: SUNY.

23.

Dorff

E. N.

(1998). The elements of forgiveness: A Jewish approach. In Worthington

E. L.

(Ed.), Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (pp. 29–55). Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation.

24.

Duvall

N. S.

(Ed.) (1998a). Perspectives on the self/soul [Special issue]. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, xx–xx.

25.

Duvall

N. S.

(1998b). From soul to self and back again. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 6–15.

26.

Enright

R. D.

, & the Human Development Study Group. (1991). The moral development of forgiveness. In Kurtines

W. M.

, & Gewirtz

J. L.

(Eds.), Handbook of moral behavior and development. Volume I: Theory (pp. 123–152). Hillsdale, NJ: LEA.

27.

Enright, R. D. & the Human Development Study Group. (1996). Counseling within the forgiveness triad: On forgiving, receiving forgiveness, and self-forgiveness. Counseling and Values, 40, 107–126.

28.

Erikson

E. H.

(1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. NY: Norton.

29.

Evagrios the Solitary., (1979). Texts on discrimination in respect of passions and thoughts. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1 (pp. 38–52). Boston: Faber and Faber.

30.

Fairweather

E. R.

(Ed.). (1970). A scholastic miscellany: Anselm to Ockham. NY: Macmillan.

31.

Forward

(1989). Toxic parents. NY: Bantam Books.

32.

Freedman

S. R.

, & Enright

R. D.

(1996). Forgiveness as an intervention goal with incest survivors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 983–992.

33.

Gassin

E. A.

(1994, March). Forgiveness and psychological wholeness: A review of the empirical literature. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, San Antonio, TX.

34.

Gassin

E. A.

(1997, March). Receiving forgiveness as an exercise in moral education. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago IL.

35.

Gassin

E. A.

(1998). Receiving forgiveness as moral education: A theoretical analysis and initial empirical investigation. Journal of Moral Education, 27, 71–87.

36.

Gassin

E. A.

(2000a). Entering Great Lent through the door of forgiveness. Manuscript submitted for publication.

37.

Gassin

E. A.

(2000b). Are Christians obliged NOT to forgive? A response to Martin (1997). Journal of Psychology and Theology, 28, 36–42.

38.

Gassin

E. A.

, & Enright

R. D.

(1995). The will to meaning in the process of forgiveness. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 14, 38–49.

39.

Guroian

(1987). Incarnate love: Essays in Orthodox ethics. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.

40.

Haber

J. G.

(1991). Forgiveness. Savage, MD: Rowman & Little-field.

41.

Haynes

L. A.

(1998). Response to “Restoring the Substance to the Soul of Psychology”: Clinical and spiritual development applications. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 44–54.

42.

Holmgren

(1998). Self-forgiveness and responsible moral agency. Journal of Value Inquiry, 32, 75–91.

43.

Hopko

(Speaker). (1989). The word of the Cross. (Cassette recording TH489AB). Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

44.

Huang

S. T.

(1990). Cross-cultural and real-life validations of the theory of forgiveness in Taiwan, the Republic of China. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

45.

Ignatius of Antioch. (1885). Epistle to the Magnesians. In Roberts

, & Donaldson

, (Eds.), The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325. Vol. I (pp. 59–65). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co.

46.

Ilias the Presbyter. (1984). Gnomic anthology I. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 3 (pp. 34–42). Boston: Faber and Faber.

47.

Isaiah the Solitary. (1979). On guarding the intellect: Twenty-seven texts. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1 (pp. 22–28). Boston: Faber and Faber.

48.

Cassian

John

(1979). On the eight vices. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1 (pp. 73–93). Boston: Faber and Faber.

49.

Chrysostom

John

(1885). Homily XVII on Ephesians. In Schaff

(Ed.)., A select library of Nicene- and post-Nicene fathers of the Christian Church. Series I, Vol. XIII (pp. 128–132). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

50.

Johnson

E. L.

(1998). Whatever happened to the human soul? A brief Christian genealogy of a psychological term. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 16–28.

51.

Jones

L. G.

(1995). Embodying forgiveness: A theological analysis. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans.

52.

Kalomiros

(1995). The river of fire. Seattle, WA: St. Nectarios Press.

53.

Kisly

(1995, February). Living in communion: An interview with Father Thomas Hopko. In Communion, pp. 1–5.

54.

Linn

, & Linn

(1978). Healing life's hurts: Healing memories through five stages of forgiveness. NY: Harper & Row.

55.

Mark the Ascetic. (1979). Letter to Nicolas the Solitary. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1 (pp. 147–160). Boston: Faber and Faber.

56.

Markus

H. R.

, & Kitayama

(1991). Culture and the self: implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98, 224–253.

57.

Maximus the Confessor., (1981a). Fourth century on love. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 100–113). Boston: Faber and Faber.

58.

Maximus the Confessor. (1981b). On the Lord's Prayer. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 283–305). Boston: Faber and Faber.

59.

Maximus the Confessor. (1981c). Second century on love. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 65–82). Boston: Faber and Faber.

60.

Maximus the Confessor. (1981d). Various texts on theology, the divine economy, and virtue and vice: First century. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 164–187). Boston: Faber and Faber.

61.

Maximus the Confessor. (1981e). Various texts on theology, the divine economy, and virtue and vice: Fifth century. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 261–284). Boston: Faber and Faber.

62.

Maximus the Confessor. (1996). Letter 2: On love. In A. Louth, Maximus the Confessor (pp. 84–93). NY: Routledge.

63.

McCullough

M. E.

, Sandage

S. J.

, Brown

S. W.

, Rachal

K. C.

, Worthington

E. L.

, & Hight

T. L.

(1998). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships: II. Theoretical elaboration and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1586–1603.

64.

McCullough

M. E.

, Sandage

S. J.

, & Worthington

E. L.

(1997). To forgive is human: How to put your past in the past. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

65.

McCullough

M. E.

, Worthington

E. L.

, & Rachal

K. C.

(1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 321–336.

66.

McGrath

A. E.

(1994). Christian theology: An introduction. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.

67.

Mead

G. H.

(1934). Mind, self, and society. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

68.

Men'

(1991). Svet vo t'me svetit [Light shines in the darkness]. Moscow: AO Vita-Center.

69.

Mother Alexandra. (1983). Prologue. In Bishop Chrysostomos, Themes in Orthodox patristic psychology. Vol. I. Humility (pp. i–iv). Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies.

70.

Nastol'naia kniga sviashchennosluzhitelia. Tom 6. [Handbook for clergy. Vol. 6]. (1988). Moscow: Moscow Patriarchate.

71.

Neprestanno molites': O molitve Iisusovoi [Pray without ceasing: About the Jesus prayer]. (1992). Moscow: Lara.

72.

Palamas

(1995). Topics of natural and theological science and on the moral and ascetic life: One hundred and fifty texts. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 4 (pp. 346–417). Boston: Faber and Faber.

73.

Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.). (1979). The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 1. Boston: Faber and Faber.

74.

Pedersen

J. E.

(1974). Some thoughts on a biblical view of anger. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 2, 210–215.

75.

Peter of Damascus. (1984). The seven commandments. In Palmer

G. E. H.

, Sherrard

, & Ware

(Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 3 (pp. 93–100). Boston: Faber and Faber.

76.

Piehl

R. O.

(1998). Marbles, clocks, and the postmodern self. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 83–100.

77.

Pingleton

J. P.

(1989). The role and function of forgiveness in the psychotherapeutic process. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 17, 27–35.

78.

Pingleton

J. P.

(1997). Why we don't forgive: A biblical and object relations theoretical model for understanding failures in the forgiveness process. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25, 403–413.

79.

Polnyi pravoslavnyi molitvoslov dlia mirian [The complete Orthodox prayer book for laypersons]. (1998). Moscow: Novaya Kniga.

80.

Pomazansky

(1997). Orthodox dogmatic theology (S. Rose, trans. & ed.). Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.

81.

Richard

(1997). Christ: The self-emptying of God. NY: Paulist Press.

82.

Rose

(1982). The Orthodox world-view. Orthodox Word, 18, 160–176.

83.

Rosenak

C. M.

, & Harnden

G. M.

(1992). Forgiveness in the therapeutic process: Clinical applications. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 11, 188–197.

84.

Sandage

S. J.

(1999). An ego-humility model of forgiveness: theoretical foundations. Marriage and Family: A Christian Journal, 2, 259–276.

85.

Sarinopolous

(2000). Forgiveness and physical health: A doctoral dissertation summary. World of Forgiveness, 3(2), 16–18.

86.

Schmemann

(1988). The Eucharist: Sacrament of the kingdom. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

87.

Schmemann

(1997). Forgiveness Sunday. Available at www.concentric.net/~Kyinsman/Schmemann.html.

88.

Self-forgiveness [Special issue]. (1999, January/February). The World of Forgiveness, 2(3).

89.

Simon

, Jurewicz

, & Ciuba

(Trans. & Eds.). (1986). Old Orthodox Prayer Book. Erie, PA: Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Christ (Old Rite).

90.

Simon

S. B.

, & Simon

(1990). Forgiveness: How to make peace with your past and get on with your life. NY: Warner Books.

91.

Smedes

L. B.

(1996). The art of forgiving: When you need to forgive and don't know how. NY: Ballantine.

92.

Snow

N. E.

(1993). Self-forgiveness. Journal of Value Inquiry, 27, 75–80.

93.

Staniloae

(1982). Prayer and holiness: The icon of man renewed in God. Oxford, UK: SLG Press.

94.

Staniloae

(1999). The experience of God: Orthodox dogmatic theology: Revelation and knowledge of the Triune God (I. Ionita & R. Barringer, trans.). Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Press.

95.

Stoop

, & Masteller

(1996). Forgiving our parents, forgiving ourselves: Healing adult children of dysfunctional families. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications.

96.

Tam

E. P. C.

(1997). Are Christian martyrs abuse victims, neurotics, or suicidal? Comments on the psychological study of Christian martyrdom. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25, 458–467.

97.

Theophan the Recluse. (1995). The spiritual life and how to be attuned to it (A. Dockham, trans.). Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.

98.

Tobin

(1993). How to forgive yourself and others: Steps to reconciliation. Liguori, MO: Liguori Press.

99.

Uspensky

(1998). Raduites'! [Rejoice!]. Moscow: Eleon Publishers.

100.

Ustiuzhanin

(2000). Po zakonu lyubvi [According to the law of love]. In Nash Pravoslavnij dom [Our Orthodox home] (pp. 7–46). Moscow: Danilovsky Blagovestnik.

101.

Vitz

P. C.

(1995). A Christian theory of personality: Interpersonal and transmodern. In DuBois

J. M.

(Ed.), The nature and tasks of a personality psychologist (pp. 23–36). NY: University Press of America.

102.

Vitz

(1999, January/February). A critique of self-forgiveness. The World of Forgiveness, 2, 8–11.

103.

Vitz

P. C.

, & Mango

(1997). Kernbergian psychodynamics and religious aspects of the forgiveness process. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25, 72–80.

104.

Ware

(1993). The Orthodox Church (New ed.). NY: Penguin.

105.

Ware

(1995). The Orthodox way (Rev. ed.). Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

106.

Willard

(1998). Spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, and the restoration of the soul. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 26, 101–109.

107.

Worthington

E. L.

(1998). The pyramid model of forgiveness: Some interdisciplinary speculations about unforgiveness and the promotion of forgiveness. In Worthington

E. L.

(Ed.), Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (pp. 107–137). Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.

108.

Zaleski

(1999). The way of repentance. NY: Novalis.

109.

Zhiznopisanie ieromonakha Nikona, poslednego startsa Optinoi Pustyni [The life of hieromonk Nikon, the last elder of Optina Pustyn]. (1994). St. Petersburg: Satis.

110.

Zizioulas

J. D.

(1993). Being as communion. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.