Glory to Jesus Christ!
I believe that the official stance in the Orthodox Church is anti-death penalty as may be seen in the writings of the Eastern Church fathers and practice in general of Orthodox Countries.
For example, Byzantine Imperial practice in most reigns had no death penalty or used it very sparingly---Instead they would blind, remove offending limbs, etc---officially this was so the criminal would not die without the full life and opportunity to repent of their sin and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Even in more modern times, in Tsarist Russia, the number condemned to death in the reign of Tsar Nicholas IIs' entire reign did not even equal the number executed in one month under the Bolsheviks. Indeed in "Memories of the Russian Court" this is addressed and it was noted that Orthodox Russia's capital sentences were less than 5% of those of England or France or Austria-Hungary---all very western, modern societies. I would hate to try and compare the United States at the time or Texas of Today.
Personal intervention by Orthodox nobility can be exemplified by the Saint Elizabeth Romanov, New Martyr Grand Duchess who after her husband was literally blown to pieces by an Anarchist's bomb would go to the prison to provide his murderer with Christian pamphlets and scripture hoping that he would repent and enter the arms of the Church. She tried to have her husband's murderer's sentence commuted to a non-death penalty but the murderer refused her actions on his behalf.
In summary, Orthodoxy as a Church has consistently taught against capital punishment and as a result has influenced Orthodox Governments to limit Official Death Penalty issues. As in the Roman catholic Church, there are Orthodox members who do advocate for the Death Penalty, but this is not the stand of the Orthodox Church.
Your brother in Christ,
Thomas
[ 03-16-2002: Message edited by: Thomas ]
