One of the best-known prayers of the Orthodox Church speaks of the spirit of God being "present in all places and filling all things." This profound affirmation is basic to Orthodoxy's understanding of God and His relationship to the world. We believe that God is truly near to us. Although He cannot be seen, God is not detached from His creation. Through the persons of The Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit, God is present and active in our lives and in the creation about us. All our life and the creation of which we are an important part, points, to and reveals God.

There are special experiences in our corporate life as Orthodox Christians when the perception of God's presence and actions is heightened and celebrated. We call these events of the Church Sacraments. Traditionally, the Sacraments have been known as Mysteries in the Orthodox Church. This description emphasizes that in these special events of the Church, God discloses Himself through the prayers and actions of His people.

Not only do the Sacraments disclose and reveal God to us, but also they serve to make us receptive to God. All the Sacraments affect our personal relationship to God and to one another. The Holy Spirit works through the Sacraments. He leads us to Christ who unites us with the Father. By participating in the Sacraments, we grow closer to God and to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This process of deification, or theosis, as it is known by Orthodoxy, takes place not in isolation from others, but within the context of a believing community. Although the Sacraments are addressed to each of us by name, they are experiences which involve the entire Church.

The Sacraments of the Orthodox Church are composed of prayers, hymns, scripture lessons, gestures and processions. Many parts of the services date back to the time of the Apostles. The Orthodox Church has avoided reducing the Sacraments to a particular formula or action. Often, a whole series of sacred acts make up a Sacrament. Most of the Sacraments use a portion of the material of creation as an outward and visible sign of God's revelation. Water, oil, bread and wine are but a few of the many elements which the Orthodox Church employs in her Worship. The frequent use of the material of creation reminds us that matter is good and can become a medium of the Spirit. Most importantly, it affirms the central truth of the Orthodox Christian faith: that God became flesh in Jesus Christ and entered into the midst of creation thereby redirecting the cosmos toward its vocation to glorify its Creator.

THE EUCHARIST

The Holy Eucharist, which is known as the Divine Liturgy, is the central and most important worship experience of the Orthodox Church. Often referred to as the "Sacrament of Sacraments", it is the Church's celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ offered every Sunday and Holy day. All the other Sacraments of the Church lead toward and flow from the Eucharist, which is at the center of the life of the Church. The previous pamphlet in this series was devoted to the meaning and celebration of the Eucharist in the Orthodox Church.

BAPTISM

The Sacrament of Baptism incorporates us into the Church, the Body of Christ, and is our introduction to the life of the Holy Trinity. Water is a natural symbol of cleansing and newness of life. Through the three-fold immersion in the waters of Baptism in the Name of the Holy Trinity, one dies to the old ways of sin and is born to a new life in Christ. Baptism is one's public identification with Christ Death and victorious Resurrection. Following the custom of the early Church, Orthodoxy encourages the baptism of infants. The Church believes that the Sacrament is bearing witness to the action of God who chooses a child to be an important member of His people. From the day of their baptism, children are expected to mature in the life of the Spirit, through their family and the Church. The Baptism of adults is practiced when there was no previous baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Guidelines for Parents

• Contact the Cathedral office at 212.288.3215 as soon as possible to schedule a date and time for the baptism. The Cathedral Ballroom is also available for a reception after the baptism with full catering services. Please call the Cathedral Administrator for more information.
• Select a baptismal name after a canonized Saint of the Orthodox Church.
• Give considered thought to your selection of a godparent(s), keeping in mind their role as spiritual guide in your child’s life. The godfather/godmother must be:
  • A baptized Othodox Christian.
  • Thirteen years of age or older.
  • If married, married in the Orthodox Church: A member in good standing with their respective parish (a letter of good standing from their home parish is required)
    IMPORTANT: Only ONE individual is permitted to act as sponsor (godfather/godmother). The ONLY exception to this canonical rule is in the case of a MARRIED COUPLE who are BOTH Orthodox Christians, and who are thus defined by the Church as ONE individual through the Sacrament of marriage.
• The parents must:
  • Be members in good standing with the cathedral; their membership dues must be paid in full by the time of the baptism.
  • Present the clergy with a photocopy of the child's official birth certificate BEFORE the baptism.
  • Appoint special individuals to undress and dress the child and to carry candles during the service.

Guidelines for Sponsors

• Traditionally, the godmother/godfather has provided the following items for the baptismal service:
  • A baptismal cross (usually gold)
  • Three white candles (typically one is larger than the other two, being that of the sponsor(s), and all three are usally decorated with ribbons or trimming)
  • Olive oil (bottle), bath soap (new bar), three white towels (one bath and two hand towels) and one white twin bed sheet
  • A celebratory baptismal outfit for the child
    The godparent will also be responsible for bringing the child to communion the next two Divine Liturgies the child is able to attend.

CHRISMATION

The Sacrament of Chrismation (Confirmation) immediately follows baptism and is never delayed until a later age. As the ministry of Christ was enlivened by the Spirit, and the preaching of the Apostles strengthened by the Spirit, so is the life of each Orthodox Christian sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Chrismation, which is often referred to as one's personal Pentecost, is the Sacrament which imparts the Spirit in a special way.

In the Sacrament of Chrismation, the priest anoints the various parts of the body of the newly-baptized with Holy Oil saying: "The seal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Oil, which is blessed by the bishop, is a sign of consecration and strength. The Sacrament emphasizes the truths that not only is each person a valuable member of the Church, but also each one is blessed by the Spirit with certain gifts and talents. The anointing also reminds us that our bodies are valuable and are involved in the process of salvation.

The Sacraments of initiation always are concluded with the distribution of Holy Communion to the newly-baptized. Ideally, this takes place within the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. This practice reveals that Orthodoxy views children from their infancy as important members of the Church. There is never time when the young are not part of God's people.

CONFESSION

As members of the Church, we have responsibilities to one another and, of course, to God. When we sin, or relationship to God and to others distorted. Sin is ultimately alienation from God, from our fellow human beings, and from our own true self which is created in God's image and likeness.

Confession is the Sacrament through which our sins are forgiven, and our relationship to God and to others is restored and strengthened. Through the Sacrament, Christ our Lord continues to heal those broken in spirit and restore the Father's love those who are lost. According to Orthodox teaching, the penitent confess to God and is forgiven by God. The priest is the sacramental witness who represents both Christ and His people. The priest is viewed not as a judge, but as a physician and guide. It is an ancient Orthodox practice for every Christian to have a spiritual father to whom one turns for spiritual advice and counsel. Confession can take place on any number of occasions. The frequency is left the discretion of the individual. In the event of serious sin, however, confession is a necessary preparation for Holy Communion. Contact the Cathedral office at 212.288.3215 to schedule a confession with Fr. Frank Marangos.

MARRIAGE

God is active in our lives. It is He who joins a man and a woman in a relationship of mutual love. The Sacrament of Marriage bears witness to His action. Through this Sacrament, a man and a woman are publicly joined as husband and wife. They enter into a new relationship with each other, God, and the Church. Since Marriage is not viewed as a legal contract, there are no vows in the Sacrament. According to Orthodox teachings, Marriage is not simply a social institution, it is an eternal vocation of the kingdom. A husband and a wife are called by the holy Spirit not only to live together but also to share their Christian life together so that each, with the aid of the other, may grow closer to God and become the persons they are meant to be. In the Orthodox Marriage Service, after the couple have been betrothed and exchanged rings, they are crowned with "crowns of glory and honor" signifying the establishment of a new family under God. Near the conclusion of the Service, the husband and wife drink from a common cup which is reminiscent of the wedding of Cana and which symbolized the sharing of the burdens and joys of their new life together.

 Preparations

• Membership: At least one member of the engaged couple must be a member in good standing with the Cathedral; should one member of the couple been previously married and divorced, he/she must present a copy of the civil divorce decree.
• Pre-Marital Counseling: All couples who wish to be married in the Cathedral must participate in pre-marital counseling with the Cathedral's priests; many couples are strongly encouraged to also participate in the Cathedral's inquiry into Orthodoxy class as it also provides a wonderful overview of the Orthodox faith.
• Selecting a Wedding Date: Please contact the Cathedral office as soon as possible to secure your wedding date.
  • Days when marriages are not permitted:
    - January 5th and 6th
    - Great Lent and Holy Week
    - August 1 - 15th
    - August 29th
    - September 14th
    - December 13 - 25th
    - All Holy Days of our Lord and the eve before (Christmas, Epiphany, Pascha, etc.)
  • Contact Dr. Dino Anagnost, the Cathedral's Music Director, to discuss your specific musical needs for the ceremony. He can be reached at 212.971.9500 (then press "0").
• Ecclesiastical Marriage License: Approximately one month prior to the wedding, the bride and groom should schedule an appointment to meet with our priests to apply for the ecclesiastical marriage license. Please be sure to bring the following:
  • Baptismal certificates.
  • If the bride or groom was married before in a civil service, a certified civil divorce must be presented.
  • If the Bride or Groom was married before in the Orthodox Church, that marriage must have been officially dissolved by an Orthodox Church Court. The original document attesting to the Church Divorce must be presented.
  • If the Bride or Groom is a member of some other Christian Church, a letter from their clergyman stating that he/she has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and that he/she is eligible to marry must be presented or a copy of their baptismal certificate.
  • If the Bride or Groom are widowed, a death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented.
• Sacramental Preparation: The bride and groom, who are of the Orthodox Faith, are encouraged to participate in the sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion the week before the wedding.
• Wedding Sponsor: The sponsor or koumbaro/koumbara is the one who stands as witness on behalf of the Orthodox Church during the ceremony. Hence, it is imperative that this person be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Orthodox Church.
• Wedding Day Items: Amongst the many items the bride and groom will want to bring to the wedding ceremony, from a religious standpoint the following are required:
  • Stephana (Crowns of Marriage)
  • Rings for the bride and the groom
  • Two white candles
  • Civil marriage license
  • Invitations to the Reception: Should you wish to invite Father Frank to your reception, please send an invitation via the Cathedral office in advance.
  • Reception Hall: The Cathedral's Ballroom is available for catered wedding receptions up to 250 guests. To reserve the room and for additional details, please contact the Cathedral Administrator at 212.288.3215.

FUNERALS

 The Cathedral extends its deepest condolences to the families who have suffered a loss. Funeral services are available for any of our Greek Orthodox brothers and sisters and we would suggest the following course of action given a death in the family:

• Contact the appropriate medical examiner or doctor to obtain a certificate of death.
• Call the Cathedral office at 212.288.3215 to speak with our priests.
• Contact one of the local area funeral directors for scheduling a viewing and funeral service
• Memorial Donations
  • Many of our parishioners and their families request Memorial Donations to be designated to the Cathedral in commemoration of their loved one. Donations may be made towards any aspect of the Cathedral or to the discretion of our priests. Please notify both our priests and the funeral director should a memorial donation request be desired.
• Makaria
  • A warm custom of our faith, the Makaria is a meal following the funeral service to comfort the family and to commemorate the life of the loved one lost. The Cathedral Ballroom is available for reservation and use for a Makaria. Please contact the Cathedral Administrator at 212.288.3215 for catering information and reservations.
• Memorial Services
  • After funeral service, memorial services are available to commemorate the memory of a loved one. Families holding memorial services should bring koliva to the memorial service or contact the Cathedral office to request koliva from one of the groups of the Cathedral. Please contact the Cathedral office as soon as possible to schedule these memorials.
    • Typical Memorial Service Schedul
      • On the 40th day
      • At the one-year anniversary
      • At the second-year anniversary
      • At the third-year anniversary
      • On the Saturday of Souls
    • Memorial Services may not held on:
      • All Holy Days of our Lord (including Christmas, Epiphany, Pascha, Transfiguration)
      • From the Saturday of Lazarus to and including St. Thomas Sunday
      • Pentecost Sunday
      • August 15th

HOLY ORDERS

The Holy Spirit preserved the continuity of the Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Through ordination, men who have been chosen from within the Church are set apart by the Church for special service to the Church. Each is called by God through His people to stand amid the community, as pastor and teacher, and as the representative of the parish before the Altar. Each is also a living icon of Christ among His people. According to Orthodox teaching, the process of ordination begins with the local congregation; but the bishop alone, who acts in the name of the universal Church, can complete the action. He does so with the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of his hands on the person being ordained.

Following the custom of the Apostolic Church, there are three major orders each of which requires a special ordination. These are Bishop, who is viewed as a successor of the Apostles, Priest and Deacon, who act in the name of the Bishop. Each order is distinguished by its pastoral responsibilities. Only a Bishop may ordain. Often, other titles and offices are associated with the three orders. The Orthodox Church permits men to marry before they are ordained. Since the sixth century, Bishops have been chosen from the celibate clergy.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK (HOLY UNCTION)

When one is ill and in pain, this can very often be a time of life when one feels alone and isolated. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, or Holy Unction as it is also known, remind us that when we are in pain, either physical, emotional, or spiritual, Christ is present with us through the ministry of his Church. He is among us to offer strength to meet the challenges of life, and even the approach of death.

As with Chrismation, oil is also used in this Sacrament as a sign of God's presence, strength, and forgiveness. After the reading of seven epistle lessons, seven gospel lessons and the offering of seven prayers, which are all devoted to healing, the priest anoints the body with the Holy Oil. Orthodoxy does not view this Sacrament as available only to those who are near death. It is offered to all who are sick in body, mind, or spirit. The Church celebrates the Sacrament for all its members during Holy week on Holy Wednesday. In addition, the Cathedral has a Monthly Unction Service for Healing on the first Thursday of each month at 530pm.

OTHER SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS

 The Orthodox Church has never formally determined a particular number of Sacraments. In addition to the Eucharist she accepts the above six Mysteries as major Sacraments because they involve the entire community and most important are closely relation to the Eucharist. There are many other Blessings and Special Services which complete the major Sacraments, and which reflect the Church's presence throughout the lives of her people.