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#10
Ioannis,
Even here in Greece the Holy Synod recognizes the baptisms of Romans, Anglicans and Lutherans. Besides, in the early Church not all heretics were rebaptized when they returned to the Church. It depended on the type of heresy and how they had been baptised (in the Name of the Trinity/ triple/ single immersion etc)
The following is the canon of the Quinisext Ecumenical Council in Trullo in 692 (which dealt with the canonical matters of the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils) regarding the reception of heretics:
CANON XCV.
THOSE who from the heretics come over to orthodoxy, and to the number of those who should be saved, we receive according to the following order and custom. Arians, Macedonians, Novatians, who call themselves Cathari, Aristeri, and Testareskaidecatitae, or Tetraditae, and Apollinarians, we receive on their presentation of certificates and on their anathematizing every heresy which does not hold as does the holy Apostolic Church of God: then first of all we anoint them with the holy chrism on their foreheads, eyes, nostrils, mouth and ears; and as we seal them we say--\"The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost.\"
But concerning the Paulianists it has been determined by the Catholic Church that they shall by all means be rebaptized. The Eunomeans also, who baptize with one immersion; and the Montanists, who here are called Phrygians; and the Sabellians, who consider the Son to be the same as the Father, and are guilty in certain other grave matters, and all the other heresies--for there are many heretics here, especially those who come from the region of the Galatians--all of their number who are desirous of coming to the Orthodox faith, we receive as Gentiles. And on the first day we make them Christians, on the second Catechumens, then on the third day we exorcise them, at the same time also breathing thrice upon their faces and cars; and thus we initiate them, and we make them spend time in church and hear the Scriptures; and then we baptize them.
And the Manichaeans, and Valentinians and Marcionites and all of similar heresies must give certificates and anathematize each his own heresy, and also Nestorius, Eutyches, Dioscorus, Severus, and the other chiefs of such heresies, and those who think with them, and all the aforesaid heresies; and so they become partakers of the holy Communion.
I pray that this will help put your heart at ease.
God bless
Julia
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