Sacraments of the Orthodox Church

I would now like to explain the sacraments of the Orthodox Church. These are also called the holy mysteries. They are special ways in which God shares His grace with us, through visible signs joined with His invisible power.

Sacraments are gifts from Christ. Jesus gave us these holy actions to bring us closer to Him. For example, He commanded baptism: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). He also gave us Holy Communion: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

Sacraments make God’s grace real in our lives. Saint Paul explains: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). This shows that sacraments are not empty symbols, but real encounters with Christ.

The Orthodox Church recognizes seven main sacraments:
1) Baptism — new birth in Christ (Romans 6:3–4).
2) Chrismation (Confirmation) — the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17).
3) Holy Communion — receiving the Body and Blood of Christ (John 6:53–54).
4) Confession — forgiveness of sins (John 20:23).
5) Marriage — the union of husband and wife blessed by God (Ephesians 5:31–32).
6) Ordination — the setting apart of clergy to serve the Church (1 Timothy 4:14).
7) Holy Unction (Anointing with oil) — healing of soul and body (James 5:14–15).

The sacraments are part of the Church’s life. The book of Acts shows the first Christians living this way: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). This is the same life the Orthodox Church continues today.

The sacraments are the path of salvation. Through them, God nourishes us, forgives us, heals us, and makes us holy. They are not magic, but living encounters with Christ. As Saint Peter says, we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).
The sacraments are the holy mysteries through which God pours His grace into our lives. They are His gifts, given through the Church, to help us live and grow in Christ.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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