Foundation of Orthodox Spirituality Sacraments
MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)
Mysteries (Sacraments) What is a mystery? Mysteria (Μυστήρια)= sacramenta in Latin. Mystical has more inward connotation than Western adjective Sacramental (made sacred). Something unknown Inward life of the Church is Mystical Christ as the Head Church as His Body Involves the Holy Spirit. Church Triumphant and Church Militant Think of prayers along with sacred acts as vessels by which the Holy Spirit is scooped up and given to the members of the Church. A mystery is a sacred act which under a visible aspect communicates to the soul the invisible Grace of God.
Gregory Nazianzus You ask, What is the procession of the Holy Spirit? Tell me first, what is the unbegottenness of the Father, and I will then explain to you the physiology of the generation of the Son, and the procession of the Spirit, and we shall both of us be stricken with madness for prying into the mystery of God.
Mysteries (Sacraments) What happens if we strip the Church of the world of the Holy Spirit? You strip the Church of all that is mystical? All the Mysteries were given to us by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Principle Holy Mysteries Baptism - One is born into the spiritual life. Chrismation - One receives Grace for strength. Communion - Spiritually nourishes. Repentance - Heals spiritual disease. Unction - Aids in healing of disease. Priesthood - One receives Grace to nurture others. Matrimony - One receives grace that sanctifies the marriage, birth-giving, and upbringing of children.
BAPTISM & CHRISMATION βάπτισμα Xρίσμα
Why Do We Need Baptism? Beginning of our redemption. Begin with the renewal of our soul. What did Jesus Christ do? - Christ first renewed the human soul with His Incarnation and his own Baptism. Later, He overcame physical death with his Resurrection. Begin through Baptism and Chrismation Continue through participation in all the Mysteries of the Church and our individual efforts (Synergia).
Baptism Greek word is βαπτίζω baptizo - literally means to immerse Done in accordance with the command of Christ Himself. Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. (Matt 28:19)
Baptism What is it? Holy Spirit is given in Baptism... a cleansing remedy for the stains sunk deep in into us, because of being born and living in the passions. Saint Gregory Palamas Saint Theophan: Baptism gives us what nothing else on earth can give us: It unites and combines with our natural being Divine grace Some new element, a supernatural one is added to our composition, and will remain inside us hidden and secretly acting... It is renewed within us by the communion of the Holy Mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ. Saint Theophan the Recluse
Baptism Full confession and standing to West renouncing Satan. Turning to East we affirm our faith (Creed). Water is permeated with the Holy Spirit. Through the descent of Your Holy Spirit sanctify this water... Give to it the grace of redemption, the blessing of the Jordan. Make it a fountain of immortality, a gift of sanctification, for the remission of sins, protection against infirmities, destructive to evil forces, inaccessible to opposing powers, filled with angelic might.
Baptism Immersed three time - Father, Son and Holy Spirit Being buried in the likeness of Your death through baptism, he (she) may likewise become a partaker in Your resurrection; and having guarded the gift of the Holy Spirit, and increased the measure of grace entrusted to him (her), he (she) may receive the prize of the heavenly calling and so be numbered among first-born, whose names are written in heaven in You our God and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is mystically implanted in the heart.
Baptism Sealed with Holy Chrism - Chrismation Clothed in white garment - a garment of righteousness - a robe of light. Reading of Epistle and Gospel Circling Font - As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia Receive Holy Communion
Baptism We are born again - become heavenly children of God All sins are forgiven. Holy Spirit is sealed in heart. A commitment has been made. Door opened for a new life of Repentance. Now have opportunity to receive the gifts of God through the Mysteries of the Church. Further spiritual growth depends on our God given free will Still subject to death and sin. Mystical life of Church supports our spiritual growth.
Chrismation Performed immediately after the Mystery of Baptism. It is the confirmation or seal of union with the Holy Church. It is the seal of the Grace-given powers for growth in spiritual life. "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit"
Chrismation Originally done by Apostles by laying on of hands. Replaced by the use of a special myrrh (μύρον) that was received from the hands of the Apostles. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Cor 1:21-22) Word Chrisma has a close bond with the Word Christian. Christians were often called the anointed ones.
Chrismation In the West, Chrismation was separated from Baptism in the 13th century. In Roman church given to those who have become 7 years of age.
Questions Baptism
HOLY COMMUNION Θεία Ευχαριστία
Holy Communion The bread and wine are mystically changed by the Holy Spirit into the true Body and true Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Distributed to believers for a most intimate union with Christ for our spiritual benefit. The greatest of the Christian Mysteries.
Holy Communion Think about this: You are taking into your body Christ Himself! It mixes in your blood stream and radiates through your entire body. It is cleansing and renewing your innermost being.
Holy Communion Christ promised after feeding the five thousand: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (John 6:51) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no 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 food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:53-56) What do you think they thought?
Holy Communion Since the Apostles didn t believe this either, he told them about His future ascension into Heaven. Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? John (6:61-62) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63) Christ understood that these words are hard to understand.
Holy Communion Its establishment is set forth by three Evangelist. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matt 26:26-28) Same is said in Mark And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20)
Holy Communion This is said again by Paul The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. (1 Cor 11:23-25) This wording is clear and definite and does not allow for any other interpretation.
Holy Communion We see the performance of this mystery in Apostolic time in Acts (Acts 2:42. 46, 20:7) and in the Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 10, 11) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. (1 Cor 10:16-17) No way you can deny that this sacrament was established by Christ and that the Apostles participated in it after His Ascension.
Holy Communion Saint Gregory Palamas - Homily 56 Let us therefore mingle our blood with God s in order to remove the corruption from our own It makes new instead of old and eternal instead of temporary, it frees us from death and makes us like evergreen trees... we are transformed to receive divine sonship, as God s radiance comes upon us in secret, shines round about us in an extraordinary way, makes us God s anointed ones, and gives us power...
Holy Communion This is NOT a symbolic presence of Christ NOT figurative NOT by an abundance of Grace NOT by a simple descent of the Holy Spirit NOT through a penetration of the Bread But truly and actually - it is changed, transubstantiated, converted, transformed in the the true Body and Blood of Christ.
Holy Communion Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council said: At the Divine Table we should not see simply the bread and the cup which have been offered, but raising our minds high, we should with faith understand that on the sacred Table lies the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Who is offered as a Sacrifice by the priests; and truly receiving His Precious Body and Blood, we should believe that his is a sign of our Resurrection.
Holy Communion Christ is present in this Mystery with all His being. Even in the smallest particle, All receive the entire Christ in His being. Even though many liturgies it is same Christ. After their transformation the Body and Blood no longer return to their former nature.
Holy Communion It is an obligation of every Christian to receive Communion Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. (John 6:53-54)
Holy Communion It unites us with the Lord. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:56) It nourishes the soul and body and aids our spiritual growth. He who feeds on Me will live because of Me. (John 6:57) Pledges of future resurrection and eternal life. He who eats this bread will live forever. (John 6:58)
Preparation We must not avoid communion because we deem ourselves to be sinful. Why? We approach it for the healing of our soul considering ourselves to be unworthy. It is pride to think that you are worthy to approach and receive. But we must not approach and receive without sincerity of heart.
Preparing to Take Holy Communion We prepare and humble ourselves with fasting and acknowledge our sinfulness. Regular fasting on Wednesday and Friday Fasting is prohibited by canon on Sat. as this is the day God rested after creation. Eucharist Fast: Total abstinence from any food or drink in the morning prior to receiving the Eucharist. Canon 9 of Holy Apostles: All those faithful who enter that listen to the Scriptures, but do not stay for prayer and Holy Communion must be excommunicated, on the grounds that they are breaching Church order.
Preparation One should participate regularly in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the central focus of the Divine Liturgy. In early days there was a daily partaking. Remember: The Eucharist takes away our sin and gives us strength to come closer to God. With fear of God, faith and love, draw near.
Preparation When the moment comes in the Liturgy, With Fear (reverence) of God, Faith and Love, Draw near if you do not have an valid reason for not partaking you are obligated to receive the Eucharist. Only critical requirements are the Eucharist fast and the approach with fear of God, faith and love. It s spiritual medicine for a healthier spiritual life
REPENTANCE HOLY CONFESSION Mετάνοια
Repentance Mystery for the Remission of Sins Remission of sins is bestowed through the mercy of God through the intermediary of the Priest, after we offer our repentance of our sins. 1. Confession of sins before a Priest 2. Prayer of forgiveness pronounced by the Priest. An act of mercy for our spiritual benefit. for edification, and not for destruction (2 Cor 10:8)
Repentance Instituted by Christ He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:22-23) Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matt 18:17-18; 16:19) Priests are the instrument of God s mercy. Sins are remitted not on their authority but in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Repentance We cannot overcome our sinfulness on our own power We need grace of God Sacrament of Confession is a renewal of baptism cleansing us of our past sinfulness and making a new commitment to change.
Trisagion Prayer 51st Psalm Penitent says: Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I confess before You all that is in my heart and mind, both hidden and known, that I have committed this day. Wherefore I beg of You, righteous and merciful Judge, remission of the grace to sin no more. Priest says: My brother/sister, whatever brings you before God and to me, you relate not to me, but to God, in whose presence you stand. Penitent then makes an oral confession. Priest puts his stole over the penitents head and says: My spiritual child, what you have confessed to my humble person, I who am lowly and a sinner have no earthly power to remit, but God alone. But because of that divine word, spoken to the Apostles after the resurrection of our Lord saying, If you forgive the sins of any, they are retained we make bold to say, Whatever you have related to my lowly self, and whatever you have failed to relate, whether through ignorance or forgetfulness, may God forgive you in this present life.
HOLY UNCTION Eυχέλαιο
Life of Repentance Church provides us with many tools or weapons to aid us along our path to Salvation. Prayer and Fasting Repentance and Holy Confession Worship and Holy Communion Praying with Icons Reading the Bible & Church Fathers Ordering our Life Putting others first.
Orthodox Life C r Incarnation Love God Love neighbor P a e a t i o n Fall Baptism Awaken Communion Grace Synergy Ascetic Discipline Theosis Virtuous Life Prayer Fasting Study Meditation Final Judgment r a d i s e Will Repentance The Church