In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in witchcraft and various new-age occult practices. These practices often present themselves as spiritual alternatives or complements to organized religion. For the Eastern Orthodox Christian, however, the question of witchcraft is not simply one of cultural taste or personal freedom, but one of deep theological significance. Orthodox Christianity firmly rejects witchcraft because it is rooted in demonic deception rather than God’s divine power. The Church grounds this position in Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the living tradition of the Faith. She calls all who were once deceived by such practices to repentance and spiritual healing.
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Scriptural references to witchcraft
The Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are clear regarding the condemnation of witchcraft and all forms of sorcery. In the Old Testament, God warns His people:
There shall not be found among you anyone who […] practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Similarly, in the New Testament, St. Paul lists sorcery (Greek: pharmakeia) among the “works of the flesh” that separate one from the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). The Acts of the Apostles recounts the rejection of magic by the early Christian community in Ephesus, where new believers publicly burned their books of sorcery (Acts 19:19-20).
Patristic witness: The Church Fathers on witchcraft
The early Church Fathers were equally resolute in their condemnation of occult practices. Below is a collection of quotes from the Church Fathers, including St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, and St. Gregory Nazianzus. In these writings, we see the Fathers’ condemnation of any attempts to invoke spiritual powers outside of God, viewing witchcraft as a rebellion against the Creator. St. Basil, in his canons, even equates the use of magical practices with apostasy, requiring repentance and exclusion from communion for those who persist unrepentantly.
1. St. Basil the Great
Canon 65:
“Those who resort to soothsayers, or who receive such as bring them into their houses to find out from them whatever, according to the custom of the pagans, or who consult diviners or soothsayers, fall under the canon of six years excommunication, as those who have denied the Lord, because they have followed idolatry and superstition.”
Canon 83:
“A Christian must not be a magician, nor an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a sorcerer, nor must he make amulets; for if he does, let him be excommunicated.”
2. St. John Chrysostom
Homily 8 on Acts (on Acts 19:19):
“Do not marvel that sorcerers are everywhere cut off. For it is a diabolical art, and the invention of the devil, to draw men away from God. It is the art of the enemy of God, and it is forbidden by God Himself.”
3. St. Hippolytus of Rome
Apostolic Tradition, 36:
“If any bishop or priest or deacon, or anyone of the clergy, is a magician, an enchanter, or an astrologer, let him cease or be deposed; if a layman, let him be excommunicated.”
4. St. Cyprian of Carthage
Epistle 1:
“He who makes use of omens or auguries or any kind of magical arts, let him know that he is not a Christian, but a worshipper of the devil.”
5. St. Gregory Nazianzus
Oration 39, On the Holy Lights:
“Let none of you be found to be a sorcerer, or magician, or one who consults evil spirits, for all these are the inventions of the devil and lead to destruction.”
These quotes demonstrate the firm and clear condemnation of witchcraft, sorcery, and related practices. They consistently regarded such acts as incompatible with Christian faith, identifying them as idolatrous, diabolical, and spiritually dangerous. But why did they think this?
Theological foundations for the Church’s rejection of witchcraft
1. Witchcraft seeks spiritual power apart from God
At its core, witchcraft involves the attempt to bypass God’s spiritual authority by manipulating spiritual realities, gaining secret knowledge, or exerting influence over people and events through rituals, spells, or invoking spiritual forces. The Orthodox Church teaches that all true spiritual power, wisdom, healing, and transformation come from God alone. He bestows His grace upon us through the Holy Spirit within the sacramental life of the Church.
Witchcraft offers a counterfeit spirituality, promising healing, power, and knowledge through magical means instead of through Christ and His Church.
2. Witchcraft is an act of pride and disobedience
The rejection of humble trust in God is at the heart of witchcraft. Essentially, the practice of witchcraft is an act of pride. A person who practices witchcraft more than likely does so out of a desire to control, predict, or influence reality on his or her own terms. This, of course, diametrically opposes submission to the will of God, because the person is seeking autonomy and control through forbidden means.
The Church, by contrast, teaches us to humbly submit to God’s will, accepting all that comes our way as something sent by Him for our edification and salvation.
3. Witchcraft opens the door to demonic influence
As human beings, we engage in a constant struggle, not just against flesh and blood, but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The spiritual realm is real and, as they say, “the struggle is real,” too.
This is why our tradition is rich in prayers of protection, exorcism, and blessing. The Church’s sacramental life is the means by which believers are united to Christ. Through it, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and safeguarded from the snares of the evil one. Indeed, the Church Fathers consistently taught that seeking spiritual knowledge or power outside of God exposes us to deception and demonic influence. Witchcraft, in seeking to harness spiritual powers outside of Christ, exposes those who practice it to spiritual deception and demonic influence.
4. Witchcraft is idolatrous and superstitious
Witchcraft often involves attributing power to created things (objects, words, rituals) rather than the Creator. The Church considers this a form of idolatry and condemns all forms of superstition and magic, calling instead for a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity.
Finding healing and restoration in Christ and His Church
For those who have engaged in witchcraft, the Church offers the path of repentance, confession, and spiritual healing. In Orthodox Christianity, repentance is not punitive, but restorative. By confessing that we have “missed the mark” (sinned), and actively seeking to work with God’s grace to turn away from sin, we can reunite ourselves with Christ and His Church.
If you find yourself entangled in occult practices, speak with an Orthodox priest in a parish close to you. He can offer guidance and spiritual counseling, along with resources to learn more about the Orthodox faith. Not only that, but he can also pray for you.
Conclusion
The Orthodox Church ultimately rejects witchcraft because it contradicts foundational truths of the Christian faith. Witchcraft, in all its forms, is a counterfeit spirituality that distracts from—and often opposes—the way of Christ. Orthodox Christians must reject all such practices, seeking instead the grace, wisdom, and healing that flow from a living relationship with God through the Church. In Christ, we find all that our hearts seek: peace, power, and the fulfillment of our deepest spiritual longings.
Read More: The Power of the Jesus Prayer