Sacraments
The Holy Sacraments of the Orthodox Church are offered to all Orthodox Christians. You may contact Father Sotirios through the Church office for scheduling a sacrament and for discussion of additional details.
1. Baptism and Chrismation
Baptism is the sacrament through which one is received into the Church. Through baptism we receive the full forgiveness of sins, we
put on Christ
, becoming members of His Body, the Church. To remind them of their Baptism, Orthodox Christians usually wear throughout
life a small Cross, hung round the neck on a chain during their Baptismal service. Immediately after Baptism, the Orthodox Christian is
Chrismated
(confirmed) with the Chrism by the priest. The Sponsor (or Godparent) of the baptised person must be an Orthodox Christian
over the age of 12.
Non-Orthodox Christians wishing to enter the Orthodox Church are received by the Sacrament of Holy Chrism if they have previously been baptised in the Name of the Holy Trinity.
2. Weddings
The Sacrament of Holy Marriage between a man and a woman should be performed in the Orthodox Church according to the liturgical tradition, and blessed by a priest recognised as canonical by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The procedure for intended weddings is as follows:
- There must be no impediment (regarding relationships) according to the Canons of the Church.
- The priest must be given notice of at least one month before the intended date of marriage.
- The parish priest will thereupon give directions as to the necessary documents, fees for the Archdiocese, as well as for the local Church.
In the case of mixed marriages, the non-Orthodox partner must be a person who belongs to a denomination which accepts the sacramental character of Holy Baptism. Having been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity, he or she would declare responsibly that future children will be baptised according to the rites of the Eastern Orthodox Church and that they shall be raised in the Orthodox Faith.
Marriages with persons who belong to the Pentecostal Church, Baptist Church, Salvation Army, Christian Revival Crusades, Reborn Christians, Assembly of God, Church of Christ and other similar religious groups are prohibited.
A non-Orthodox Christian who marries an Orthodox Christian does not automatically become a member of the Orthodox Church, and is therefore not permitted to receive Holy Communion or other sacraments in the Orthodox Church.
In addition, Orthodox priests are not allowed to conduct wedding services with priests of other churches. The civil marriage cannot be conducted without the priest simultaneously performing the religious service.
Marriages are not permitted:
- from the 13th December until Christmas day.
- on the 5th January, the eve of Epiphany.
- from Great Lent until Easter Sunday.
- from 1st to 15th August, the Dormition of Theotokos.
- on the 29th August, the Beheading of John the Baptist.
- on the 14th September, Elevation of the Precious and Life giving Cross.