[kosta50]

This is, unfortunately, another latter-day Vatican innovation. Anathema was introduced by +Paulin, who used in a bizarre way, but in the early Church, and certainly in the first Seven Councils, anathema was something way beyond excommunication. When someone was excommunicated it meant exactly what it says: you are denied Holy Communion, but you are still a member of the Church. When you are anathemtized, you are no longer a Christian. That is still the how the Orthodox Church understands it. Nothing's changed.

The Catholic Church made anathema (erroneously) synonymous with excommunication only 1917. Anathema was never eternal damnation as some understand it. Anyone can always return to the Church by repentance.

Excommunication is closer to penance. Eastern priests would excommunicate "unclean" women for a period of time if it could be proven that they attended the Divine Liturgy four times a month.

Orthodox women would gather outside the Church to follow the litrugy during those "unclean" days of the month. But christological heretics, like Nestorian, were not just excommunicated, they were thrown out of the Church.

[Kolokotronis]

“Orthodox women would gather outside the Church to follow the litrugy during those “unclean” days of the month.”

My great grandmother would tell of sticking her head into the church through a window to see the Liturgy during those days