Sacraments Orthodox. What is a church sacrament

Sending disciples to preach, Jesus Christ told them: “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The point here, as the Holy Church teaches, is about the Sacraments established by the Lord. A sacrament is a sacred action in which, through some external sign, the grace of the Holy Spirit is mysteriously and invisibly given to us, the saving power of God is given without fail. This is the difference between the Sacraments and other prayer actions. At prayer services or memorial services, we also ask for God's help, but whether we receive what we ask, or we will be given another mercy - everything is in the power of God. But in the Sacraments the promised grace is given to us without fail, so long as the Sacrament is performed correctly. Perhaps this gift will be our judgment or condemnation, but the mercy of God is taught to us!

The Lord was pleased to establish seven sacraments: baptism, chrismation, repentance, communion, marriage, priesthood, and unction.

Baptism

It is, as it were, the door to the Church of Christ, only those who have accepted it can use the other Sacraments. This is such a sacred action in which a believer in Christ, through threefold immersion of the body in water, with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins committed by him before Baptism, is reborn by grace the Holy Spirit into a new, spiritual life.

The Sacrament of Baptism was established by Jesus Christ Himself and sanctified by being baptized by John. And so, just as the Lord in the womb of the Holy Virgin took on human nature (excluding sin), so the one who is baptized in the font becomes a partaker of the divine nature: “You were baptized into Christ, put on Christ” (Gal. 3, 27). Accordingly, Satan also loses power over a person: if before he ruled over him as over his slave, then after Baptism he can only act from the outside - by deception.

For an adult to be baptized, a conscious desire to become a Christian is required, based on strong faith and heartfelt repentance. The Orthodox Church baptizes infants according to the faith of their parents and recipients. For this, godfathers and mothers are needed to vouch for the faith of the baptized. When he grows up, the godparents are obliged to teach the child and make sure that the godson becomes a true Christian. If they neglect this sacred duty, they will seriously sin. So to prepare for this day a beautiful cross and a white shirt, to bring a towel and slippers with you - - does not mean to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism, even if an unintelligent baby is going to be baptized. He must still have believing recipients who know the basics of Christian doctrine and are distinguished by piety. If an adult approaches the font, let him first read the New Testament, the Catechism and accept the teachings of Christ with all his heart and mind.

In the sacrament of chrismation, the believer is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which from now on will strengthen him in the Christian life. Initially, the Apostles of Christ prizes the Holy Spirit to descend upon those who turn to God through the laying on of hands. But already at the end of I, the Sacrament began to be performed through the anointing with chrism, since the apostles simply did not have the opportunity to lay hands on all those who joined the Church in different, often distant places.

Holy chrism is a specially prepared and consecrated composition of oil and fragrant substances. It was consecrated by the apostles and their successors, the bishops. And now only hierarchs can sanctify chrism. But the Sacrament itself can be performed by priests.

Usually chrismation follows immediately after Baptism. With the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen ”- the priest crosswise anoints the believer’s forehead - to sanctify his thoughts, eyes - so that we follow the path of salvation under the rays of grace-filled light, ears - let a person be sensitive to hearing the word of God, lips - so that they are capable of broadcasting Divine truth, hands - for sanctification for deeds pleasing to God, feet - for walking in the footsteps of the commandments of the Lord, chest - so that, having put on the whole armor of the Holy Spirit, we could do everything about Jesus Christ strengthening us. Thus, through the anointing of different parts of the body, the whole person is sanctified - his flesh and soul.

Repentance ()

Repentance is a Sacrament in which the believer confesses his sins to God in the presence of a priest and receives through the priest forgiveness of his sins from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Savior gave St. to the apostles, and through them to the priests, the power to absolve sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; upon whom you leave, they will remain on him” (John 20:22-23).

To receive the forgiveness of sins, the confessor requires: reconciliation with all his neighbors, sincere contrition for sins and true confession of them, a firm intention to improve his life, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope for his mercy. The importance of the latter is evident from the example of Jude. He repented of a terrible sin - the betrayal of the Lord, but in despair he strangled himself, because he did not have faith and hope. But Christ took upon Himself all our sins and destroyed them by His Death on the Cross!

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In the Sacrament of Communion, an Orthodox Christian, under the guise of bread and wine, partakes of the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and through this is mysteriously united with Him, becoming a partaker of eternal life.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion was established by Christ Himself during the Last Supper, on the eve of His suffering and death: taking bread and giving thanks (God the Father for all His mercies), he broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying: take and eat, this is My Body, which for betrays you. He also took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink all of you from it, for this is My Blood, for you and for many, pouring out the remission of sins (Mt. 26:26-28; Mk. 14:22-24; Lk. 22 , 19-24; Cor. I, 23-25). Having established the Sacrament of Communion, Jesus Christ commanded the disciples to celebrate it always: "Do this in remembrance of Me."

Shortly before that, in a conversation with the people, the Savior said: “Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My Flesh is truly food, and My Blood is truly drink. Whoever walks in My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56).

The Sacrament of Communion will be performed in the Church of Christ until the end of the age during the Divine service called the Liturgy, during which bread and wine, by the power and action of the Holy Spirit, are transubstantiated into the true Body and into the true Blood of Christ. In Greek this Sacrament is called "Eucharist", which means "thanksgiving". The first Christians took communion every Sunday, but now not everyone has such a purity of life. However, the Holy Church commands us to take communion every fast, and in no way less than once a year.

How to Prepare for Holy Communion

It is necessary to prepare oneself for the Sacrament of Holy Communion by fasting - prayer, fasting, humility and repentance. Without confession, no one can be admitted to Communion, except in cases of mortal danger.

Those who wish to receive communion worthily should begin preparing for this at least a week in advance: pray more and more fervently at home, attend Church regularly. In any case, you must be at the evening service on the eve of the day of communion. Fasting is combined with prayer - abstinence from fast food - meat, milk, butter, eggs, and generally moderation in eating and drinking.

Those who are preparing for Holy Communion must become imbued with the consciousness of their sinfulness and protect themselves from malice, condemnation and obscene thoughts and conversations, and refuse to visit places of entertainment. The best time to spend is reading spiritual books. Before confession, one must certainly reconcile both with the offenders and with the offended, humbly asking everyone for forgiveness. The one who wishes to take communion must come to the priest, who is making confession at the lectern, on which the Cross and the Gospel lie, and bring sincere repentance for the sins committed, without concealing any of them. Seeing sincere repentance, the priest places the end of the stole on the bowed head of the confessor and reads a prayer of permissiveness, forgiving him his sins on behalf of Jesus Christ Himself. It is more correct to confess the day before in the evening, so that the morning can be devoted to prayerful preparation for Holy Communion. In extreme cases, you can confess in the morning, but before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Having confessed, it is necessary to make a firm decision not to repeat former sins. There is a good custom - after confession and before Holy Communion, do not eat, drink or smoke. It is definitely forbidden after midnight. Children should also be taught to abstain from food and drink from an early age.

After singing "Our Father" you need to approach the steps of the altar and wait for the removal of the Holy Gifts. At the same time, skip forward the children who receive communion first. Approaching the Chalice, one must bow to the ground in advance, fold his arms crosswise on his chest and do not cross himself in front of the Chalice, so as not to accidentally push it. Pronounce your Christian name clearly, open your mouth wide, reverently accept the Body and Blood of Christ, and immediately swallow it. Having received the Holy Mysteries, without being baptized, kiss the bottom of the Chalice and immediately go to the table with warmth to drink Communion. Until the end of the Divine service, do not leave the church, be sure to listen to prayers of thanksgiving.

On the day of communion, do not spit, do not eat too much, do not get drunk on alcohol, and generally behave decently in order to “honestly keep Christ accepted in yourself.” All this is mandatory for children from 7 years old. For prayerful preparation for Holy Communion, there is a special rule in more complete prayer books. It consists of reading three canons the day before in the evening - the Penitent to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Guardian Angel and prayers for the future sleep, and in the morning - morning prayers, the canon and special prayers for Holy Communion.

Marriage

There is a Sacrament in which, with a free (before the priest and the church) promise by the bride and groom of mutual fidelity to each other, their marital union is blessed and the grace of God is asked for mutual help and the blessed birth and Christian upbringing of children.

Marriage was established by God Himself in Paradise. After the creation of Adam and Eve, he blessed them and said: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). Jesus Christ sanctified the Sacrament by his presence at the marriage in Cana of Galilee and confirmed its divine institution: two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:4-6).

“Husbands,” says St. Paul, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her... Wives, obey your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, and He is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5 , 22-23, 25). The sacrament of marriage is not obligatory for everyone, but those who remain celibate are obliged to lead a virgin life, which, according to the teachings of Christ, is higher than marriage - one of the greatest feats.

What else do you need to know who wants to get married in the Church?

That the Sacrament of marriage is not performed during the fasts: Great (48 days before Easter), Assumption (August 14-28), Christmas (November 28 - January 7), Petrovsky (from Sunday after Trinity, until July 12), at Christmas time (between and Epiphany - from January 7 to January 19) and on the Bright (Easter) week, as well as on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and on some other days of the year.

That marriage is a great Sacrament, and not just a beautiful ceremony, and therefore it should be treated with the fear of God, so as not to scold the shrine by divorce. That civil marriage is recognized as the main thing in our state, why a marriage certificate issued by the registry office is desirable for the performance of the Church Sacrament. That one of the parts of the Sacrament is the betrothal of the bride and groom, for which they must have wedding rings.

In the Mystery of the Priesthood, a correctly chosen person, through episcopal ordination (in Greek, consecration), receives the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sanctified service of the Church of Christ.

There are three degrees of priesthood: deacon, presbyter (priest) and bishop (bishop). There are also titles that denote not a new degree, but only the highest honor: for example, a bishop can be elevated to the rank of archbishop, metropolitan and patriarch, a priest (priest) - to an archpriest, a deacon - to a protodeacon.

The one who is ordained a deacon receives the grace to serve during the celebration of the Sacraments, the one who is ordained a priest - to celebrate the Sacraments, the one who is ordained a bishop - not only to celebrate the Sacraments, but also to consecrate others to celebrate the Sacraments.

The sacrament of the priesthood is a divine institution. The Holy Apostle Paul testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself "appointed... others as shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of service, for the building up of the Body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:1-12). The apostles, celebrating this Sacrament, through the laying on of hands were elevated to deacons, presbyters and bishops. In turn, the bishops appointed by them consecrated people destined for sacred service. So, like fire from candle to candle, a line of correctly ordained clergy has come down to us from apostolic times.

For people who have recently entered the Church, the whole problem is what to call them? Clergymen in the degree of deacon and presbyter are usually called "fathers" - by name: father Alexander, father Vladimir - or by position: father protodeacon, father housekeeper (in the monastery). There is also a special, affectionate address in Russian: father. Accordingly, the spouse is called “mother”. It is customary to address the bishop as follows: “Vladyka!” or “Your Eminence!”. The Patriarch is called “Your Holiness!”. Well, and the clergy, church workers are ordinary parishioners? It is customary to address them like this: “brother”, “sister”. However, if in front of you is a person much older than you, it will not be a sin to tell him: “father” or “mother”, they are also addressed to monastics.

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The sacrament of unction, in which, when the sick person is anointed with consecrated oil (oil), the grace of God is called upon him to heal from bodily and mental illnesses and forgive him for sins forgotten without malicious intent.

The sacrament of unction is also called unction, because seven priests gather to perform it, although, if necessary, one priest can perform it. Unction originates from the Holy Apostles. Having received from the Lord Jesus Christ the power to heal every disease, they anointed the sick with oil and healed” (Mark 6:13). James: “Is any of you sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And prayer will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15). Babies are not unified, because they cannot have consciously committed sins.

Previously, the unction was performed at the bedside of the sick, now - more often - in the church, for many people at once. A small vessel with oil is placed in a dish with wheat (or other grain), as a sign of God's mercy, to which, in imitation of the Gospel merciful Samaritan and as a reminder of the Blood shed by Christ, red wine is added. Seven candles and seven sticks with cotton at the end are placed in wheat around the vessel. All those present hold lit candles in their hands. After special prayers, seven selected places from the epistles of the apostles and seven gospel narratives are read. After each of them, with the utterance of a prayer to the Lord - the Physician of our souls and bodies, the priest crosswise anoints the forehead, cheeks, chest, hands of the sick. After the seventh reading, he lays the opened Gospel, like the healing hand of the Savior Himself, on the head of the sick and prays to God for the forgiveness of all their sins.

Grace in any case acts through the consecrated oil, but this action is revealed, according to God's care, differently: some are completely healed, others receive relief, while others awaken strength for the complacent transfer of the disease. Forgiveness of sins, forgotten or unconscious, is granted to the one who gathers.

For many people, church life is limited to occasional trips to the temple in those cases when things are not going as well as we would like. We usually light a couple of candles and leave a donation. After that, we wait for some relief or serious positive changes in life, sincerely believing that we received some grace at the moment of attending church. But in fact, spiritual nourishment cannot be limited to superficial and often thoughtless actions. If you really want to feel the grace of the Holy Spirit, then you need special rituals - church sacraments. Our article will be devoted to them.

Church sacraments: definition and general characteristics

Every person who at least occasionally encountered the Christian religion must have heard such a phrase as "church sacrament". It is understood as a kind of sacred action, which should give a person grace from the Holy Spirit.

It is necessary to clearly understand the differences between ordinary church services and rites from the sacraments. The fact is that most of the rites were invented by people and only over time became mandatory for those who lead a spiritual life. But the mystery of the sacraments of the Church lies in the fact that they were established by Jesus Christ himself. Therefore, they have a special divine origin and act on a person at the psychophysical level.

Why is it necessary to participate in the sacraments?

This is a special act that guarantees a person grace from higher powers. Quite often, to ask for healing or well-being for our loved ones, we come to the temple and take part in the service. It is also quite common in Orthodoxy to transfer notes with names for clergy who pray for the people indicated in the paper. But all this may or may not work. Everything depends on the will of God and his plans for you.

But the sacraments of the Church in Orthodoxy make it possible to receive grace as a gift. If the sacrament itself is carried out correctly and a person is set to receive a blessing from God, then he falls under the influence of the grace of the Holy Spirit, and it depends on him how to use this gift.

The number of church sacraments

Now Orthodoxy has seven church sacraments, and initially there were only two. It is they who are mentioned in Christian texts, but over time, five more sacraments are added to them, which together formed the ritual basis of the Christian religion. Every clergyman can easily list the seven sacraments of the Church:

• Baptism.
• Chrismation.
• Eucharist (communion).
• Repentance.
• Unction.
• Mystery of Marriage.
• Sacrament of the Priesthood.

Theologians claim that Jesus Christ himself instituted baptism, chrismation, and communion. These sacraments were obligatory for any believer.

Classification of the sacraments

Church sacraments in Orthodoxy have their own classification, every Christian who takes the first steps on the path to God should know about this. Sacraments can be:

• mandatory;
• optional.

• baptism;
• chrismation;
• participle;
• repentance;
• unction.

The Sacrament of Marriage and the Priesthood are the free will of man and belong to the second category. But it should be borne in mind that in Christianity only the marriage that is consecrated by the church is recognized.

Also, all the sacraments can be divided into:

• single;
• repeatable.

A one-time church sacrament can be performed only once in a lifetime. This category fits:

• baptism;
• chrismation;
• sacrament of the priesthood.

The rest of the rituals can be repeated many times depending on the spiritual needs of the person. Some theologians also rank the Sacrament of Marriage as one-time rites, because a wedding in a church can be done once in a lifetime. Despite the fact that many are now talking about such a ceremony as dethronement, the official position of the Church on this issue has not changed for many years - a marriage entered into before God cannot be canceled.

Where are the sacraments of the Church taught?

If you do not plan to connect your life with serving God, then it is enough for you to have a general idea of ​​​​what the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church are. But otherwise, you will need to carefully study each rite that takes place during training in the seminary.

Ten years ago, the book "Orthodox Teaching on Church Sacraments" was published as a textbook for seminarians. It reveals all the secrets of the rites, and also includes materials from various theological conferences. By the way, this information will be useful to anyone who is interested in religion and wants to penetrate deeply into the essence of Christianity in general and Orthodoxy in particular.

Sacraments for children and adults: is there a separation

Of course, there are no special church sacraments for children, because they have equal rights and obligations with adult members of the Christian community before God. Children take part in baptism, chrismation, communion and unction. But repentance causes certain difficulties for some theologians when we talk about a child. On the one hand, children are born practically sinless (with the exception of original sin) and have no deeds behind their backs for which they need to repent. But, on the other hand, even a small children's sin is a sin before God, therefore, it needs awareness and repentance. It is not worth waiting for a series of minor offenses to lead to the formation of a sinful consciousness.

Naturally, the Sacrament of Marriage and the Priesthood are inaccessible to children. Participation in such ceremonies can be taken by a person who, according to the laws of the country, is recognized as an adult.

Baptism

The Church Sacraments of Baptism literally become the gate through which a person enters the Church and becomes a member of it. To perform the sacrament, water is always needed, because Jesus Christ himself was baptized in the Jordan to set an example for all his followers and show them the shortest path to the atonement of sins.

Baptism is performed by a clergyman and requires some preparation. If we are talking about the sacrament of the Church for an adult who consciously came to God, then he needs to read the Gospel, as well as receive instructions from the clergyman. Sometimes, before baptism, people attend special classes during which they receive basic knowledge about the Christian religion, church rites, and God.

Baptism is performed in the temple (when it comes to a seriously ill person, the ceremony can be performed at home or in a hospital) by a priest. A person is placed facing east and listens to cleansing prayers, and then, turning to the west, renounces sin, Satan and his former life. Then he plunges into the font three times to the prayers of the priest. After that, the baptized person is considered born in God and, as a confirmation of his belonging to Christianity, receives a cross, which must be worn constantly. It is customary to keep a baptismal shirt for a lifetime; it is a kind of amulet for a person.

When the sacrament is performed over the baby, then all questions are answered by the parents and godparents. In some churches, participation in the rite of one godfather is allowed, but he must be of the same sex as the godson. Keep in mind that becoming a godfather is a very responsible mission. After all, from this moment you are responsible before God for the soul of the child. It is the godparents who should lead him along the path of Christianity, instruct and admonish. We can say that the recipients are spiritual teachers for a new member of the Christian community. Doing these duties improperly is a grave sin.

Chrismation

This sacrament is performed immediately after baptism, it is the next stage in the churching of a person. If baptism washes away all his sins from a person, then chrismation gives him the grace of God and the strength to live as a Christian, fulfilling all the commandments. Confirmation occurs only once in a lifetime.

For the ceremony, the priest uses myrrh - a special consecrated oil. In the process of the sacrament, myrrh is applied in the form of a cross on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, ears, lips, hands and feet of a person. The clergy call it the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. From that moment on, a person becomes a real member and is ready for life in Christ.

Repentance

The Sacrament of Repentance is not a simple confession of one's sins before a clergyman, but an awareness of the unrighteousness of one's path. Theologians argue that repentance is not words, but an act. If you come to the realization that you will do something sinful, then stop and change your life. And in order to be strengthened in your decision, you need repentance, which cleanses from all committed unrighteous deeds. After this sacrament, many people feel renewed and enlightened, it is easier for them to avoid temptations and adhere to certain rules.

Only a bishop or priest can receive confession, since it was they who received this right through the Sacrament of the Priesthood. During repentance, a person kneels and lists to the clergyman all his sins. He, in turn, reads cleansing prayers and overshadows the confessor with the banner of the cross. In some cases, when a person repents of any serious sins, penance is imposed on him - a special punishment.

Consider, if you have gone through repentance and are again committing the same sin, then think about the meaning of your actions. Perhaps you are not strong enough in the faith, and you need the help of a priest.

What is a sacrament?

The sacrament of the Church, which is considered one of the most important, is called "communion". This rite connects a person with God on an energetic level, it cleanses and heals a Christian spiritually and materially.

The church service at which the Sacrament of Communion is performed takes place on certain days. In addition, not all Christians are admitted to it, but only those who have undergone special training. You must first speak with the clergyman and declare your desire to take the sacrament. Usually a church minister appoints a post, after which it is necessary to undergo repentance. Only to those who have fulfilled all the conditions, the church service becomes available, at which the Sacrament of Communion is performed.

In the process of the sacrament, a person receives bread and wine, which are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This enables the Christian to partake of divine energy and be cleansed of everything sinful. Church officials claim that the sacrament heals a person at the deepest level. He is reborn spiritually, which always has a positive effect on human health.

Church Sacrament: Unction

This sacrament is also often called the consecration of oil, since in the process of the ceremony, oil is applied to the human body - oil (olive oil is most often used). The sacrament got its name from the word "cathedral", meaning that the ceremony should be carried out by several clergymen. Ideally, there should be seven.

The Sacrament of Unction is performed on seriously ill people who need healing. First of all, the rite is aimed at healing the soul, which directly affects our bodily shell. During the sacrament, the clergy read seven texts from various sacred sources. The oil is then applied to the person's face, eyes, ears, lips, chest and limbs. At the end of the ceremony, the gospel is placed on the head of the Christian, and the priest begins to pray for the remission of sins.

It is believed that it is best to conduct this sacrament after repentance, and then go through communion.

Sacrament of Marriage

Many newlyweds think about the wedding, but few of them realize the seriousness of this step. The Sacrament of Marriage is a very responsible one that unites two people forever before God. It is believed that from now on there are always three of them. Invisibly, Christ accompanies them everywhere, supporting them in difficult moments.

It is important to be aware that there are some obstacles to performing the sacrament. These include the following reasons:

• fourth and subsequent marriages;
• unbelief in God of one of the spouses;
• refusal of baptism by one or both spouses;
• the presence of spouses in kinship up to the fourth knee.

Keep in mind that it takes a long time to prepare for the wedding and approach it very thoroughly.

Sacrament of the Priesthood

The Sacrament Ordination to a church rank gives the priest the right to conduct services and independently perform church rites. This is a rather complicated procedure, which we will not describe. But its essence lies in the fact that through certain manipulations, the grace of the Holy Spirit descends on the minister of the church, which gives him special power. Moreover, according to church canons, the higher the rank of the church, the greater the power descends on the clergyman.

We hope that our article has given you some idea of ​​the sacraments of the Church, without which the life of a Christian in God is impossible.

The content of the article

ORTHODOX MYSTERIES, sacred rites established by divine providence, manifested in Orthodox church rites, through which invisible divine grace is communicated to believers. In Orthodoxy, seven sacraments are accepted, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: baptism, chrismation, Eucharist (communion), repentance, the sacrament of the priesthood, the sacrament of marriage and the anointing of the unction. Baptism, repentance and the Eucharist were instituted by Jesus Christ himself, as reported in the New Testament. Church tradition testifies to the divine origin of other sacraments.

Sacraments and rituals.

External signs of the celebration of the sacraments, i.e. church rituals are necessary for a person, since human imperfect nature needs visible symbolic actions that help to feel the action of the invisible power of God. In addition to the sacraments, other liturgical rites are accepted in the Orthodox Church, which, unlike the sacraments, are not of divine, but of ecclesiastical origin. The sacraments communicate grace to the entire psychophysical nature of man and produce a profound effect on his inner, spiritual life. The rites call for blessing only on the outer side of earthly human life ( cm. SACRAMENTALS). The celebration of each sacrament brings with it a special gift of grace. In baptism, grace is given that cleanses from sin; in chrismation - grace, strengthening a person in spiritual life; unction - a gift that heals ailments; in repentance, forgiveness of sins is given.

The validity of the sacraments.

According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, the sacraments acquire effective force only when two conditions are combined. It is necessary that they be performed correctly by a legitimate hierarchically placed person and that the inner mood and disposition of a Christian to receive grace is necessary. In the absence of faith and a sincere desire to accept the sacrament, its performance leads to condemnation. On Catholic and Protestant Doctrine of the Sacraments cm. MYSTERY.

Seven Sacraments of the Orthodox Church

designed to meet the seven most essential needs of the spiritual life of man. The sacraments of baptism, chrismation, communion, repentance and unction are considered obligatory for all Christians. The sacrament of marriage and the sacrament of the priesthood provide for freedom of choice. Sacraments are also divided into those that are repeated and those that are not repeated during a person's life. Only once in a lifetime is the sacrament of baptism and chrismation performed, as well as the sacrament of priesthood. The rest of the sacraments are repetitive.

Baptism

- the very first of the Christian sacraments, it marks the entry of the believer into the church of Christ. Its establishment was preceded, according to the gospels, by the baptism (cleansing immersion in water) of Jesus himself in the Jordan, performed by John the Baptist. The beginning of Christian baptism as a sacrament was laid by the words of Jesus addressed to the apostles before his ascension to heaven: “... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16). The methods of baptism in the ancient church are described in Teachings of the Twelve Apostles(1st - early 2nd centuries): “Baptize alive [i.e. running] water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. If there is no living water, baptize in other water; if you can not in the cold, then in the warm. And if there is neither one nor the other, then lie on your head three times. Water, as a cosmic and sacred element, plays an important role in the performance of the sacrament: baptism is performed through three immersion in water with the pronunciation of the formula "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." The divine grace acting through the water element frees a person from any sin: babies from the firstborn, adults both from the firstborn and from those committed during life. The apostle Paul called baptism the bath of rebirth.

In post-apostolic times, infant baptism was already accepted. Adults prepared to receive the sacrament through the catechesis. The catechumens usually lasted two years, during which the most important part of the Christian doctrine was communicated to the catechumens. Before Easter, they entered their names on the list of those who were baptized. The solemn baptism of a large number of believers was performed by the bishop. During the time of persecution of Christians, natural reservoirs, rivers and streams served as the place of baptism. From the time of Constantine the Great, baptism took place in baptistries, specially arranged pools at churches ( cm. BAPTISTERY). Immediately after immersion, the presbyter anointed the forehead (forehead) of the person being baptized with oil (olive oil), after which he was clothed in white clothes, a symbol of the purity and righteousness he had acquired. After baptism in the temple, they communed the Holy Mysteries. Seriously ill and imprisoned people were baptized through dousing or sprinkling.

The traditions of the ancient church are preserved in Orthodoxy today. Baptism takes place in the temple (in special cases, it is allowed to perform the ceremony in the house). Adults are baptized after instruction in the faith (announcement). The announcement is also made at the baptism of infants, and the sponsors for their faith are the sponsors. The priest who is being baptized faces the east and says prayers that drive away the devil. Turning to the west, the catechumen renounces Satan and all his deeds. After the renunciation, he again becomes facing the east and three times expresses the desire to be united to Christ, after which he kneels. The priest censes the font with three lighted candles, hands the candles to the recipients and blesses the water. After the consecration of the water, the oil is consecrated. The sign of the cross with oil is created over the water, as a symbol of reconciliation with God. Then the priest depicts the sign of the cross on the forehead, ears, arms, legs, chest and shoulders of the person being baptized and plunges him into the font three times. After the font, the person being baptized puts on white clothes, which are customary to keep throughout life as a relic. In case of mortal danger, the rite is performed according to a reduced rank. If there is a danger of the death of an infant, baptism is allowed to be performed by a lay person. In this case, it consists in immersing the baby three times in water with the words "The servant of God is baptized in the name of the Father, Amen, and the Son, Amen, and the Holy Spirit, Amen." The name of the baby is left to choose his parents, and adults choose it for themselves. If such a right is granted to a priest, he is obliged to choose the name of the saint closest in time to the celebration after the birthday of the person being baptized. Cm. BAPTISM.

Chrismation.

According to the canons (rules) of the Orthodox Church, immediately after baptism, a Christian receives the sacrament of chrismation. In this sacrament, believers receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, giving them the strength to be firm in the Orthodox faith and keep the purity of the soul. The right to perform Chrismation belongs only to bishops and priests. Separately from baptism, it is performed during the anointing of kings to the kingdom, as well as in cases when non-Christians join Orthodoxy, who were baptized according to the rite corresponding to the rules of the Orthodox Church, but were not chrismated. Confirmation after baptism occurs as follows. After putting on the baptized in white clothes, the priest says a prayer in which he asks God to grant the new member of the church the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and puts the signs of the cross with the world on his forehead, eyes, nostrils, ears, chest, arms and legs. Then the presbyter and the newly baptized together three times go around the font with candles in their hands while singing the verse: “They were baptized into Christ, put on Christ.” This ritual symbolizes the entry of the baptized person into eternal union with Christ. It is followed by the reading of the Apostle and the Gospel, after which the so-called. ablution. Having soaked his lip in warm water, the priest wipes off the places that were anointed with the world, with the words: “Thou hast been baptized, thou hast been enlightened, thou hast been anointed ...” The anointing performed at the wedding of kings to the kingdom is neither a special sacrament, nor a repetition of the previous perfect. The sacred anointing of the sovereign means only a higher degree of communication of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, necessary for him to fulfill the ministry to which he is called by God. The ritual of coronation and chrismation of the king is a solemn act, culminating in the introduction of the sovereign to the altar, where he takes communion at the throne as God's anointed, patron and defender of the church. Cm. CONFIRMATION.

Repentance.

This sacrament cleanses the believer from the sins he committed after baptism and gives strength to continue the feat of earthly Christian life. Confessing his sins before a priest, a Christian receives forgiveness from him and is mysteriously resolved from sins by God himself. Only a bishop or priest can receive confession, since they receive the right to forgive sins through the sacrament of the priesthood from Jesus Christ himself. The priest is obliged to keep the secret of confession; for the publicity of the sins confessed to him, he is deprived of his dignity. The gospel teaching understands repentance not just as repentance for the deed, but as a rebirth, renewal of the human soul. The sacrament of repentance is performed as follows. In front of the icon of Jesus Christ or in front of the Holy Cross, the priest reads prayers for the penitents for all those who come to the temple for confession. The very confession of sins to the priest takes place alone with him. The penitent enumerates his sins, and when he finishes, makes a prostration. The priest, placing an epitrachelion on the head of the confessor, reads a prayer in which he asks for forgiveness, makes the sign of the cross over his head, and then lets him kiss the cross. In special cases, the priest has the right to impose penance, i.e. a certain kind of punishment according to the gravity of the sin. In the Orthodox Church, there is a rule that every Christian must go to confession at least once a year. REPENTANCE.

Communion or Eucharist

The sacrament of the priesthood.

All the sacraments, with the exception of baptism, can only be performed legally (i.e., in accordance with the canons of the Orthodox Church) by an ordained priest, since upon ordination he receives this right through the sacrament of the priesthood. The sacrament of priesthood consists in the fact that through hierarchal ordination (consecration) the Holy Spirit descends on the person ordained to a hierarchical degree. The grace of the Holy Spirit endows the initiate with special spiritual authority in relation to believers, gives him the right to lead the flock, instruct them in faith and improve their spiritual life, and also perform church sacraments for it. The degrees of priesthood are as follows: deacon, priest (presbyter), and bishop. Other persons of the clergy, the so-called. clergy, are consecrated not through ordination, but only with the blessing of the bishop. The higher degrees of the hierarchy are initiated only after successive passage through the lower ones. The method of placing one or another degree of priesthood is indicated in the instructions of the apostles, in the testimonies of the church fathers and in the rules of the ecumenical councils. Each degree of grace is given not in equal measure: in a lesser degree to a deacon, in a greater degree to a presbyter, and in the greatest degree to a bishop. In accordance with this grace, the deacon performs the role of a co-servant of the bishop and presbyter in the celebration of the sacraments and divine services. The presbyter, through ordination from the bishop, receives the right to perform all the sacraments, except for the sacrament of the priesthood, and all divine services in his parish. The bishop is the main teacher and the first clergyman, the main manager of the affairs of the church in his diocese. Only a council of bishops of at least two may ordain bishops. The Sacrament of Priesthood is performed at the liturgy at the altar of the church, so that the newly ordained person can take part with the entire clergy in the consecration of the Holy Gifts. At the liturgy, ordination is performed only over one bishop, one presbyter and one deacon. The ordained deacon is brought to the royal doors, where he is met by the deacons, who lead him into the altar. In the altar, he bows to the throne, walks around it three times and kisses the corners of the throne, as if taking an oath to reverently honor the sanctity of the altar and the throne. As a sign of humility before the bishop who consecrates him, after each round he kisses the hand and knee of the bishop, then he bows three times to the throne and kneels on one right knee, since an incomplete priestly service is entrusted to the deacon. To signify that he devotes all the strength of his soul to the service of the throne, he lays his hands on the throne and kisses it with his forehead. Consecration is preceded by a certification that not only the initiate, but all members of his family are Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox Church adheres to the rule not to repeat the ordination if it was performed correctly, even in non-Orthodox societies. BISHOP; CHURCH HIERARCHY; CLERGY; PRESBYTER; PRIEST.

Sacrament of marriage

- a sacrament performed over the bride and groom, believers who have chosen the path of married life, during which they give a free promise to be faithful to each other before the priest and the church, and the priest blesses their union and asks them for the grace of pure unanimity for the birth and Christian upbringing of children. Marriage is in the image of the union of Christ and the church. Before proceeding with the celebration of the sacrament of marriage in the church, after the liturgy, an announcement takes place, that is, the clergy informs the parishioners of the names of the bride and groom and asks if they know of any obstacles to concluding this marriage. After the announcement, the marriage itself takes place. The sacrament of marriage always takes place in the temple in the presence of witnesses. The ceremony is performed by a priest. The rite of marriage consists of two parts: betrothal and wedding. For the betrothal, the priest leaves the altar and places a cross and the Gospel, symbols of the invisible presence of Christ himself, on a lectern in the middle of the temple. He blesses the bride and groom and gives them lighted candles, which signify their purity. After reading certain prayers, the rings consecrated on the throne are brought, and those entering into marriage, as a sign of mutual consent, put rings on each other. During the wedding, the marriage union is blessed and divine grace is requested to descend on it. At the end of the prayers, the priest takes the crowns and places them on the head of the bride and groom. The crowns signify a reward for their chaste life before marriage. A marriage after the death of one of the spouses may be performed for the second and third time. The celebration of the sacrament of a second or third marriage is not so solemn. Two and three marriages are not given candles and crowns are not placed on their heads. Remarriages are allowed by the church after the pronouncement of penance.

Unction, or unction.

In this sacrament, when anointed with oil, grace is given to the sick, healing the infirmities of the soul and body. The anointing is performed only on the sick. It is forbidden to perform it on the healthy, as well as on the dead. Before the consecration of the oil, the patient confesses, and after (or before) he takes communion. The performance of the sacrament provides for a "gathering of believers", although it can take place both in church and at home. A council of seven presbyters is also desirable, according to the number of gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the presence of two or three priests is also allowed. In extreme cases, one priest is allowed to act, but to say prayers on behalf of the cathedral. To perform the sacrament, a table is placed, and on it is a dish of wheat. Wheat grains serve as a symbol of rebirth to a new life. A vessel with oil, a visible sign of grace, is placed on top of the wheat. Wine is poured into it: the combination of oil with wine is done in memory of the fact that this is exactly what the Gospel good Samaritan did to treat the sick. Brushes are placed nearby for anointing and seven candles are lit. The service of the sacrament consists of three parts. The first part is prayer. The second part is the consecration. The first priest reads a prayer for the consecration of the oil, the rest repeat it quietly, then sing the troparia to the Mother of God, Christ and the holy healers. The third part consists of seven readings of the Apostle, seven readings of the Gospel and seven anointings. Those parts of the body are anointed through which sin enters a person: the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, mouth and both sides of the hands. After the seventh anointing, the priest places the opened Gospel on the head of the sick person, which means the hand of the Savior himself, who heals the sick.

Sacraments of the Orthodox Church- these are sacred rites through which, on the basis of the command of Jesus Christ, under visible sensual signs, invisible grace is not only presented but actually taught to those who receive them. Man, as a spiritual-sensory being, can cognize the invisible God only in sensible forms, and the more easily and more strongly he becomes convinced of the reality of spiritual objects.

Visible signs in the sacraments, or sacraments, are necessary for one person; and the grace of God does not need any means to influence a person. St. John Chrysostom says: “If we were incorporeal; then Christ would communicate spiritual gifts to us without a body: but since our soul is united by a body; the spiritual is communicated to us in sensual forms. Therefore, according to his structure, man needs visible means in order to receive through them the invisible power of God.

Origin of the sacraments

It goes without saying that no one else but the Lord himself could establish such means of favoring a person. This is the work of God, the gift of God himself. This is what distinguishes the sacraments from other sacred rites, which include: monastic tonsure, various prayer services, etc. These actions are in themselves sacred, pious; but ours, by ourselves on our own behalf and to the glory of God, are done. There are sacred actions and those that cannot be called our actions, as performed by the grace of God, but are not considered sacraments, for example, the consecration of temples or water, the blessing of bread.

Divine action without appearance would be only spiritual, not mysterious. In the visible and invisible action of God and in the external form established by God, lies, according to the concept of the Eastern Church, the distinctive property of the sacrament - why all the sacraments are performed and taught by the laying on of hands and blessing, as a sign of the message of grace, through the image of the Lord's cross, by which the mystery is accomplished our salvation and granted us all divine powers.

Hence, having such an idea of ​​the sacraments, how impious it would be just as insane to equate the Christian sacraments with magical mysteries, in which such a property is attributed to certain actions or signs that they supposedly evoke a supernatural force. Here, the signs themselves mean nothing. Their whole significance lies in the fact that God, not out of any necessity, but quite freely, deigned to unite with them the actions of His saving grace. From this it is clear that only those sacred rites have the undoubted significance of mysteries or Christian sacraments, which are established by God himself, as visible means of communicating to man the saving gifts of the Holy Spirit. They effectively fulfill the gospel of Christ.

How many sacraments are there in the Church

The Holy Church, in accordance with God's vision of us, foreordained by the Gospel, confirmed by the holy fathers in tradition, allows seven sacraments in her Divine services, which correspond to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, counted by the Prophet Isaiah. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit sent down to earth are depicted in the form of seven fiery lamps burning before the Throne, and in the form of the seven eyes of the Lamb, slain for us, in the seven eyes of His seeing about us. Having a relationship with our life, the seven sacraments of the sacraments embrace the whole life of a Christian, satisfy all the needs of his life in Christ and, as it were, constitute a new seven of the Lord’s graceful deeds for a Christian and fill his whole real life. Through the sacraments we are born, we breathe, we eat, we continue our race, we are cleansed and healed. All seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Repentance, Priesthood, Marriage and Unction are of divine origin; because they were established by Jesus Christ himself.

All christian sacraments have a real meaning only in the Orthodox Church, and only here is their true meaning understood in the Orthodox and their grace-filled power is real. Outside the worship of the church, they are not mysterious actions, but simple rites or something else, as it was in paganism.

In the Orthodox Church, through the sacrament of Baptism, the person who receives it is introduced into the church, becomes a member of the body of Christ and receives the beginning of a new life, is clothed in the new right of sonship to God, and thus becomes a new person. Therefore, Baptism, to express its inner meaning, in the Holy Scriptures is called the bath of resurrection, newborn and putting on Christ. Therefore, it, like a new birth, does not repeat itself, for which the holy church says in the Creed: I confess one baptism.

Through sacrament of chrismation the newly baptized, as it were, is consecrated to the first degree of the church, or receives that title in the church, which belongs to all its members. All the anointed of God, have on themselves the seal of the Holy Spirit and in themselves all the Divine powers. Like Baptism, this sacrament cannot be repeated.

Through the sacrament of Penance a person receives constant healing from spiritual illnesses - sins, the seed of which remains in our nature even after Baptism and constitutes that old man, the complete putting off of which, together with the complete putting on the new, is the main task of the earthly life of a Christian - to put on the new man, created according to God in righteousness and reverence for truth. In healing sinners with the sacrament of Penance, the holy Church in this way constantly restores the union with God that they have broken and restores to them the right of sonship acquired in holy Baptism. Therefore, Repentance is sometimes called the second Baptism.

Through sacrament of Communion man, tasting the true Body and true Blood of Christ, unites himself most intimately with Christ.

Through the sacrament of the Priesthood pastoral authority, or the right and power to lead believers, feed them with the word of God and teach them the grace of the Holy Spirit, is communicated to the recipient. Shepherding is taught only to selected persons in the sacrament of the priesthood. By its very meaning, this sacrament is not repeated.

Through the sacrament of Marriage, the union of two persons of different sexes is blessed; after which they are no longer just man and woman for each other, but husband and wife and one flesh. From their blessed union, as from a sacred root, holy branches can also arise, i.e., children from Christian marriage in their very origin already receive sanctification.

The sacraments of the Orthodox Church must be received by those who approach them with faith in the Redeemer, with repentance and contrition for sins, with prayer and tenderness of the heart.

Through the sacrament of the Anointing of the Unction, the church heals the bodily infirmities of its members. If not always through this sacrament bodily health is restored to the sick and their life is preserved; then through this the grace of the sacrament is in no way denied; because the sacrament of the Unction of the Unction extends not only to the body, but also to the soul, and the prayers of the faithful can never remain fruitless for their brother, who is weak in body.

In order for the sacraments, as sacred rites, to have a beneficial effect on a person, for this they must be performed according to the will of the Lord Jesus, in accordance with His institution.

In order for both sacraments to be performed in accordance with the will of the Lord, for this it is necessary for the performer of the sacraments to have the right to what and how he performs, and the desire to perform the sacred action in the manner established by God.

The clergyman must approach the celebration of the sacraments not only with intent or desire, but also with the deepest reverence, in purity of spirit and body. This is required by the majesty and holiness of the sacraments; and the church itself prepares the clergyman for the celebration of the sacraments, for example, Baptism and the Eucharist, with special touching prayers. Here it should be noted that reverence is required from the performer of the sacraments only so that he himself will not be subjected to judgment and church judgment for neglect of the work of God.

What do the sacraments give to a person

A small particle of poison that enters the human body infects and kills the body. The poison of sin has spread throughout mankind and infected it with a deadly infection. Filth has been introduced into human nature, and through it alienation from God and spiritual death. To avoid this death is possible only through union with God, and it is achieved by repentance and faith in the redemptive feat of the Savior. A person needs to become a follower of Christ and through Him by the action of the Holy Spirit to be cleansed of sins and begin a new life in the love and truth of the commandments of God. Only this makes him capable of eternal and blissful life. The means through which each believer receives the grace that sanctifies him are the Christian Sacraments. The word "sacrament" means any deep, hidden thought, thing or action. Sacraments are such sacred actions in which, when certain words are pronounced, the grace of God mysteriously and invisibly acts on the believer. At the creation of the world, the Creator said: “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), and light became the power of His word. So it is in the Sacraments - when pronouncing the words established by the Church, the grace of God powerfully affects a person.

Sacraments These are aids to weak mankind. Their goal is to give people the blessings of God's love. Their fruit is liberation from sinful life. The very word "sacrament" indicates that it is not subject to the study of the mind, but is accepted by the believing heart. How and under what conditions is union with God carried out, and by what means? The first condition is a voluntary and sincere desire to be freed from a sinful life, to repent. Repentance is one of the great achievements of the human spirit, it is the fruit of the realization of one's guilt both in deeds and in thoughts. Repentance is taking care of your spiritual state. God Himself helps the conversion of a person. In this, the main active force is the love of God. The second condition is to replace your old sinful life with a new one: not to do evil, but to do good. It is necessary to absorb new views coming from the Savior through His Church. To do this, we need help, we need guidance. How to find guidance and leaders for the Christian life? In folk customs? But in them, prejudice and human untruth are mixed with truth and purity of morality. what should be done. They concern the external manifestations of a person's will, but they hardly concern the inner, heart life.

According to the teaching of the Church, the condition for receiving grace in the Sacrament is the inner disposition, the disposition of the person who receives the sacrament; faith, sincere desire and full readiness to accept it are required from a person.

How does a person turn to God? It takes place in the interaction of God and man. God, by His grace, arouses in man the desire to turn to Him. A person responds to the actions of exciting grace with his will, desire and readiness to accept it. But a person can also leave the calls of God unheeded. Then the appeal will not take place. The grace of the Holy Spirit is the special power of God necessary for the salvation of man. Under the influence of grace, a person acquires the ability to perceive and understand the Word of God.

There are seven Sacraments in the Orthodox Church.

1. Baptism.
2. Confirmation.
3. Communion.
4. Repentance.
5. Priesthood.
6. Marriage.
7. Unction.

Each of these Sacraments has its own spiritual power.

About Baptism.

In Baptism, a person is mysteriously born into spiritual life.
Baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer, when the body is immersed three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn by the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).
Baptism historically dates back to the earthly life of Christ. He sanctified Baptism by His example, having received it from John. Finally, after His resurrection, He gave the apostles a solemn command: “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
For those who wish to be baptized, repentance and faith are required. Therefore, before Baptism, the Creed is read. Repent, and may each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).
Infants are baptized according to the faith of their parents and sponsors, who at the same time are obliged to teach them the faith when they come of age. It can be seen from the Holy Scriptures that it is necessary to baptize (precisely) infants. In Old Testament times, circumcision was performed on eight-day-old babies. In the New Testament, circumcision is not performed, but Baptism is performed.
At Baptism, there are godparents in order to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized before the Church and, after Baptism, to take him under his care in order to confirm him in the faith.
During the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism, incantational prayers are read in order to drive away from the baptized devil, who, since the time of Adam's sin, has gained access to people and some power over them, as if over his captives and slaves. The Apostle Paul says that all people without grace live “according to the course of this world, according to the will of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).
White clothes, which are worn after Baptism, denote the purity of the soul and life of a Christian. A cross is placed on the person being baptized for a constant reminder of God and being with him. According to Christ's commandment: "If anyone wants to follow Me, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Walking around the baptized font with a candle denotes spiritual joy, combined with spiritual enlightenment.
Baptism is not repeated because it is a spiritual birth: a person is born once, and therefore is baptized once. After Baptism, the believer becomes a full member of the Church of Christ. All the Mysteries and depths of spiritual gifts are open to him.
The Sacrament of Baptism is performed in our church on the following days: Saturday, Sunday.

An adult person accepts the Sacrament of Baptism, having deeply realized his faith in God, having a firm intention to live according to the commandments of Christ and be a faithful child of the Orthodox Church.
The Sacrament of Baptism is performed on infants according to the faith of their parents and godparents.
The recipient can only be a person baptized in the Orthodox Church, a deeply religious person who can fulfill the duty of spiritual education of his godson. There are restrictions on the degree of relationship for the recipients - this must be clarified with the priest in advance.
Parents, godparents and everyone present at the performance of the Sacrament must have a pectoral cross on them, women should come with their heads covered.
The baptized must have with him:
1) Cross;
2) Christening shirt;
3) Candles;
4) Towel;
5) Birth certificate.

Sacrament of Baptism

About Confirmation

In Chrismation, a person receives grace, spiritually regenerating and strengthening. Confirmation is a Sacrament in which the believer, when the body parts are anointed with chrism, in the name of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given, which restore and strengthen in spiritual life. The Holy Scriptures of the Apostle John speak of the internal operation of this Sacrament: “You have the anointing from the Holy One and know everything. ... However, the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you; but as this very anointing teaches you everything, and it is true and true, what it has taught you, abide in him” (1 John 2:20, 27).
Similarly, the apostle Paul says: “But he who confirms us with you in Christ and anointed us (is) God, who also sealed us and gave the guarantee of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1, 21-22). Hence the words uttered at Confirmation are taken: the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. About the holy chrism, it should be noted that it is left to consecrate it to the highest hierarchy as the successors of the apostles, who themselves performed ordination to bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Anointing of the chela (forehead) - means the consecration of the mind, or thoughts.
The anointing of the perseus (breast) is the consecration of the heart, or desires.
The anointing of the eyes, ears and lips is the sanctification of the senses.
The anointing of hands and feet is the sanctification of the deeds and all behavior of a Christian.
In the modern practice of the Orthodox Church, the Sacrament of Chrismation is performed together with Baptism.

Sacrament of Chrismation

About Communion

Communion is a Sacrament in which the believer, under the guise of bread and wine, partakes of the true Body and Blood of Christ. In this Sacrament, a person is united with God and receives a great gift of grace for eternal life. Communion of the Body and Blood of our Savior from a single Chalice, we thereby unite with each other in Christ, in which our love for God and neighbors is manifested.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, just before His suffering, performed this Sacrament for the first time at the Last Supper, having previously presented in it a living image of His saving suffering; having communed the apostles, He gave them the commandment to always celebrate this Sacrament.
The liturgy followed by the Sacrament of Communion is called the liturgy. The word "liturgy" in Greek means "public service". The meal at which the Sacrament of Communion is performed is called the throne, because Jesus Christ, as King, is mysteriously present at it.
The first part of the liturgy, during which the bread and wine for the Sacrament is prepared, is called the proskomidia. It is performed at the altar during the reading of the hours. The word "proskomedia" means "bringing". This name recalls the custom of ancient Christians to bring their sacrifice to the temple - everything needed to perform the liturgy.
The bread used for the Sacrament of Communion is called prosphora, which means "offering." In fact, they are baked at the temple, where they can be purchased. But you can submit the prosphora to the altar with a note - the names of your loved ones, for whom we ask the priest to pray. On the prosphora, the priest performs the service. From the first, largest prosphora, he prepares the sacrament, cuts out Bread, the future Body of Christ. The bread prepared for Communion is called the Lamb, because it represents the image of the suffering Jesus Christ, just as the Paschal lamb depicted Him in the Old Testament. Parts of the liturgical prosphora, from which the Holy Lamb was taken out, are called antidorom (literally: "instead of the Gifts"). At the end of the liturgy, the antidoron is distributed to the worshipers to strengthen their strength.
The next part of the liturgy, after which the faithful prepare for the Sacrament, was called by the ancients the liturgy of the catechumens, because in addition to the baptized and those admitted to Communion, catechumens are also allowed to hear it, that is, those preparing for Baptism, as well as penitents who are not allowed to Communion. It ends with the command to the catechumens to leave the temple.
That part of the liturgy at which the Sacrament of Communion is performed is called the liturgy of the faithful, because only the faithful (believers), that is, those who have received Baptism, have the right to be at this service. Everyone who wishes to begin the Sacrament of Communion must test (open) his conscience before God and purify it with repentance for sins, which is facilitated by fasting and prayer. Let a man examine himself, and thus let him eat from this Bread and drink from this Cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, he eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not considering the Body of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:28-29). The one who partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ is most intimately united with Jesus Christ Himself and in Him becomes a participant in eternal life. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him (John 6:56). Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life (John 6:54).
Regarding how often one should commune of the Holy Mysteries, it should be noted that the ancient Christians communed every Sunday; but now few have such purity of life as to be always ready to approach such a great Sacrament. The Church, with a motherly voice, exhorts those who strive for a reverent life to confess to their spiritual father and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ every month. Those who only listen to the Divine Liturgy, and do not come to Holy Communion, can and should participate in the Liturgy by prayer, faith, and especially the unceasing remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who commanded this to be done in His remembrance (see: Luke 22:19) .
The celebration and acceptance of the Sacrament of Holy Communion in the true Christian Church will always continue, until the very Coming of Christ, according to the words of the Apostle Paul: “Every time you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11, 26)
Before the Sacrament of Holy Communion, one must especially prepare oneself by fasting, prayer and repentance. Those who wish to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ must prayerfully prepare themselves for this. For prayerful preparation for Holy Communion, on the eve of communion, you need to read the Follow-up to Holy Communion. It is found in the Orthodox Prayer Book. There is a pious tradition of reading three canons before accepting the Holy Mysteries of Christ: the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ, the canon of prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, and the canon to the Guardian Angel. The church day begins in the evening, so on the eve of communion, it is customary to attend an evening church service.
Fast
Before Communion, a three-day liturgical fast is laid.
Fasting, in addition to restrictions on food, also consists in protecting yourself from feelings of anger and irritation, refraining from condemnation and all kinds of obscene thoughts, conversations, spending time, as far as possible, in solitude, reading the word of God (Gospel) and books spiritual content. It is necessary to maintain physical and spiritual purity. Spouses must abstain from bodily intercourse on the day before and after communion. On the eve of the sacrament, from 12 o'clock in the morning, a strict fast begins - complete abstinence from drinking and eating.
Repentance
The one who wishes to take communion must repent before God of his sins at confession, sincerely opening his soul and not concealing a single sin he has committed, and have a sincere intention to correct himself. Before confession, one must certainly reconcile both with the offenders and with the offended, humbly asking everyone for forgiveness. During confession, it is better not to wait for the priest’s question, but to tell him everything that weighs on the soul, without justifying yourself in anything and without shifting the blame to others. Having confessed, you must make a firm decision not to repeat your former sins again. Without confession, no one can be admitted to Holy Communion, except for children under seven years of age and in cases of mortal danger.
On the day of Holy Communion, one must behave reverently and decently in order to "honestly keep in oneself Christ received."

Sacrament of Communion

On Confession and Repentance

In Repentance, a person is healed of spiritual illnesses, that is, of sins. Repentance is the Sacrament in which the one who confesses his sins, with a visible expression (that is, the will) of forgiveness from the priest, is invisibly resolved from sins by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
This Sacrament originates from Saint John the Baptist: to those who came to him, he preached "the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins", and they confessed their sins (see: Mk. 1, 4-5). Jesus Christ promised the apostles the power to forgive sins when he said: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). After His resurrection, He really gave them this authority when He said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain ”(Jn. 20, 22-23).
Repentance for sins, the intention to correct one's life, faith in Christ and hope in His mercy are required from the penitent. For Godly sorrow produces unchanging repentance unto salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). And when the lawless one turned from his iniquity and began to do judgment and righteousness, he will live for this (Ezek. 33:19). Of Him (that is, of Jesus Christ) all the prophets testify that everyone who believes in Him will receive the remission of sins in His name (Acts 10:43).
There are also preparatory and auxiliary means for repentance - this is fasting and prayer. The Holy Church uses a special means to purify and pacify the conscience of a repentant sinner - penance. This word means "prohibition" (see: 2 Cor. 2, 6). Under this designation, of necessity, certain special pious exercises and certain deprivations are prescribed to the penitent; their goal is liberation from the unrighteousness of sin and overcoming sinful habits, such as, for example, fasting beyond the prescribed for everyone, and for serious sins - excommunication from Holy Communion for a certain time.

Sacrament of Penance (Confessions)

About the Priesthood

In the Priesthood, the believer receives the grace to spiritually regenerate and educate others through doctrine and the Sacraments.
Priesthood is a Sacrament in which the Holy Spirit ordains the rightly chosen one through the laying on of hands as a hierarch (episcopal) to perform the Sacraments and shepherd the flock of Christ. Everyone should understand us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1). Pay attention to yourself and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20, 28). To shepherd the Church means to instruct people in faith, piety and good deeds.
There are three required degrees of priesthood: bishop, presbyter (priest), deacon. The difference between them is that the deacon officiates at the Sacraments, but does not perform them; the presbyter performs the Sacraments, being in subjection to the bishop; the bishop not only administers the Sacraments, but also has the authority to impart to others, through the laying on of hands, the gift of grace to administer them. About episcopal authority, the apostle Paul writes to Titus: “For this reason I left you in Crete, so that you would complete the unfinished business and appoint presbyters in all the cities” (Tit. 1, 5), and to Timothy: “Lay hands on no one hastily” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Sacrament of the Priesthood

About Marriage (Wedding)

In Marriage, lovers receive the grace that sanctifies their marriage, the natural birth and upbringing of children.
Marriage (from the Slovene take (wife)) is a Sacrament in which, with a free promise before the priest and the Church, the bride and groom of their mutual fidelity, their marital union is blessed, in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church, and they ask for the grace of pure unanimity for the blessed birth and Christian upbringing of children.
The Sacrament of Marriage goes its history to the first people Adam and Eve. They were the first to receive a blessing and command from God: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). The Apostle Paul says: “A man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church” (Eph. 5:31-32).
The Sacrament of the Wedding in our church is performed on the following days: Friday and Sunday (if there is no fasting and special holidays).

The Sacrament of the Wedding is performed on spouses (marriage registration at the registry office is required), of the Orthodox faith, baptized, who wish to live together until the last minute of their lives, maintaining fidelity, love and respect for each other.
Registration and interview with the priest is made in advance.
Those who are getting married must have with them:
1) Marriage certificate;
2) Icon of the Savior, icon of the Mother of God;
3) Wedding rings;
4) Footboard (towel);
5) Candles.
All those present at the performance of the Sacrament must have a pectoral cross on them, women should come with their heads covered.

Sacrament of Marriage

About the Unction

In the Anointing of the Sick, the sick person is healed of bodily diseases by healing from (diseases) spiritual.
Unction is a Sacrament in which, when the body is anointed with oil, the grace of God is called upon the sick, healing the infirmities of the soul and body. This Sacrament originates from the apostles, who, having received power from Jesus Christ, “smeared many sick with oil and healed” (Mk. 6, 13). The apostles conveyed this Sacrament to the clergy of the Church, as can be seen from the following words of the Apostle James: “Is any of you sick, let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).

Sacrament of the Unction

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