What does Anathema mean? It is mentioned in (Gal. 1:8-9) and (1 Cor. 16:22).

What does Anathema mean? It is mentioned in (Gal. 1:8-9) and (1 Cor. 16:22).

“Anathema” is a Greek word that means “curse”, and it also means the “cutting off” or the excommunication from the church. As in the Anathemas that were written by St. Kyrollos (Cyril) the pillar of faith during the heresy of Nestor upon every one who would violate the canons of faith. 

St. Paul used it in his epistle to the Galatians to excommunicate by his ecclesiastical authority everyone who taught against the teaching of the apostles, even if it was an angel, he said “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.(anathema). ” (Gal. 1:8). He used the same statement at the end of his first epistle to the Corinthians. This statement is very well known in the church canons.