Speaking in Tongues: An Orthodox Christian Perspective
Speaking in Tongues: An Orthodox Christian Perspective By Chorbishop Nectarios Introduction In recent decades, the phenomenon known as "speaking in tongues" (Greek: glossolalia ) has become a hallmark of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity. Television programs, revival meetings, and even some mainline churches have adopted practices centered on ecstatic utterances, prayer languages, and prophetic speech. However, Orthodox Christians—grounded in the unbroken witness of Holy Tradition and the teachings of the Holy Fathers—view this phenomenon with caution, if not with reservation. This article seeks to explore the Orthodox understanding of speaking in tongues, examining its biblical roots, its expression in the early Church, the patristic commentary, and how it is understood (or not) in contemporary Orthodox liturgical and spiritual life. I. Biblical Foundations: The Day of Pentecost The principal biblical reference to speaking in tongues is found in Acts 2:1–13, ...