The saints and fathers of the Church say that Grace is only to be found in the Church. The Church summoned the Councils to decide the canons of faith. The Canons have authority because they are from the Collegium of Bishops to whom Christ gave His Spirit of Truth. When the fathers of the Councils and the Church say that we must flee from heretics they are speaking about those who teach heresy. Of course you should not have communion with heretics, but you dont ipso facto loose grace because of this. Patriarch Diodoros I spoke against heretics and against those bishops in the church who wanted to force ecumenism and modernism on others. He was hated by them whom he shared communin with, becuase of his orthodox faith. To say that this confessor lost grace because of this is to pass a judgement that only the Church through a council can say. Remeber that monophysites were represented at some Synods. They took part in discussions and were treated as bishops with grace. When the synods condemned monophysitism they had a choice to repent, but some of them didnt.
Can anyone give me advise?
Moderator: Mark Templet