THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

SACRAMENT

A sacrament is a Christian rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the reality of God, as well as a means by which God enacts his grace. 

The sacraments are sacred rituals, instituted (or at least approved) by Jesus, in which God’s grace is instilled by the Holy Spirit.

These sacraments are mysteries because the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit is granted through them. The seven sacraments are:-

1.Baptism                 

2.Confirmation          

3.Holy Communion     

4.Ordination

5.Matrimony

6.Penance 

7.Unction of the Sick

Proverbs 9 

1.Wisdom has built her house; she has set up[a] its seven pillars.

2. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

3. She has sent out her servants, and she calls

from the highest point of the city,

4.“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,

5. “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;

    walk in the way of insight.”

Of the seven, the six sacraments can be performed by a bishop and a priest. Ordination is conferred by a bishop only.

1. THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Of the seven sacraments, Baptism is the first. Baptism is the sacrament through which we are reborn and enter the kingdom of God. (Jn 3:5). Baptism has a Biblical basis (Mt. 28:19-20).

Through Baptism, sin is forgiven (Acts 2:8). Cleansing and blessing is attained through baptism. (1Pet. 3:21; Tit. 3:5-6).

In our church, we baptize children in the Old Testament children were considered as people of the convenient after they were circumcised.

In the New Testament, children are baptized in their infancy and become members of the family of Christ. God has never isolated children from his grace. For example, Jeremiah was blessed while he was in the womb of his mother. (Jer. 1:5). John the Baptist was likewise filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb of his mother (Lk. 1:15).

2. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION (MYRON)

It is the holy ointment that one is anointed after Baptism. Confirmation like Baptism is performed once and cannot be repeated through the sacrament of confirmation, the believer is granted the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the apostolic times, the baptized person was granted the Holy Spirit by the laying of the hands. (Acts 20:14-17).

When the church expanded, however, the bishops who continued the works of the Apostles permitted the replacement of the laying of hands by the anointing of the Holy oil.

The gift of the Holy Spirit with Myron, confirmation, has Biblical foundation. The believer is anointed with the Holy Oil immediately after Baptism. When the Apostles baptized children and grownups, the baptized person was granted the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17; 19:5-6)

Children should be anointed with Myron as soon as they are baptized so that they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Bible confirms that let alone after birth, there were children who were granted the Holy Spirit while they were still in the wombs of their mothers. (LK. 1:15; Jer. 1:1-8). 

The right to anoint was originally confined to the apostles but later passed on to bishops, and then priests were also authorized to administer the sacrament.

3. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Communion is the culmination of all sacraments of the church. Holy Communion means offering of sacrifice. This is not an offering of man to God but the offering of God for man. The sheep and goats were offered as sacrifices in the altars during the Old Testament times. However, these were preceding examples of the offering of the flesh and blood of Christ during the New Testament.

4. THE SACRAMENT OF ORDINATION

This is the sacrament through which the clergy are entitled to perform the various services of the church. This sacrament has biblical basis. (Mt. 28:19, 20; Eph. 4:11; Acts 26:20).

There are three hierarchical ranks of ordination. These are deacon, priest, and bishop.

i) Deacon

a) Deacons are ordained into this order before marriage.

b) After marriage, the deacons become priests but if they wish to be monks and be ordained priests, they have to remain celibate.

c) The duty of the deacons is to assist priests and bishops.

d) They are ordained by bishops 

e) In our church, there are three ranks under the deacon hood, which qualify one to serve the church. These ranks are conferred through blessing and not by the laying of hands.

f) No payment is made for receiving any of the ordinations. (Acts 8:18-26).

g) Ordination is not attained through inheritance but through a calling of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the canons of the church. 

     2. Priest

The order of priesthood is conferred either after marriage. Alternatively, after becoming a monk. He can perform all the sacraments except, conferring ordination, consecration of the holy oil used for sacrament of confirmation, consecration of the altar, the Ark of the Covenant, new church and new vessels. If he becomes a priest in celibacy, he can attain the rank of bishop; but if he is married, he will be limited to the rank of priesthood. A priest is ordained by the laying of hands and the breath of a bishop. 

3. Bishop 

This rank is conferred on a clergy who has restricted himself in celibacy. He is consecrated by all the members of the Holy Synod but in times of difficulties, he is consecrated by the laying of hands and breathe of at least two bishops. Besides administering all the sacraments of the church, he is a church leader and an overseer of the general affairs of the church. 

Those who are ordained as bishops must fulfill the following requirements.

They should be-  

•Of good health                                                     

•Well educated to defend and profess their faith                     

•Of exemplary behavior                                                        

•Only males                                                   

Ordination is not repeated or renewed. Both those who re-ordain or are preordained are reconsecrated from their ordination. (Canon of the Apostles 68). Christ chose a certain number of persons for the Holy ordination. (Lk. 6:12, 13:Jn.20: 19-25).

He also gave them special authority not given to others. (Mt. 18:18).

Before his ascension, Christ promised them that he will always be with them to the end of the world. (Mt. 28:20). He also appointed them with all ranks. (Lk. 24:51).

When Judas left his apostolic ministry, the apostles held a syndical meeting and chose Matthias as a replacement, (Acts 1:15-26). 

5. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY

 Christian marriage is one of the seven sacraments, which is performed in a church by means of which the grace of the Holy Spirit is obtained. Holy matrimony is based on the bible. (Gen. 1:27, 28, 2:18; Mt. 19:4-6). 

The canon of the church requires that before matrimony is affected the following conditions should be met.
1. Both couples should be Christians to obtain the grace of God.

2. Both should belong the Orthodox Tewahido Church. If any one of them is not a member, he/she should first be a member of the church.

3. No pre - marital sexual relationship is permitted.

4. Both should consent to be united in marriage.

5. No marriage is allowed within seven generation so as not to break the rule of kinship that forbids marriage between close family relations. (Lev. 18:6-21; Deut. 7:3-4).

6. As the marriage of Christians epitomizes the unity between Christ and the church, is shall not be broken. (Eph. 5:32).

7. In our church one to one to one marriage only is allowed.

8. re-marriage cannot be conducted by any one of the two partners unless divorce is affected because of adultery or one of the partners dies. (Mt. 19:6-9).

9. The sacrament of matrimony is celebrated by bishops and priest.

10. Matrimony is not performed without Holy Communion. (Fetha Negest Article 24:899).

11. Parents should be consulted and their consent should be sacred. 

6. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE   

Penance means to feel remorse, repent, and cleanse oneself from sin. Although Christians are reborn through Baptism, men are liable to commit sins. Therefore:

- Every Christian should have a father confessor (soul - father)

-Everyone should go to the father - confessor and confess his her sins. (Lev. 14:31, Mt. 8:4; Epiphanies Faith of Fathers Hai. Ab. 59:20). Those who confess their sins and return to God receive the grace of God and by receiving the Holy Communion the will enter to their former place of honor. 

Confessions and remissions are performed only by bishops or priests penance is based on the bible. (Mt. 16:8; 4). The confession of the penitent made in from of the father confessor and the tears shed for the sins committed will enable them to be reinvented by the Holy Spirit. (Liturgy of Athanasius). Penance is one of the sacraments that are repeated.

The main objectives of the teachings starting from the prophets, of John the Baptism; our lord Jesus Christ Himself and his disciples the apostles is to enable people to inherit the kingdom of God through repentance, "Repent ye: for the Kingdom of God is at hand, "On the basis of this truth, the church teaches the need and virtue of penance. (Mt. 3:1-2, 4:17;  

7. THE SACRAMENT OF UNCTION OF THE SICK 

It is one of the seven sacraments of the church. It is an anointment administered to the sick. It has biblical origin and is administered by bishops and priests. (Mk. 6:13; Jas. 5:13-15). 

 In our church, since unction is proffered to cleanse sins of the flesh as well as of the soul, unction is administered to one who afflicted by sin. Unction is performed by bishops and priests.

Each of the seven sacraments has its own book of prayer and system of application. The seven sacraments as a whole are considered as manifestations of the faith and tenets of the religion of the church.      

These sacraments are all performed in the church. However, it is not also forbidden if they are performed elsewhere as and when conditions are met. The main aim of all the sacraments is to redeem mankind.

ወስብሐት ለእግዚአብሔር!

Glory be to God!