Processed from: Lor_li_s_a_dat_i_legarea_i_dezlegarea.txt

Date Compiled: 2026-04-12

Sapovici — Lor Li S-a Dat și Legarea și Dezlegarea și Cheile Cerului, de Închid și Deschid

Author: Anca Mihaela Sapovici

Source: Învățăturile prește toate zilele, conferința "Sfaturile lui Matei al Mirelor," Editura Academiei Române, 2018, pp. 171–181

Type: Conference proceedings article

Topic: The priestly power to bind and loosen in Matthew of Myra's Teachings for All Days

Summary

Sapovici analyzes the theme of legarea și dezlegarea — the priestly power to bind and loosen, to forgive or retain sins — in Matthew of Myra's Învățăturile prește toate zilele (Teachings for All Days). The article examines how Matthew develops this theme from the Gospel sources (Matthew 16:19, 18:18) through to Byzantine liturgical and theological tradition.

Key Argument

Matthew of Myra presents the priestly power to bind and loosen as flowing from apostolic succession — from Peter and the apostles to the bishops and priests of the Orthodox Church. The priest who celebrates the Divine Liturgy acts in persona Christi, forgiving sins through the Holy Mysteries (sacraments).

The Teaching uses the Gospel episode of Peter's confession and the gift of the keys (Matthew 16:19) to ground priestly authority in Scripture:

"Și eu îți voi da cheile împărăției cerurilor, și orice vei lega pe pământ va fi legat în ceruri, și orice vei dezlega pe pământ va fi dezlegat în ceruri."

The Apostolic Authority

The power to bind and loose (legarea și dezlegarea) was given by Christ to the apostles at Pentecost and transmitted through apostolic succession to bishops and priests. Matthew of Myra addresses this authority as part of a broader teaching on priestly dignity and responsibility.

Connection to the Gospel of Matthew

The key Gospel passages:

• **Matthew 16:19** — Peter receives the keys: *"Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."*
• **Matthew 18:18** — The apostles receive the same power

Theological Significance

This power is exercised through:

• **Confession (Spovedania)** — the sacrament of reconciliation
• **The Divine Liturgy** — the priestly celebration that makes Christ's sacrifice present
• **Excommunication and reconciliation** — the church's discipline of members

Relationship to Neagoe Basarab

Neagoe Basarab's Instructions also discuss priestly authority, showing the same Byzantine theological inheritance. Both texts ground the priest's power in apostolic succession and the transmission of Christ's authority through the sacramental life of the Church.

Bibliography

• Matthew 16:19 — Gospel of Matthew
• Matthew 18:18 — Gospel of Matthew
• Neagoe Basarab, *Învățăturile către Theodosie*
• Eftimie of Tarnovo, *Panegyric of Saints Constantine and Helena*
• Matthew of Myra, *Învățăturile prește toate zilele* (1642)

Related Articles

• [[sapovici-matei-mirelor-tematic]] — Thematic analysis of Matthew of Myra's teachings
• [[neagoe-basarab-teachings-intertextual]] — Intertextual analysis of Neagoe Basarab's Instructions (shares Byzantine theological inheritance)
• [[neagoe-basarab-foundation-function]] — Related Wallachian political theology

Status

Compiled from conference proceedings (conference: "Sfaturile lui Matei al Mirelor," Editura Academiei Române, 2018). This article complements the 2018 conference paper on Matthew of Myra's teachings and the 2022 article on the two parenetic advices.