Eastern Orthodoxy

=== Holy tradition and patristic consensus ===

In Eastern Orthodoxy,  "[[Vincentian Canon|that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all]]", the faith taught by Jesus to the apostles, given life by the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] at [[Pentecost]], and passed down to future generations without additions and without subtractions, is known as [[holy tradition]].{{sfn|Ware|1993|pp=195–196}}<ref>Letter of 1718, in [[George Williams (priest)|George Williams]], ''The Orthodox Church of the East in the 18th Century'', p. 17</ref> Holy tradition does not change in the Eastern Orthodox Church because it encompasses those things that do not change: the nature of the one God in Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the history of God's interactions with his peoples, the Law as given to the Israelites, all Christ's teaching as given to the disciples and Jews and recorded in scripture, including the parables, the prophecies, the miracles, and his own example to humanity in his extreme humility. It encompasses also the worship of the church, which grew out of the worship of the synagogue and temple and was extended by Christ at the last supper, and the relationship between God and his people which that worship expresses, which is also evidenced between Christ and his disciples. It includes the authority that Christ bestowed on his disciples when he made them apostles.<ref>Bible: {{Bibleverse|Matthew|16:19|NKJV}}</ref>

Holy tradition is firm, even unyielding, but not rigid or legalistic; instead, it lives and breathes within the church.<ref>[[Vladimir Lossky]], ''Tradition is the Life of the Holy Spirit in the Church''.</ref> For example, the New Testament was entirely written by the early church (mostly the apostles). The whole Bible was accepted as scripture by means of holy tradition practised within the early church. The writing and acceptance took five centuries, by which time the holy scriptures themselves had become in their entirety a part of holy tradition.{{sfn|Ware|1991|p=205}} But holy tradition did not change, because "that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all" remained consistent, without additions, and without subtractions. The historical development of the Divine Liturgy and other worship services and devotional practices of the church provide a similar example of extension and growth "without change".{{sfn|Ware|1991|p=213}}

Besides these, holy tradition includes the doctrinal definitions and statements of faith of the seven ecumenical councils, including the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and some later local councils, patristic writings, [[Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church|canon law]], and icons. Not all portions of holy tradition are held to be equally strong. Some—the holy scriptures foremost, certain aspects of worship, especially in the Divine Liturgy, the doctrines of the ecumenical councils, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed—possess a verified authority that endures forever, irrevocably. However, with local councils and patristic writings, the church applies a selective judgement. Some councils and writers have occasionally fallen into error, and some contradict each other.<ref name="Ware1991" />

In other cases, opinions differ, no consensus is forthcoming, and all are free to choose. With agreement among the Church Fathers, though, the authority of interpretation grows, and full patristic consensus is very strong. With canon law (which tends to be highly rigorous and very strict, especially with clergy) an unalterable validity also does not apply, since canons deal with living on earth, where conditions are always changing and each case is subject to almost infinite variation from the next.<ref name=Ware1991/>

By tradition, the Eastern Orthodox Church, when faced with issues that are larger than a single bishop can resolve, holds a local council. The bishops convene (as St. Paul called the Corinthians to do) to seek the ''mind of the church''.<ref>Bible: {{Bibleverse|1 Cor|1:10|NKJV}}</ref> A council's declarations or edicts then reflect its consensus (if one can be found). An ecumenical council is only called for issues of such importance, difficulty or pervasiveness that smaller councils are insufficient to address them. Ecumenical councils' declarations and canons carry binding weight by virtue of their representation across the whole church, by which the mind of the church can be readily seen. However, not all issues are so difficult as to require an ecumenical council to resolve. Some doctrines or decisions, not defined in a formal statement or proclaimed officially, nevertheless are held by the church unshakably and unanimously without internal disturbance, and these, also reflecting the mind of the church, are just as firmly irrevocable as a formal declaration of an ecumenical council. Lack of formality does not imply lack of authority within holy tradition.<ref name=Ware1991/>