7 church sacraments of the Orthodox. Sacraments in the Orthodox Church. The sacrament of unction is the last of the seven sacraments

Baptism. Chrismation. Communion (Eucharist). Repentance (confession). Church marriage. Unction (unction). Priesthood.

Christian sacraments

Sacraments in Christianity are called cult actions, with the help of which, according to the clergy, "under a visible image, the invisible grace of God is communicated to believers." The Orthodox and Catholic churches recognize seven sacraments: baptism, communion, repentance (confession), chrismation, marriage, unction, priesthood.

Church ministers are trying to assert that all seven sacraments are a specifically Christian phenomenon, that all of them are somehow connected with various events of "sacred" history. In fact, all these sacraments are borrowings from pre-Christian cults, which received certain specific features in Christianity. Moreover, initially the Christian church borrowed and introduced into its cult only two sacraments - baptism and communion. Only later among the Christian rites do the remaining five sacraments appear. Officially, the seven sacraments were recognized by the Catholic Church at the Council of Lyon in 1279, and some time later they were established in the Orthodox cult.

Baptism

This is one of the main sacraments, symbolizing the acceptance of a person into the bosom of the Christian church. The clergy themselves call baptism a solemn act, as a result of which a person "dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn into a spiritual, holy life."

Long before Christianity, in many pagan religions there were rites of ritual washing with water, which symbolized cleansing from evil spirits, demons, from all evil spirits. It is from ancient religions that the Christian sacrament of baptism originates.

According to Christian doctrine, in the sacrament of baptism "a person's original sin is forgiven" (and if an adult is baptized, then all other sins committed before baptism). Thus, the cleansing meaning of the rite, as in pre-Christian cults, is completely preserved, although the content of baptism in Christianity is significantly modified.

In different Christian directions, the rite of baptism is interpreted differently. In the Orthodox and Catholic churches, baptism is classified as a sacrament.

Protestant churches consider baptism not as a sacrament by which a person joins the deity, but as one of the rites. Most Protestant Churches deny that people are freed from original sin through baptism. Adherents of Protestantism proceed from the fact that "there is no such rite, by performing which a person would receive the forgiveness of sins," that "baptism without faith is useless." In accordance with this understanding of the meaning of this rite, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, followers of some other Protestant churches and sects perform baptism on adults who have already passed the probationary period. After baptism, a person becomes a full member of the sect.

There are differences in the very ceremony of baptism when this rite is performed in different churches. So, in the Orthodox Church, a baby is immersed in water three times, in the Catholic Church, it is poured over with water. In a number of Protestant churches, the person being baptized is sprinkled with water. In Baptist and Seventh-day Adventist sects, baptism is usually performed in natural water bodies.

Despite the peculiar understanding of the meaning of the rite of baptism by representatives of various Christian denominations, on some features of the performance of this rite in different churches, baptism everywhere pursues one goal - to introduce a person to religious faith.

Baptism is the first link in the chain of Christian rites that entangle the whole life of the believer, keeping him in the religious faith. Like other rites, the sacrament of baptism serves the church for the spiritual enslavement of people, for instilling in them thoughts about the weakness, impotence, insignificance of man before the omnipotent, all-seeing, all-knowing God.

Of course, among those who now baptize children in the church, far from all are believers. There are those who do this under the influence, and often under pressure, of believing relatives. Some people are attracted by the solemnity of the church ritual. And some baptize children "just in case", having heard enough talk that there will be no happiness for a child without baptism.

In order to oust this unnecessary and harmful custom from everyday life, one explanatory work is not enough. A large role in this is played by the new civil ritual, in particular the ritual associated with naming the baby (in different parts of the country it received different names). Where it is held in a solemn festive atmosphere, lively and naturally, it invariably attracts the attention of young parents. And this leads to the fact that there are fewer and fewer people who want to baptize their children in the church.

The civil rite of naming has a great atheistic charge also because in the course of it religious ideas about people's dependence on supernatural forces are overcome, the slave psychology instilled in them by the church, and a materialistic view of a person, an active life changer, is affirmed. On the example of this rite alone, one can see what role the new civil ritual plays in atheistic education.

communion

The sacrament of communion, or the holy Eucharist (which means "thankgiving sacrifice"), occupies an important place in the Christian cult. Adherents of most Protestant movements, who reject the Christian sacraments, nevertheless retain baptism and communion in their rituals as the most important Christian rites.

According to Christian doctrine, the rite of communion was established at the Last Supper by Jesus Christ himself, who thereby "gave praise to God and the Father, blessed and consecrated the bread and wine, and, having communed his disciples, ended the Last Supper with a prayer for all believers." Supposedly mindful of this, the church performs the sacrament of communion, which consists in the fact that believers partake of the so-called communion, consisting of bread and wine, believing that they have tasted the body and blood of Christ and thereby, as it were, partake of their divinity. However, the origins of communion, like other rites of the Christian church, lie in ancient pagan cults. The performance of this rite in ancient religions was based on the naive belief that the life force of a person or animal is in some organ or in the blood of a living being. Hence, the beliefs arose among the primitive peoples that, having tasted the meat of strong, dexterous, fast animals, one can acquire the qualities that these animals possess.

In primitive society, there was a belief in a supernatural relationship between groups of people (kinds) and animals (totemism). These related animals were considered sacred. But in some cases, for example, in especially important periods of people's lives, sacred animals were sacrificed, members of the clan ate their meat, drank their blood, and thus, according to ancient beliefs, became attached to these divine animals.

In ancient religions, for the first time, there are also sacrifices to the gods, the formidable rulers of nature, whom primitive people tried to propitiate. And in this case, eating the meat of sacrificial animals, our distant ancestors believed that they, as it were, enter into a special supernatural connection with the deity.

In the future, instead of animals, various kinds of symbolic images were sacrificed to the gods. Thus, among the Egyptians, hosts baked from bread were sacrificed to the god Serapis. The Chinese made images from paper, which were solemnly burned during religious ceremonies.

In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, the custom was first introduced to eat bread and wine, with the help of which it was supposedly possible to join the divine essence of the heavenly rulers.

Early Christian writings do not mention this sacrament. Some Christian theologians of the first centuries of our era were forced to admit that communion is performed in a number of pagan cults, in particular in the mysteries of the Persian god Mithras. Apparently, therefore, the introduction of communion in Christianity was met by many leaders of the church with great caution.

Only in the 7th century communion becomes a sacrament that is unconditionally accepted by all Christians. The Nicene Council of 787 formalized this sacrament in the Christian cult. The dogma of the conversion of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ was finally formulated at the Council of Trent.

The Church takes into account the role of communion in influencing believers. Therefore, communion occupies a central place in Christian worship - the liturgy. The clergy require believers to attend services and receive communion at least once a year. With this, the church seeks to ensure its constant influence on the flock, its constant influence on people.

Repentance

Adherents of the Orthodox and Catholic faiths are charged with the obligation to periodically confess their sins to a priest, which is an indispensable condition for the "absolution of sins", the forgiveness of the guilty by the church on behalf of Jesus Christ. The ritual of confession and "absolution" of sins is the basis of the sacrament of repentance. Repentance is the strongest means of ideological influence on believers, their spiritual enslavement. Using this sacrament, the clergy constantly instills in people the idea of ​​their sinfulness before God, of the need to atone for their sins, of that. that this can be achieved only with the help of humility, patience, meek enduring all the hardships of life, suffering, unquestioning fulfillment of all the prescriptions of the church.

The confession of sins came to Christianity from primitive religions, in which there was a belief that every human sin stems from evil spirits, from unclean forces. You can get rid of sin only by telling others about it, because words have a special, witchcraft power.

In the Christian religion, repentance received its specific justification and was introduced to the rank of a sacrament. Initially, confession was public. Believers who violated church prescriptions had to appear before the court of their fellow believers and clergy and publicly repent of their sins. A public ecclesiastical court determined a sinner's punishment in the form of excommunication from the church, complete or temporary, in the form of an order to fast and constantly pray for a long time.

Only from the thirteenth century. "secret confession" is finally introduced in the Christian Church. The believer confesses his sins to his "confessor", one priest. At the same time, the church guarantees the secrecy of confession.

Attaching great importance to confession, the Christian clergy assert that the confession of sins spiritually cleanses a person, removes a heavy burden from him, and keeps the believer from any kind of sins in the future. In reality, repentance does not keep people from misdeeds, from sinful, in the Christian view, deeds, from crime. The existing principle of forgiveness, according to which any sin can be forgiven a repentant person, in fact, provides an opportunity to sin endlessly for every believer. The same principle served as the basis for the churchmen for the most unscrupulous religious speculation, which took on particularly large proportions in Catholicism. Catholic clergy in the 11th century introduced "absolution of sins" for "good deeds", and starting from the XII century. began to "absolve sins" for money. Indulgences were born - letters of "absolution of sins". The Church launched a brisk sale of these letters, establishing special so-called taxes - a kind of price list for various types of sins.

Using the sacrament of repentance, the church controls literally every step of a person, his behavior, his thoughts. Knowing how this or that believer lives, the clergy has the opportunity at any moment to suppress unwanted thoughts and doubts in him. This gives the clergy the opportunity to exert a constant ideological influence on their flock.

Despite the guarantee of the secrecy of confession, the Church used the sacrament of repentance in the interests of the ruling classes, shamelessly violating these guarantees. This even found a theoretical justification in the works of some theologians, who admitted the possibility of violating the secrecy of confession "to prevent a great evil." First of all, the "great evil" meant the revolutionary moods of the masses, popular unrest, etc.

Thus, it is known that in 1722 Peter I issued a decree according to which all clergymen were obliged to report to the authorities about each case of revealing rebellious moods at confession, plans "on the sovereign or on the state or malicious intent on the honor or health of the sovereign and on his name majesty." And the clergy readily carried out this sovereign's instruction. The church continued to play the role of one of the branches of the tsarist secret police.

Great importance is attached to repentance not only in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, but also in Protestant movements. However, as a rule, Protestants do not consider repentance as a sacrament. In many Protestant churches and sects there is no obligation for believers to confess their sins before a presbyter. But in the numerous instructions of the leaders of Protestant organizations, believers are charged with the obligation to constantly repent of sins, to report their sins to spiritual shepherds. Repentance, modified in form, thus retains its meaning in Protestantism as well.

Chrismation

After baptism in the Orthodox Church, chrismation takes place. In Orthodox publications, its meaning is explained as follows: "In order to preserve spiritual purity received in baptism, in order to grow and strengthen in spiritual life, special help from God is needed, which is given in the sacrament of chrismation." This sacrament consists in the fact that the human body is lubricated with a special aromatic oil (miro), with the help of which divine grace is allegedly transmitted. Before chrismation, the priest reads a prayer for the sending down of the Holy Spirit upon the person, and then crosswise lubricates his forehead, eyes, nostrils, ears, chest, arms and legs. At the same time, he repeats the words: "The seal of the holy spirit." The ritual of the sacrament eloquently speaks of the true origin of chrismation, which came to Christianity from ancient religions. Our distant ancestors rubbed themselves with fat and various oily substances, believing that this could give them strength, protect them from evil spirits, etc. Ancient people believed that by lubricating their body with the fat of an animal, they could acquire the properties of this animal. So, in East Africa, among some tribes, warriors rubbed their bodies with lion fat in order to become as brave as lions.

Subsequently, these rituals acquired a different meaning. Anointing with oil began to be used at the initiation of priests. At the same time, it was argued that in this way people become, as it were, carriers of a special "grace." The rite of anointing at the initiation of priests was used in ancient Egypt. When consecrated to the rank of Jewish high priest, they anointed his head with oil. It is from these ancient rites that the Christian rite of chrismation originates.

There is not a word about chrismation in the New Testament. However, Christian churchmen introduced it into their cult along with other sacraments. Like baptism, chrismation serves the church to inspire believers with an ignorant idea of ​​the special power of religious rituals, which allegedly gives a person "gifts of the holy spirit", spiritually strengthens him, and connects him to the deity.

Marriage

The Christian Church seeks to subjugate the whole life of a believing person, starting with his first steps and ending with the hour of death. Each more or less significant event in people's lives must necessarily be celebrated according to church rites, with the participation of clergy, with the name of God on their lips.

Naturally, such an important event in people's lives as marriage also turned out to be associated with religious rituals. The sacrament of marriage was included among the seven sacraments of the Christian church. It was established in Christianity later than others, only in the XIV century. Church marriage was declared the only valid form of marriage. Secular marriage, not consecrated by the church, was not recognized.

By performing the sacrament of marriage, the ministers of the Christian cult convince believers that only a church marriage, during which the newlyweds are instructed to live together in the name of Jesus Christ, can be happy and lasting for many years. However, this is not so. It is known that the basis of a friendly family is mutual love, community of interests, equality of husband and wife. The Church does not attach any importance to this. Religious morality was formed in an exploitative society in which women were powerless and oppressed. And religion sanctified the subordinate position of women in the family.

All the claims of churchmen about the benefits of Christian marriage have one goal: to attract people to the church. Christian ceremonies, with their solemnity, pomp, rituals developed over the centuries, sometimes attract people who seek to celebrate such a significant event as marriage as solemnly as possible. And the church, for its part, is doing its best to preserve the outward beauty of the rite, which has a great emotional impact on people.

The whole atmosphere in the church during the wedding ceremony gives special significance to the event. The priests meet the young in festive attire. The words of the psalms are heard, glorifying God, whose name the marriage is consecrated. Prayers are read in which the clergyman asks God for blessings for the bride and groom, peace and harmony for the future family. Crowns are placed on the heads of those who marry. They are offered to drink wine from one cup. Then they are circled around the lectern. And again prayers are raised to God, on whom the happiness of the newly created family allegedly depends only.

From the first to the last minute, while those who are getting married are in the church, they are instilled with the idea that their well-being depends primarily on the Almighty. A new family is born, and the church takes care that it be a Christian family, that young spouses be faithful children of the church It is no coincidence that the Christian church refuses to consecrate the marriages of Christians with dissidents, recognizing only the marriage union of people professing the Christian religion. It is the common faith, according to the Clergy, that is the main basis of a strong family.

Sanctifying the marriage union of people, the Christian church, as it were, takes the new family under its protection. The meaning of this patronage boils down to the fact that the newly created family falls under the vigilant control of the clergy. The Church, with its prescriptions, regulates literally the whole life of those who have entered into marriage. It should be said that in recent decades, the number of people who perform a religious ceremony when entering into marriage has decreased significantly. The percentage of those getting married in the church is now very small. To a large extent, the widespread introduction of a new civil rite of marriage into everyday life played a role here. And in cities, and in towns, and in villages, this rite is performed in rooms specially designated for this, in the Houses and Palaces of Weddings, in the Houses of Culture. Representatives of the public, veterans of labor, noble people take part in it. And this gives it the character of a universal festival. The birth of a new family becomes an event not only for the newlyweds, but also for the team in which they work or study, for everyone around them. A solemn ritual for life is preserved in the memory of those entering into marriage.

Of course, the new civil ceremony of marriage is not yet carried out everywhere with due solemnity and festivity. He sometimes lacks fiction, improvisation. Sometimes it is still formal. But we have the right to say that experience has already been gained in conducting this ceremony, which can serve as an example for all regions of the country. There is such experience in Leningrad, and in Tallinn, in the Zhytomyr and Transcarpathian regions, in the Moldavian SSR and other places. It is only a matter of its distribution, of great attention to the establishment of a new ritual.

Unction (unction)

An important role in the Christian cult is played by the consecration (unction), which is classified by the Catholic and Orthodox churches as one of the seven sacraments. It is performed on a sick person and consists in anointing him with wooden oil - oil, which is supposedly "sacred". According to the clergy, during the consecration of the oil, "divine grace" descends on a person. Moreover, the Orthodox Church teaches that with the help of unction, "human infirmities" are healed. Catholics, on the other hand, consider the sacrament as a kind of blessing for the dying.

Speaking of "human infirmities" churchmen mean not only "bodily", but also "mental" illnesses. Defining this sacrament, they declare that in it "the sick person, through the anointing of the body with sacred oil, receives the grace of the holy spirit, healing him from diseases of the body and soul, that is, from sins."

The consecration of the oil is accompanied by prayers in which the clergy ask God to grant the sick a recovery. Then the seven epistles of the apostles are read, seven ektenias (petitions) are pronounced for the sick. The priest performs seven anointings of the sick with consecrated oil. All this convincingly points to the connection of the sacrament of unction with ancient witchcraft rites, in which magical powers were attributed to numbers. The sacrament of unction, like other Christian rites, has its origins in ancient religions. Borrowing this sacrament from ancient cults, the Christian Church gave it a special meaning. Like a web, the church rituals of the believer are entangled from his birth to death. Whatever happens to a person, in all cases, he must turn to the church for help. Only there, teaches the clergy; people can find help, only in religious faith lies a person's path to true happiness. Preaching such ideas, the clergy call for help impressive, emotionally affecting the believers, the rites that are used by the church in the indoctrination of people.

Priesthood

The Christian Church ascribes a special meaning to the sacrament of the priesthood. It is performed at the initiation into the spiritual dignity. According to the clergy, during this rite, the bishop who performs it miraculously transfers to the consecrated a special kind of grace, which from that moment the new clergyman will have all his life.

Like other Christian sacraments, the priesthood has its roots in ancient pagan cults. This is especially clearly seen when performing one of the important rituals of initiation - ordination. The ceremony of the laying on of hands has a long history. It existed in all ancient religions, since in the distant past people endowed the hand with witchcraft power, believed that by raising their hands, a person can influence the forces of heaven. The same can be said about the spells cast over the initiate. In ancient times, our distant ancestors attributed magical power to the word. It is from those distant days that the custom of casting spells during the sacrament of the priesthood dates back to our time.

The Christian Church did not introduce this sacrament immediately. It found its place in the Christian cult in the process of the formation of the church, strengthening the role of the clergy - a special estate that devoted itself to serving the church. Initially, bishops, that is, overseers, in the early Christian communities had no rights to lead the communities. They oversaw the property, kept order during worship, maintained contact with local authorities. Only later, as the church and its organization become stronger, do they begin to occupy a dominant place in the communities. The clergy are separated from the laity. According to Christian theologians, the church has "an abundance of grace" necessary for "the sanctification of believers, for raising a person to spiritual perfection and his closest union with God." In order to reasonably use these God-given means "for the common good of the Church, a special type of activity has been established -" service ", called pastoral or priesthood. Pastoral care is not entrusted to all believers, but only to some of them, "who in the sacrament of the priesthood are called to this high and responsible service by God himself and receive special grace for its passage. ”This is how the ministers of the Christian church justify the need for the sacrament of the priesthood.

According to Christian teaching, there are three degrees of priesthood: the degrees of bishops, presbyter, or priest, and deacon. The highest degree of priesthood is the degree of bishop. The Church regards the bishops as the successors of the apostles, calling them "bearers of the highest grace of the priesthood." From the bishops "all degrees of the priesthood receive both succession and significance."

Elders in the second order of the priesthood "borrow their gracious authority from the bishop." They do not have the authority to ordain holy orders.

The duty of the deacons, who constitute the lowest rung of the church hierarchy, is to assist bishops and presbyters "in the ministry of the word, in sacred rites, especially in the sacraments, in administration, and in general in church affairs."

Attaching great importance to the priesthood, the church took care to turn this sacrament into a solemn act that produces a great emotional impact. There is a festive atmosphere in the church. Episcopal ordination takes place before the beginning of the liturgy. The initiate takes an oath to observe the rules of church councils, to follow the path of the apostles of Christ, to obey the supreme authority, to selflessly serve the church. He kneels with his hand and head on the throne. The bishops present lay their hands on his head. This is followed by prayers, after which the initiate puts on episcopal robes.

All this ceremonial should convince believers that the clergy are special people who, after consecration, become mediators between God and all members of the Church. This is the main meaning of the sacrament of the priesthood.

There are seven sacraments in the Orthodox Church: Baptism, Chrismation, Repentance, Communion, Marriage, Priesthood, Consecration of the Sick (unction).

sacrament such a sacred action is called, through which the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God, is secretly, invisibly given to a person.

THE MYSTERY OF BAPTISM

The sacrament of baptism is such a sacred act in which the believer in Christ, through triple immersion in water, with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity - Father and Son and Holy Spirit, washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins committed by him before baptism, he is reborn by the grace of the Holy Spirit into a new spiritual life (spiritually born) and becomes a member of the Church, i.e., the grace-filled Kingdom of Christ.

The sacrament of baptism was established by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He sanctified baptism by His own example by being baptized by John. Then, after His resurrection, He gave the apostles the command: go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit"(Matt. 28 :19).

Baptism is necessary for everyone who wants to be a member of the Church of Christ. "If one is not born from water and Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God,” said the Lord Himself (Jn. 3 :5).

Baptism requires faith and repentance.

The Orthodox Church baptizes babies according to the faith of their parents and godparents. For this, there are godparents at baptism, in order to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized before the Church. When he grows up, they are obliged to teach him the faith and make sure that their godson becomes a true Christian. This is the sacred duty of the beneficiaries, and they sin gravely if they neglect this duty. And the fact that gifts of grace are given according to the faith of others, we are given an indication in the Gospel, during the healing of the paralytic: “ Jesus seeing their faith(bringing the sick) says to the paralytic: child, your sins are forgiven you"(Mark. 2 :5).

The sectarians believe that infants cannot be baptized and condemn the Orthodox for performing the sacrament on infants. But the basis for infant baptism is that baptism replaced the Old Testament circumcision, which was performed on eight-day-old babies (Christian baptism is called "circumcision not made by hands" - (Col. 2 :11-12); and the apostles baptized whole families, where no doubt there were children. Infants, just like adults, are involved in original sin and need to be cleansed from it.

The Lord Himself said: let the children come to me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God" (OK. 18 :16).

Since baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person is born once, then the sacrament of baptism over a person is performed once. " One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism"(Eph. 4 :4).

THE MYSTERY OF ANOINTING

Confirmation is a sacrament in which the believer is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthen him in the spiritual Christian life.

Jesus Christ Himself said about the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit: “He who believes in Me, as it is said in the Scriptures, rivers of living water will flow from his womb (i.e., from the inner center, heart). He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive for the Holy Spirit was not yet upon them, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (Jn. 7 :38-39).

The Apostle Paul says: “He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed we have a God who captured us, and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor. 1 :21-22).

Gracious, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary to each believer in Christ. (Is there some more emergency gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are communicated only to certain people, such as: prophets, apostles, kings).

Originally St. The apostles performed the sacrament of chrismation through the laying on of hands (Acts. 8 :14-17; 19:2-6). And then, at the end of the first century, the sacrament of chrismation began to be performed through the anointing with holy chrism, following the example of the Old Testament church, since the apostles themselves did not have time to perform this sacrament through the laying on of hands.

holy peace is called a specially prepared and consecrated composition of fragrant substances and oil.

The chrism was certainly consecrated by the apostles themselves and their successors, the bishops (bishops). And now to consecrate St. only bishops can chrism. Through the anointing of the consecrated bishops, St. chrism, on behalf of the bishops, can perform the sacrament of chrismation and presbyters (priests).

During the sacrament, the following parts of the body are anointed with holy chrism to the believer: forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, chest, arms and legs - with the pronunciation of the words: “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Some call the sacrament of chrismation "the Pentecost (descent of the Holy Spirit) of every Christian."

THE MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE

Repentance is a sacrament in which the believer confesses (orally reveals) his sins to God in the presence of a priest and receives forgiveness of sins through the priest from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus Christ gave the saints apostles, and through them to all priests the power to allow (forgive) sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain"(In. 20 :22-23).

Even John the Baptist, preparing people to receive the Savior, preached “the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And they were all baptized by him in the Jordan River confessing their sins"(Mark. 1 :4-5).

The holy apostles, having received authority from the Lord for this, performed the sacrament of repentance: “many of those who believed came confessing and opening their works" (Acts. 19 :18).

To receive forgiveness (permission) of sins, the confessing (repentant) requires: reconciliation with all neighbors, sincere contrition for sins and their oral confession, a firm intention to correct one's life, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope for His mercy.

In special cases, a “penance” (the Greek word is a prohibition) is imposed on the penitent, consisting of pious deeds and some hardships aimed at overcoming sinful habits.

THE MYSTERY OF COMMUNICATION

Communion is a sacrament in which a believer (Orthodox Christian), under the guise of bread and wine, receives (tastes) the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and through this is mysteriously united with Christ and becomes a partaker of eternal life.

The sacrament of Holy Communion was established by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself during the last Last Supper before His suffering and death. He Himself performed this sacrament: “taking bread and giving thanks (to God the Father for all His mercies to the human race), he broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying: take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. He also took the cup and gave thanks to them, saying: drink from it all; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me” (Matt. 26 :26-28; Mark. 14 :22-24; OK. 22 :19-24; 1 Cor. 11 :23-25).

So Jesus Christ, having established the sacrament of communion, commanded students to do it always: "Do this in remembrance of Me."

In a conversation with the people, Jesus Christ 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 eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (Jn. 6 :53-56).

According to the commandment of Christ, the sacrament of communion is constantly performed in the Church of Christ and will be performed until the end of the age at the divine service called Liturgy during which bread and wine, by the power and action of the Holy Spirit, offered, or are transubstantiated, into the true body and into the true blood of Christ.

The bread for communion is used alone, since all believers in Christ make up one His body, the head of which is Christ Himself. " One bread, and we many are one body; for we all partake of the same bread says the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 10 :17).

The first Christians took communion every Sunday, but now not everyone has such a purity of life that they often take communion. However, St. The Church commands us to take communion every fast and not less than once a year.

To the sacrament of St. Communion Christians should prepare themselves fasting, which consists in fasting, prayer, reconciliation with everyone, and then - confession, i.e., the cleansing of one's conscience in the sacrament of repentance.

Mystery of St. communion in Greek is called Eucharist which means "thank you".

THE MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE

Marriage 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, in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church, and the grace of God is requested and given for mutual help and unanimity, and for blessed birth and Christian upbringing of children.

Marriage was established by God Himself in Paradise. After the creation of Adam and Eve, God blessed them and God said to them: be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it"(Gen. 1 :28).

Jesus Christ sanctified marriage by His presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and confirmed its divine institution, saying: “He who created (God) in the beginning male and female created them (Gen. 1 :27). And he said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2 :24), so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. And so that which God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19 :4-6)

St. Apostle Paul says: “This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church" (Eph. 5 :31-32).

The union of Jesus Christ with the Church is based on the love of Christ for the Church, and on the complete devotion of the Church to the will of Christ. Hence, the husband is obliged to selflessly love his wife, and the wife is obliged voluntarily, that is, with love, to obey her husband.

“Husbands,” says the apostle Paul, “love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for her…he who loves his wife loves himself” (Eph. 5 :25, 28). Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Savior of the body" (Eph. 5 :22-23).

Therefore, spouses (husband and wife) are obliged to keep mutual love and respect, mutual devotion and fidelity throughout their lives.

A good Christian family life is a source of personal and social good.

The family is the foundation of the Church of Christ.

The sacrament of marriage is not obligatory for everyone, but those who voluntarily remain celibate are obliged to lead a pure, blameless and virgin life, which, according to the teaching of the Word of God, is higher than married life, and is one of the greatest feats (Matt. 19 :11-12; 1 Cor. 7 :8, 9, 26, 32, 34, 37, 40, etc.).

THE MYSTERY OF THE PRIESTHOOD

The priesthood is a sacrament in which a properly elected person (bishop, or presbyter, or deacon), through the laying on of bishops, receives the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ.

This sacrament is performed only on persons who are elected and ordained as priests. There are three degrees of priesthood: deacon, presbyter (priest) and bishop (bishop).

Initiate in deacon receives the grace to serve in the performance of the sacraments.

Initiate in priest(presbyter) receives the grace to perform the sacraments.

Initiate in bishop(hierarch) receives grace not only to perform the sacraments, but also to consecrate others to perform the sacraments.

The sacrament of the priesthood is a divine institution. The Holy Apostle Paul testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself “appointed some apostles, others prophets, others evangelists, others shepherds and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4 :11-12).

The apostles, at the direction of the Holy Spirit, celebrating this sacrament, through the laying on of hands, were elevated to the ranks of deacons, presbyters, and bishops.

On the election and ordination by St. The apostles of the first deacons say in the book of the Acts of the Apostles: “they were set before the apostles, and these (the apostles) having prayed laid hands on them” (Acts. 6 :6).

It is said about the ordination of presbyters: “Having ordained elders for them to every church, they (the apostles Paul and Barnabas) prayed with fasting and handed them over to the Lord, in whom they believed” (Acts. 14 :23).

The epistles to Timothy and Titus, whom the apostle Paul appointed as bishops, say: “I remind you (Bishop Timothy) to kindle the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1 :6). “For this reason I left you (Bishop Titus) in Crete, so that you would complete the unfinished business and appoint presbyters in all the cities, as I commanded you” (Tit. 1 :5). Addressing Timothy, the apostle Paul says: “Lay hands on no one hastily, and do not become a sharer in the sins of others. Keep yourself clean (1 Tim. 5 :22). “Do not accept an accusation against an elder except in the presence of two or three witnesses” (1 Tim. 5 :19).

From these epistles we see that the apostles gave the bishops the power to ordain elders by ordination and to judge elders, deacons, and clergymen.

About the clergy, the Apostle Paul, in a letter to Bishop Timothy, writes: “But the bishop must be blameless ... Deacons must also be honest ... (1 Tim. 3 :2, 8).

THE MYSTERY OF THE UNION

Unction is a sacrament in which, when the sick person is anointed with consecrated oil (oil), the grace of God is invoked on the sick person to heal him from bodily and spiritual illnesses.

The sacrament of unction is also called unction, because several priests gather to perform it, although, if necessary, one priest can perform it.

This sacrament originates from the apostles. Having received from the Lord Jesus Christ the power during the sermon to heal every disease and infirmity, they “anointed many sick people with oil, and healed” (Mark. 6 :13).

The apostle James speaks in particular detail about this sacrament: “Is anyone among 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, he will be forgiven" (Jas. 5 :14-15).

Saints, the apostles did not preach anything from themselves, but taught only what the Lord commanded them and inspired them with the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul says, “I declare to you, brethren, that the gospel which I have preached is not a human gospel, for I also received it and learned it, not from a man, but through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1 :11-12).

Unction is not performed on infants, because an infant cannot have consciously committed sins.

Orthodox Sacraments - sacred rites, revealed in Orthodox church rites, through which the believers are informed of the invisible Divine grace or the saving power of God.

In Orthodoxy it is accepted seven sacraments: baptism, chrismation, Eucharist (communion), repentance, sacrament of priesthood, sacrament of marriage and unction. Baptism, repentance and the Eucharist were instituted by Jesus Christ himself, as reported in the New Testament. Church Tradition bears witness to the divine origin of the other sacraments.

Sacraments are something that is unchanging, ontologically inherent in the Church. In contrast to this, the visible sacred rites (rites) associated with the performance of the Sacraments were formed gradually throughout the history of the Church. The Performer of the Sacraments is God, who performs them with the hands of the clergy.

The sacraments make up the Church. Only in the Sacraments does the Christian community transcend purely human standards and become the Church.

ALL 7 (SEVEN) Sacraments of the Orthodox Church

sacrament such a sacred action is called, through which the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God, is secretly, invisibly given to a person.

The Holy Orthodox Church contains seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Repentance, Communion, Marriage, Priesthood and Unction.

In the Creed, only Baptism is mentioned, because it is, as it were, the door to the Church of Christ. Only those who have received Baptism can use other sacraments.

In addition, at the time of the compilation of the Creed, there were disputes and doubts: should not some people, such as heretics, be baptized a second time when they return to the Church. The Ecumenical Council pointed out that Baptism can only be performed on a person once. That is why it is said - "I confess united Baptism".

Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is such a sacred action in which the believer in Christ, through triple immersion in water, with the invocation of the name of the Most 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 the grace of the Holy Spirit into a new spiritual life (spiritually born) and becomes a member of the Church, t .e. blessed Kingdom of Christ.

The Sacrament of Baptism was established by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He sanctified Baptism by His own example by being baptized by John. Then, after His resurrection, He gave the apostles the command: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit(Matthew 28:19).

Baptism is necessary for everyone who wants to be a member of the Church of Christ. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God- said the Lord Himself (John 3, 5).

Baptism requires faith and repentance.

The Orthodox Church baptizes babies according to the faith of their parents and godparents. For this, there are godparents at Baptism, in order to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized before the Church. They are obliged to teach him the faith and see to it that their godson becomes a true Christian. This is the sacred duty of the beneficiaries, and they sin gravely if they neglect this duty. And the fact that gifts of grace are given according to the faith of others, we are given an indication in the Gospel during the healing of the paralytic: Jesus, seeing their faith (who brought the sick), says to the paralytic: child! Your sins are forgiven(Mark 2:5).

Sectarians believe that infants cannot be baptized and condemn the Orthodox for performing the Sacrament on infants. But the basis for Infant Baptism is that Baptism replaced the Old Testament circumcision, which was performed on eight-day-old babies (Christian Baptism is called circumcision without hands(Col. 2:11)); and the apostles performed baptism on entire families, where, undoubtedly, there were children. Infants, as well as adults, are involved in original sin and need to be cleansed from it.

The Lord Himself said: Let the children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of God(Luke 18:16).

Since Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person is born once, then the Sacrament of Baptism is performed on a person once. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism(Eph. 4:4).

Chrismation there is a Sacrament in which the believer is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in the spiritual Christian life.

About the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ Himself said: Whoever believes in Me, from the one, as it is said in Scripture, from the womb(i.e. from the inner center, the heart) rivers of living water will flow. This He said concerning the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet upon them, because Jesus was not yet glorified.(John 7:38-39).

The Apostle Paul says: But He who confirms us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, Who both sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.(2 Cor. 1:21-22).

The gracious gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary for every believer in Christ. (There are also extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit that are communicated only to certain people, such as prophets, apostles, kings.)

Initially, the holy apostles performed the Sacrament of Chrismation through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17; 19:2-6). And at the end of the first century, the Sacrament of Confirmation began to be performed through anointing with holy chrism, following the example of the Old Testament church, since the apostles themselves did not have time to perform this Sacrament through the laying on of hands.

Holy chrism is a specially prepared and consecrated composition of fragrant substances and oil.

The chrism was certainly consecrated by the apostles themselves and their successors, the bishops (bishops). And now only bishops can sanctify chrism. Through the anointing with holy chrism consecrated by the bishops, on behalf of the bishops, presbyters (priests) can also perform the Sacrament of Confirmation.

During the performance of the Sacrament, the following parts of the body are cross-anointed with the believer: forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, chest, arms and legs - with the words "Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Some call the Sacrament of Confirmation "the Pentecost (descent of the Holy Spirit) of every Christian."

Sacrament of Repentance

Repentance is a Sacrament in which the believer confesses (orally reveals) his sins to God in the presence of a priest and receives forgiveness of sins through the priest from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus Christ gave the holy apostles, and through them to all the priests, the power to forgive (forgive) sins: Receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain(John 20:22-23).

Even John the Baptist, preparing people for the acceptance of the Savior, preached baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins... And they were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins(Mk. 1, 4-5).

The holy apostles, having received authority for this from the Lord, performed the Sacrament of Penance, many of those who believed came, confessing and revealing their deeds(Acts 19, 18).

To receive forgiveness (permission) of sins, the confessing (repentant) requires: reconciliation with all neighbors, sincere contrition for sins and their oral confession before the priest, a firm intention to correct one's life, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope for His mercy.

In special cases, a penance is imposed on the penitent (the Greek word is "prohibition"), which prescribes some hardships aimed at overcoming sinful habits, and the performance of certain pious deeds.

During his repentance, King David wrote a prayer-song of repentance (Psalm 50), which is an example of repentance and begins with these words: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your bounties, blot out my iniquities. Wash Me many times cleanse me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

Sacrament of Communion

communion there is a Sacrament in which the believer (Orthodox Christian), under the guise of bread and wine, receives (tastes) the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and through this is mysteriously united with Christ and becomes a partaker of eternal life.

The Mystery of Holy Communion was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself during the last Last Supper, on the eve of His suffering and death. He Himself performed this Sacrament: taking bread and thanking(God the Father for all His mercies to the human race), broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying, Take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Also, taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying: drink from it all; for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me(Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-24; 1 Cor. 11:23-25).

So Jesus Christ, having established the Sacrament of Communion, commanded the disciples to perform it always: do this in remembrance of me.

In a conversation with the people, Jesus Christ said: If you do not 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. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him(John 6:53-56).

According to the commandment of Christ, the Sacrament of Communion is constantly performed in the Church of Christ and will be performed until the end of the age at the divine service called Liturgy during which bread and wine, by the power and action of the Holy Spirit, offered or are transubstantiated into the true body and into the true blood of Christ.

The bread for Communion is used alone, since all those who believe in Christ constitute one body of His, the head of which is Christ Himself. One bread, and we many are one body; for we all partake of the same bread- says the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 10, 17).

The first Christians took communion every Sunday, but now not everyone has such a purity of life to take communion so often. However, the Holy Church commands us to take communion at every fast, and in no way less than once a year. [According to the canons of the Church, a person who missed without a valid reason three Sundays in a row without participating in the Eucharist, i.e. without Communion, thereby placing himself outside the Church (canon 21 of Elvira, canon 12 of Sardica and canon 80 of Trullo Councils).]

Christians must prepare themselves for the Sacrament of Holy Communion fasting, which consists in fasting, prayer, reconciliation with everyone, and then - confession, i.e. cleansing one's conscience in the Sacrament of Penance.

The sacrament of Holy Communion is called in Greek Eucharist which means "thank you".

Marriage is the 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, in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church, and the grace of God is requested and given for mutual help and unanimity and for a blessed birth and Christian parenting.

Marriage was established by God Himself in Paradise. After the creation of Adam and Eve, God blessed them, and God said to them: be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it(Gen. 1:28).

Jesus Christ sanctified Marriage by His presence at the marriage in Cana of Galilee and confirmed its divine institution, saying: created(God) in the beginning he created them male and female(Gen. 1:27). And said: Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.(Gen. 2:24), so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate(Matthew 19:6).

The Holy Apostle Paul says: This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church(Eph. 5:32).

The union of Jesus Christ with the Church is based on the love of Christ for the Church and on the complete devotion of the Church to the will of Christ. Hence the husband is obliged to selflessly love his wife, and the wife is obliged to voluntarily, i.e. lovingly obey your husband.

Husbands says the Apostle Paul, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself up for her... he who loves his wife loves himself(Eph. 5:25, 28). Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, and He is also the Savior of the bodies. a (Eph. 5:2223).

Therefore, spouses (husband and wife) are obliged to keep mutual love and respect, mutual devotion and fidelity throughout their lives.

A good Christian family life is a source of personal and social good.

The family is the foundation of the Church of Christ.

Being in Marriage is not obligatory for everyone, but persons who voluntarily remain celibate are obliged to lead a pure, blameless and virginal life, which, according to the teaching of the Word of God, is one of the greatest feats (Matt. 19, 11-12; 1 Cor. 7, 8 , 9, 26, 32, 34, 37, 40, etc.).

Priesthood there is a Sacrament in which, through the ordination of a bishop, an elected person (to the bishop, or presbyter, or deacon) receives the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ.

Initiate deacon receives the grace to serve in the performance of the sacraments.

Initiate into a priest(presbyter) receives the grace to perform the sacraments.

Initiate to the bishop(hierarch) receives grace not only to perform the sacraments, but also to consecrate others to perform the sacraments.

sacrament of baptism

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Baptism (Greek vaptisis - immersion) is a Sacrament in which the believer ...

Sacrament of Chrismation

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Chrismation (Greek Myrrh - fragrant oil) is a Sacrament in which the believer ...

The Sacrament of Communion, or the Eucharist

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Communion is a Sacrament in which the believer...

Sacrament of Repentance

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Repentance is the Sacrament in which he who confesses his sins...

Sacrament of Priesthood (Ordination)

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Priesthood is a Sacrament in which...

Sacrament of Marriage (Wedding)

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Marriage is a Sacrament in which...

Sacrament of Unction (Unction)

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament in which...

Sacrament (Greek. mysterion - secret, sacrament) - sacred actions in which, under a visible image, the invisible grace of God is communicated to believers.

The word "Mystery" has in Scripture several meanings.

1. A deep, intimate thought, thing, or action.
2. Divine economy for the salvation of the human race, which is depicted as a mystery, incomprehensible to anyone, even to the Angels.
3. Special action of God's Providence in relation to believers, by virtue of which the invisible grace of God in an incomprehensible way communicated to them in visible.

When applied to church rites, the word Sacrament embraces both the first, and the second, and the third concept.

In the broadest sense of the word, everything performed in the Church is a Sacrament: "Everything in the Church is a holy sacrament. Every sacrament is a holy sacrament. - And even the most insignificant?" The “insignificant” sacred rite in the Divine-human organism of the Church is in organic, living connection with the entire mystery of the Church and with the Divine-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ” (archim. Justin (Popovich)).

As noted by Prot. John Meyendorff: "In the patristic era, there was not even a special term for the designation of "sacraments" as a special category of church deeds: the term misterion was used at first in a broader and more general sense of "mystery of salvation", and only in the second auxiliary sense was it used to designate particular actions that bestow salvation, "that is, the Sacraments proper. Thus, the Holy Fathers understood by the word sacrament everything that applies to Divine economy of our salvation.

But the tradition that began to take shape in Orthodox theological schools starting from the 15th century distinguishes seven Sacraments proper from the numerous blessed sacred services: Baptism, Chrismation, Communion, Repentance, Priesthood, Marriage, Unction ".

All seven Sacraments have the following necessary signs:

1. institution of God;
2. the invisible grace taught in the Sacrament;
3. visible image (following) of its commission.

External actions ("visible image") in the Sacraments do not have a meaning in and of themselves. They are intended for the person approaching the Sacrament, because by his nature he needs visible means to perceive the invisible power of God.

Directly The gospel mentions three sacraments(Baptism, Communion and Repentance). Indications about the divine origin of other Sacraments can be found in the book of Acts, in the Apostolic Epistles, as well as in the works of the apostolic men and teachers of the Church of the first centuries of Christianity (St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, St. Cyprian and etc.).

In each Sacrament, a believing Christian is given a certain gift of grace.

1. AT Sacrament of Baptism grace is given to man, freeing him from his former sins and sanctifying him.
2. AT Sacrament of Chrismation the believer, when parts of the body are anointed with the Holy Myrrh, grace is given, putting him on the path of spiritual life.
3. AT Sacrament of Repentance confessing his sins, with a visible expression of forgiveness from the priest, receives grace, freeing him from sins.
4. AT Sacrament of Communion (Eucharist) the believer receives the grace of deification through union with Christ.
5. AT Sacrament of Unction when the body is anointed with oil (oil), the grace of God is granted to the patient, healing the infirmities of the soul and body.
6. AT Sacrament of Marriage spouses are given grace that sanctifies their union (in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church), as well as the birth and Christian upbringing of children.
7. AT Sacrament of the Priesthood through hierarchal ordination (ordination), the rightly chosen from among the believers is given grace to perform the Sacraments and shepherd the flock of Christ.

The sacraments of the Orthodox Church are divided into:

1. unique- Baptism, Confirmation, Priesthood;
2. repeatable- Repentance, Communion, Unction and, under certain conditions, Marriage.

In addition, the Sacraments are further divided into two categories:

1. obligatory for all Christians - Baptism, Chrismation, Repentance, Communion and Unction;
2. optional for all - Marriage and Priesthood.

Performers of the Mysteries. It is obvious from the very definition of the Sacrament that "the invisible grace of God" can only be given by the Lord. Therefore, speaking of all the Sacraments, it is necessary to recognize that their Performer is God. But the co-workers of the Lord, the people to whom He Himself has granted the right to perform the Sacraments, are the properly appointed bishops and priests of the Orthodox Church. We find the basis for this in the letter of the Apostle Paul: Therefore, everyone should understand us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.(1 Cor. 4; 1).

On January 7, Bishop Seraphim of Belevsky and Aleksinsky took part in the celebration of the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ, held at the Palace of Culture in the city of Aleksin. The holiday began with the singing of the troparion to the Nativity of Christ, after which His Grace Vladyka Seraphim and the head of the administration of the municipality of the city of Aleksin Fedorov Pavel Evgenievich addressed the guests. The solemn event included: performances by pupils of the House of Culture and pupils of the Sunday educational group at the St. Nicholas Church in the city of Aleksin, as well as an instructive performance telling about the Christmas miracle. At the end of the festive program, a memorable photo was taken with Vladyka and the guests of the holiday. Then the clergy of the Aleksinsky deanery presented Christmas gifts to the children.

1. THE MYSTERY OF BAPTISM there is such a sacred act. in which the believer in Christ, through triple immersion in water, with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity - Father and Son and Holy Spirit, washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins committed by him before baptism, revived the grace of the Holy Spirit into a new spiritual life (spiritually born) and becomes a member of the Church, i.e. blessed Kingdom of Christ. Baptism is necessary for everyone who wants to be a member of the Church of Christ. "If one is not born from water and Spirit cannot enter into the Kingdom of God,” said the Lord Himself (John 3 , 5)

2. THE MYSTERY OF ANOINTING- a sacrament in which the believer is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthen him in the spiritual Christian life. The Apostle Paul says: “He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed we have a God who captured us, and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor. 1 , 21-22)
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the Pentecost (descent of the Holy Spirit) of every Christian.

3. THE MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE (Confession)- a sacrament in which a believer confesses (orally reveals) his sins to God in the presence of a priest and receives forgiveness of sins from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself through the priest. Jesus Christ gave the saints apostles, and through them priests the power to allow (forgive) sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain "(John. 20 , 22-23).

4. THE MYSTERY OF COMMUNICATION (Eucharist)- the sacrament in which the believer (Orthodox Christian), under the guise of bread and wine, receives (tastes) the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and through this is mysteriously united with Christ and becomes a partaker of eternal life. Our Lord Christ Himself instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during the last Last Supper, on the eve of His suffering and death. He Himself performed this sacrament: “taking bread and giving thanks (to God the Father for all His mercies to the human race, he broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying: take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink all of it, for this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me."
In a conversation with the people, Jesus Christ 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 eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56)

5. MARRIAGE (Wedding) 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, in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church, and the grace of God is asked for and given for mutual help and unanimity, and for the blessed birth and Christian upbringing of children.
Marriage was established by God Himself in Paradise. After the creation of Adam and Eve, “God blessed them and God said to them: be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen. 1, 28).
Jesus Christ sanctified marriage by His presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and confirmed its divine institution, saying: “He who created (God) in the beginning male and female created them (Gen. 1, 27). And he said: Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24), so that they are no longer living, but one flesh. And so that which God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:4-6).
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.<…>he who loves his wife loves himself” (Eph. 5:25-28)
“Wives, submit to 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)
The family is the foundation of the Church of Christ. The sacrament of marriage is not obligatory for everyone, but persons who voluntarily remain celibate are obliged to lead a pure, immaculate and virgin life, which, according to the teaching of the Word of God, is higher than married life, and is one of the greatest feats (Mt. 19, 11-12; 1 Cor 7, 8-9, 26, 32, 34, 37, 40, etc.).

6. PRIESTHOOD there is a sacrament in which a properly elected person (to the bishop, presbyter or jyacon), through the laying on of bishops, receives the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ.
This sacrament is performed only on persons who are elected and ordained as priests.
The sacrament of the priesthood is a divine institution. The Holy Apostle Paul testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself “appointed some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as shepherds and teachers, for the perfection of the saints, for the work of service, for the building up of the Body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
There are three levels of priesthood:
1. The ordained deacon receives the grace to serve in the performance of the sacraments.
2. The ordained priest (presbyter) receives the grace to perform the sacraments.
3. The consecrated bishop (hierarch) receives the grace not only to perform the sacraments, but also to consecrate others to perform the sacraments.

7. SANITATION (Unction) there is a sacrament in which, when the sick person is anointed with consecrated oil (oil), the grace of God is called upon the sick person to heal him from bodily and spiritual illnesses.
The Sacrament of Unction is also called unction, because several priests gather to perform it, although, if necessary, one priest can perform it.
This sacrament originates from the apostles. Having received from the Lord Jesus Christ the power to heal every disease during the sermon, they “anointed many sick people with oil, and healed” (Mark 6:13).
The apostle James speaks in particular detail about this sacrament: “Is anyone among you sick, let him receive the elders 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).