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- The
Greek Orthodox Church: A Manual for Converts
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Other
Sacraments
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- But, there is always a danger of failing short of Grace of God. Sin as a treacherous enemy alienates man from God. The means of reconciliation of man with God is the sacrament of Repentance and Confession in which man returns like the prodigal son seeking forgiveness. The Church happily receives the penitent by accepting his/her confession. "If ye forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if ye retain the sins of any, they are retained" the Church was assured by Christ Himself (John 20-23). Thus Confession becomes the fourth sacrament by which the regeneration of the human soul is achieved.
The Orthodox Church recognizes three more sacraments: Ordination or Holy Orders, Marriage , and Holy Unction. Ordination is practiced according to the evidence of the Holy Scriptures. The Bible indicates clearly that there is a distinction among the faithful of Christ, which in modem terms can be described as "clergy" and "laity." (Read also Luke 6:12-1.3).
In the Book of Acts, the author (Luke) states that seven deacons were elected by the faithful and ordained by the 12 Apostles (Read Acts 6:6). Furthermore, the ministry of ordination was transmitted to disciples of the Apostles (read I Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1: 16, etc.), thus preserving the continuity and Apostolic succession of the Church to the present day.
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Deacon, priest, and bishop are the offices of the Church. There are married and unmarried deacons and priests. If they decide to marry they must do so before they are ordained. Bishops, however, are elected from among the unmarried priests. The supreme governing body is the totality of the bishops known as the Synod, which professes Jesus as its Head.
Through the Mystery of Marriage two individuals are united into one, and in this union they live the same kind of life, and follow the same road - - that of virtue and holiness. By this sacrament the union of two human bodies and spirits is blessed for the procreation of mankind.
Accepting Marriage as a lifelong unity, the Orthodox Church opposes the dissolution of the matrimonial vows except for a very few acceptable grounds. Divorce is granted on several grounds. Once it is granted, the Church does allow a second Church marriage. Naturally, the Church encourages child-bearing as a blessing of God. However, the Orthodox Church equates
abortion to murder. The Orthodox Church has also come out against birth control. However, there is no specific canon of any general Council which would bind the whole Church on this matter. The emphasis is always placed on the sacredness of marriage and our trust in God.
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The sacrament of Holy Unction (now almost exclusively administered to all on Holy Wednesday in Holy Week) is intended for the health of the human body. It is intended primarily for the sick and it can be rightly called a Healing Service. It is based on the passage in scripture: "Is any one among you sick? Let him call the presbyters (priests) 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 save the sick man" (James 5:14). Healing in the Church stands or falls with our concept of Christ. If Christ were both the physician of the human soul and the healer of man's body, as the Gospels present Him, then His Church cannot be anything less. The "charismatic" practice of healing was given by Jesus to His Church (read Matthew 9:3 5; Matthew 10: 1; also mark 6:13).
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Rev. Demetrios A. Recachinas, Protopresbyter
Booklet
& Web Version Designed by:
- Vicky
Andriotis
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- For
information about obtaining hard copies of this
booklet, please contact:
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Church Phone (203) 374-5561
Church Fax (203) 374-5770
E-mail: fatherdemetrios@ holytrinitybridgeport.org
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