For the inner power and significance of the Mysteries see
the explanation of the tenth article of the Symbol of Faith.
Baptism and Chrismation.
Before the Mystery of Baptism is celebrated one is
given a name in honor of one of the saints of the Orthodox Church. In this rite
the priest thrice makes the sign of the Cross over the candidate and prays to
the Lord to be merciful to the person and, after joining him through Baptism to
the Holy Church, to make him a partaker of eternal blessedness.
When the time arrives for Baptism the priest prays
to the Lord to drive away from the person every evil and impure spirit which is
concealed and rooted in his heart and to make him a member of the Church and an
heir of eternal blessedness. The one being baptized renounces the Devil and
gives a promise not to serve him, but rather Christ, and by reading the Creed
confirms his faith in Christ, as King and God. In the case of the Baptism of an
infant, the renunciation of the Devil and all his works, as well as the Symbol
of Faith are said in his name by the sponsors, the godfather and/or the
godmother, who thus become the guardians of the faith of the one being baptized
and take upon themselves the duty to teach him the faith when he reaches
maturity, and the responsibility to see to it that he lives in a Christian
manner. Then the priest prays that the Lord sanctify the water in the font, drive
out of it the Devil, and make it for the one being baptized a source of a new
and holy life. He thrice makes the sign of the Cross in the water, first with
his fingers, and then with consecrated oil with which he will likewise anoint
the person being baptized, as a sign of the mercy of God towards him. Following
this the priest three times immerses him in the water with the words, "The
servant of God N. is baptized, in the name of the Father, Amen; And of the Son,
Amen; And of the Holy Spirit, Amen." A white garment is put on the newly
baptized, and he is given a cross to wear. The white garment serves as a sign
of his purity of soul after Baptism and reminds him to henceforth preserve this
purity, and the cross serves as a visible sign of his faith in Jesus Christ.
Immediately after this, the Mystery of Chrismation
is performed. The priest anoints the one being baptized on various parts of the
body with the words, "the seal (the sign) of the gift of the Holy
Spirit." At that time the newly baptized is invisibly granted the gifts of
the Holy Spirit, with the help of which he will grow and be strengthened in the
spiritual life. The forehead is anointed with chrism for the sanctifica-tion of
the mind; the eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears for the sanctifica-tion of the
senses; the chest to sanctify the heart; the hands and feet for the
sanctification of actions and the entire conduct. Circling around the font
three times, the priest with the baptized and his sponsors symbolize the
spiritual solemnity and joy of the occasion. The lit candles in their hands
serve as a sign of spiritual enlightenment, and the cruciform tonsuring of the
baptized symbolizes his dedication to the Lord.
Confession and Communion.
Those approaching these Mysteries after a
significant lapse of time should fast for several days in addition to the
normal ecclesiastical taste and attend the daily services in the church. For
those who commune regularly and frequently and pray daily, additional fasting
is not necessary. One should carefully recall one’s sins, consider them with
contrition, and pray that the Lord have mercy on one’s soul. At a prearranged
time one should come to the priest, who will serve the short service of
Confession before an analogion on which are placed a Cross and Gospel, and
repent before Christ Himself of one’s sins. The priest, upon noting one’s
conscientious repentance, which consists of a full confession and the resolve
not to repeat one’s sins, will lay the end of his epi-trachelion over the bowed
head of the penitent and read the Prayer for the Remission of Sins, in which
one’s sins are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ Himself, and will bless him
with the sign of the Cross. Having kissed the Cross, the penitent departs with
a peaceful conscience and prays that the Lord grant him to receive Holy
Communion. The evening before Communion, one should read at home the Prayers
before Communion and whatever rule the priest has given. The Mystery of Holy
Communion is celebrated during the Liturgy. All those who have confessed repeat
quietly the Prayer before Communion with the priest, and making a bow to the
ground (except on Sundays) with reverence, go to the Holy Chalice and commune
the Holy Gifts, receiving in the visible form of the bread and wine the true
Body and Blood of Christ. After Communion and the Liturgy conclude, in addition
to the thanksgiving offered up during the Liturgy, there are special Prayers of
Thanksgiving to be read. The ailing and elderly are communed by the priest at
home privately after their confessions are heard.
Ordination.
This Mystery is accomplished in the Altar before
the Holy Table during the course of a Hierarchical Liturgy. A single bishop
ordains one to the diaconate or the priesthood, but the consecration of a
bishop is celebrated by a group of bishops, usually three. The ordination of a
deacon occurs in the Liturgy following the consecration of the Gifts, to
indicate that a deacon does not receive the power to accomplish this Mystery. A
priest is ordained during the "Liturgy of the Faithful," just after
the Great Entry, so that he who is consecrated, as one who has received the
appropriate Grace, might take part in the sanctification of the Gifts. Bishops
are consecrated during the "Liturgy of the Catechumens," following the
Small Entry, which indicates that a bishop is given the right to consecrate
others to the various ranks of holy orders. The most important action during an
ordination is the hierarchical laying on of hands, together with the calling
down upon the one being ordained, of the Grace of the Holy Spirit and therefore
consecration is also termed the "Laying on of Hands" (in Greek,
"Hierotonia").
The one to receive Ordination is first led through
the Royal Gates into the Altar by either a deacon or priest. The candidate
circles the Altar Table three times, stopping each time to kiss the four
corners of the Table, and making a prostration before the bishop. He then
kneels at the front right hand corner of the Altar, a deacon on one knee, a
priest on both knees, and the bishop covers his head with the end of his
omophorion, three times making the sign of the Cross over his head, and placing
his hand upon him says aloud, "By Divine Grace (N). is raised, through the
laying on of hands, to the diaconate (or priesthood); let us pray therefore for
him that the Grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon him." The choir
responds "Kyrie eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy") and
as the bishop bestows each of the vestments proper to his rank to the
newly-ordained he exclaims, "Axios!" (Greek for "Worthy!").
This is then repeated thrice by the clergy and then the choir. Following his
vesting the newly-ordained is greeted by all those of his rank as a colleague
and he participates in the remainder of the service with them.
The consecration of a bishop is nearly identical,
except that the prospective bishop, before the beginning of the Liturgy, stands
in the center of the church and pronounces aloud a confession of the Faith and
vows to act in accordance with the canons of the Church during his service.
After the Little Entry, during the chanting of the Trisagion, he is led into
the Altar and remains kneeling before the Altar Table. When the presiding
bishop reads the prayer of consecration, all the bishops lay their right hands
upon his head and over them hold the open Gospel, with the printed pages
downward.
Matrimony.
The Mystery of Holy Matrimony is celebrated in the
center of the church before an analogion on which are placed a Cross and
Gospel. The ceremony begins with the betrothal and is followed by the
"crowning," or actual wedding. The first is performed as follows. The
groom stands on the right hand side and the bride on the left. The priest
blesses them three times with lit candles and then gives them tp the couple to
hold as symbols of conjugal love, blessed by the Lord. After a litany asking
God to grant them every good thing and mercy and that He bless their betrothal
and unite them and preserve them in peace and unity of soul, the priest blesses
and puts on their right hands rings, which earlier were placed on the Altar for
sanctification. The groom and bride receive these rings as sacred pledges and
as a sign of the indissolubility of the union into which they aspire to enter.
The betrothal is followed by the wedding or crowning. Here the priest prays to
the Lord to bless the marriage and to send down upon those entering into it His
heavenly Grace. As a visible symbol of this Grace, he puts crowns on their
heads and blesses them three times together with the words, "O Lord, our
God, crown them with glory and honor." In the epistle from St. Paul which is read, the importance of the Mystery of Marriage
and the mutual responsibilities of the husband and wife are discussed, while
the Gospel recalls the presence of the Lord Himself at the wedding in Cana. Those
united in marriage then drink wine from the same cup as a sign that from this
moment they must live as one soul, sharing their joys and sorrows. They then
walk behind the priest, circling the analogion three times, as a symbol of
spiritual joy and solemnity.
Anointing of the Sick.
This Mystery is also called Unction and is served
to aid in healing from weaknesses of soul and body. Ideally it is served by
seven priests, but in cases of need it can be served by only one. Into a vessel
with wheat is put a smaller vessel with oil as a sign of the mercy of God. Some
wine is added to the oil in imitation of the mercy shown by the Good Samaritan
to the man attacked by thieves and in memory of the blood of Christ shed on the
Cross. Seven lit candles are placed in the wheat and between them seven small
sticks wound around one end with cotton which are used to anoint the ailing
person seven times. All those present hold lit candles. Following a prayer for
the sanctification of the oil and that it might serve the ailing person through
the Grace of God unto the healing of soul and body, seven sections from the
Epistles and Gospels are read. After each reading the priest anoints the sick
person with the sign of the Cross on the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, lips,
chest and both sides of the hands while saying a prayer to the Lord that He, as
Physician of soul and body might heal His ailing servant from the weaknesses of
soul and body. After the seven-fold anointing the priest opens the Gospel and
places it with the printed pages downward, as if it were the healing hand of
the Saviour Himself, over the head of the sick person and then prays that the
Lord forgive Him his sins. Then the sick person kisses the Gospel and Cross
and, if possible, makes three prostrations before the priest(s) asking for his
blessing and forgiveness. This concludes the Mystery of Unction.
Moleben.
A Moleben is the term for a short service of
prayers in which the faithful, according to their individual needs and
circumstances, appeal in prayer to the Lord God, the Theotokos, or the saints.
The customary Moleben resembles Matins in its
form, but in practice it is significantly shortened and consists of the
beginning prayers; the singing of the troparion and refrains, "Glory to
Thee, our God, glory to Thee...," "Most holy Theotokos, save
us...," "Holy Father, Nicholas, pray unto God for us..." and
others; the reading of a passage from the Gospels; the Augmented and Short
Litanies; and finally, a prayer to the Lord God, the Theotokos, or the saint
petitioned, concerning the subject of the Moleben. Occasionally these Molebens
are joined with an akathist or the Lesser Blessing of Water. An akathist is
read after the Short Litany before the Gospel reading, while the blessing of
waters is served after the Gospel reading.
In addition to the supplicatory Molebens there are
also special Molebens which relate to a particular situation: a thanksgiving
Moleben for a sign of God’s mercy; a Moleben for the cure of the sick; a
Moleben on the occasion of a common trouble: drought, bad weather, flood, war,
etc. There are also special Molebens to be served on New Year’s Day, before the
school year, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, etc.
The Burial of the Dead.
After his death a Christian’s body is washed and
clothed in clean, and if possible, new clothes and placed in a white shroud,
preferably that garment in which he was baptized if he was an adult when this
occurred, as a sign that the deceased, in his Baptism, gave a promise to lead a
life in purity and holiness. He may be dressed in the uniform of his calling as
a sign that he departs to the Lord God to give an account for the obligations
of his calling in life. Across the forehead is placed a strip of paper
representing a crown, imprinted with the images of Christ, the Theotokos, and St. John the
Forerunner, with the inscription "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
have mercy on us." It is a sign that the deceased, as a Christian, fought
on this earth for the righteousness of God and died in the hope that by the
mercy of God, and the intercessions of the Theotokos and St. John the Forerunner, he will receive a crown in Heaven. A cross
or an icon is placed in his hands as a sign of the faith of the deceased in
Christ, the Theotokos, or one of the saints pleasing to God. The body is placed
in a coffin, and is half covered with a church covering as a symbol that the
deceased was under the protection of the Orthodox Church. If the body remains
in the home then it is put before the domestic icons with the body facing the
exit. Candles are placed around the coffin as a sign that the deceased has
passed into the realm of light, into the better life beyond the grave. Near the
coffin, the Psalter is read, along with prayers for the repose of the deceased,
and Pannykhidas are served. Until burial special prayers for the departure of
the soul, which are located in the back of the Psalter, are also read. The
psalms are read to comfort those grieving for the deceased.
Before the burial the body is transferred to the
church for the funeral, and prior to the departure for the church a short
service for the repose, the Litia, is chanted and during the actual removal we
sing, "Holy God..."
The coffin is placed in the center of the church,
with the body facing the Altar. The funeral service consists of hymns in which
the entire destiny of a man is depicted. For his transgressions he is returned
to the dust from which he was taken, yet despite the multitude of sins a human
being does not cease to be "the image of the glory of God," created
in the image and likeness of God. Therefore the holy Church prays to its Master
and Lord that by His ineffable mercy He forgive the reposed his sins and deem
him worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. After the readings of the Epistle and Gospel, in which the
future resurrection of the dead is described, the priest reads the Prayer of
Absolution. With this prayer the deceased is released from any bonds of oaths
or curses, and his sins for which he repented, and which despite repentance he
might have forgotten, are absolved, and he is released unto the life beyond the
grave in peace. The written text of this prayer is then placed in the hand of
the reposed. The relatives and friends then give the body a last kiss as a sign
of mutual forgiveness, and the body is covered with a white sheet while the
priest sprinkles the body with earth in the form of a cross saying, The earth
is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all that dwell therein.
The coffin is closed and "Memory eternal" is sung for the reposed.
Following the funeral, the body and coffin are
transferred to the cemetery and lowered into the grave with the feet towards
the east, so that the person is facing east, and then a short Litia is said for
the reposed.
Over the grave of a Christian a cross is placed as
a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and hell, like a large fruitful tree
under whose shade the Christian finds rest as a traveler after a prolonged
journey.
Since She has true faith in the immortality of the
human soul, the future resurrection of the dead, the Dread judgement of Christ,
and the final reward to be granted to each according to his deeds, the Holy
Orthodox Church does not leave Her children who have reposed without prayer,
especially during the first few days after death and on days of general
remembrance of the dead. She prays for them on the third, ninth and fortieth
day after death.
On the third day after death the Holy Church recalls the three day resurrection of Jesus Christ and
prays to Him to resurrect the reposed unto a future, blessed life.
On the ninth day the Holy Church prays to the Lord that He might reckon the reposed among
the choir of those pleasing to God who are, like the angels, distinguished by
nine orders.
On the fortieth day a prayer is said that the Lord
Jesus Christ, Who ascended into Heaven, might lift up the deceased into the
heavenly dwellings.
Often the remembrance of the reposed, due to the
love and faith of the relatives, is celebrated on every one of the forty days
with the serving of Liturgy and a Pannykhida.
Finally, on the anniversary of the repose of the
deceased, his close relatives and faithful friends pray for him as an
expression of their faith that the day of a human death is not the day of
annihilation, but a new rebirth unto eternal life. It is the day of the passing
of the immortal human soul into different conditions of life, where there is no
place for earthly pains, griefs, and woes.
Pannykhidas, or "Memorial Services," are
short services which consist of prayers for the forgiveness of sins and the
repose of the deceased in the Kingdom
of Heaven. During the serving of a Pannykhida the relatives and
friends of the deceased stand with lit candles as a sign that they also believe
in the future, radiant life. Towards the end of the Pannykhida, during the
reading of the Lord’s Prayer, these candles are extinguished as a sign that our
lives, like burning candles, must expire, more often than not without burning
through to the expected end.
A Brief Survey of the
Particulars of the Divine Services.
After the creation of the world, God consecrated
the seventh day for divine worship on earth (Gen. 2:3) and subsequently,
through the Law granted to Moses on Sinai, this service was extended to include
every day, for He commanded that daily, the morning and evening are to be
consecrated by offering sacrifices to God.
Jesus Christ, when He came to earth to fulfill the
will of the Heavenly Father, and the Holy Apostles, as the select disciples of
the Lord, by their example and teachings, demonstrated to the faithful the
utmost importance and necessity of establishing and preserving days of general
divine services.
Since apostolic times the Orthodox Church in her
daily divine services has united various sacred commemorations unto the glory
of God from which have developed the various daily services in the course of
the year.
On each day in the Holy Church’s year, in addition to the weekly cycle, the memory of one
or several saints is celebrated. Definite days of the year are dedicated to
either the commemoration of particular events in the life of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Theotokos, or from the history of the Christian Church, or in honor
of various saints. In addition, fasts of either a single day or several
consecutive days have been ordained throughout the course of the year, and
several days are set aside for the remembrance of the reposed. In accordance
with these sacred days of the year special hymns and prayers have been composed
and rituals established which are combined with the prayers and hymns of the
weekdays. The greatest changes in the divine services occur on the days of
great feasts and fasts.
The days of general remembrance of the reposed,
which are termed "ancestor (soul) days," are as follows: the Saturday
before Meat-fare Sunday, the Saturdays of the second, third and fourth weeks of
Great Lent, the Saturday before the feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) and
the Tuesday after Thomas Sunday.
In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church has
ordained that Orthodox soldiers killed on the field of battle be remembered on
the Saturday before the feast of St. Demetrios of Thessalonica (Oct. 26) and on
the day of the Beheading of St. John the Forerunner (Aug. 29).
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