Orthodox rites, sacraments and traditions

Sacraments, rites, and traditions are not the same. The Orthodox person understands all the subtleties, but the unchurched can not always distinguish one from the other. Nevertheless, even if you have nothing to do with the church, you must still know general information. Let's talk about it.

The difference between the sacraments and rituals

To begin with, Orthodox rites are fundamentally different from other forms of ritual. Sacraments and rituals are often confused.

The Almighty gave people seven ordinances, including baptism, anointing, repentance, communion, marriage, the priesthood and unholy. During them, God's Grace is shed on believers.

The Orthodox rite includes actions that are aimed at raising the human spirit to the sacrament and raising consciousness to faith. It is important to understand that all church rites are considered sacred only if accompanied by prayer. It is because of prayer that the ordinary action becomes a priesthood, and the external process becomes an Orthodox rite.

Types of rites

Every believer knows that church rites are divided into several categories:

1. Liturgical rites. They enter the usual order of church liturgical life. This includes the removal of the holy shroud during Good Friday, the lighting of bread kvass (arthos) during the Easter week, year-round lighting of water, the church rite of anointing with oil, which is performed on the matins, and others.
2. Worldly rites. These Orthodox ceremonies are used during the lighting of homes, various products such as seedlings and seeds. They are also used to bless good things like traveling, fasting, or building a house. By the way, this category includes the rites of the deceased, which include a lot of ritual and ritual actions.
3. Symbolic ceremonies. This includes Orthodox religious rites, which express certain ideas, and are a symbol of the unity of God and man. A striking example is the sign of the cross. What is it? This is the name of the Orthodox religious rite, which symbolizes the memory of the suffering endured by the Savior; it also serves as a good guard against the action of demonic forces.

Anointing

To make it clearer what we are talking about, let's look at the most popular rites. Anyone who has ever been to church in the morning service in the church, saw him or even participated in this rite. During the ceremony, the priest makes cruciform movements on the believer's forehead with oil (blessed oil). This action is called anointing. It means God's grace that is poured out on man. Some Orthodox holidays and ceremonies have come to us since the Old Testament time, and anointing refers to one of them. Moses also bequeathed to make the anointing with oil of Aaron and his descendants, the servants of the temple in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, the apostle James mentions the healing effect of the oil in the conciliar epistle and says that this rite is very important.

Unction

Orthodox holidays and ceremonies are often confused with each other, as happened with the sacrament of unification. Not only are these concepts confused, but people are also misled by the fact that oil is used in both cases. The difference is that during grace, God's grace is invoked, but in the second, the rite has only a symbolic character.

By the way, the sacrament of unction was always considered the most difficult action, because seven priests should perform it according to church canons. Only in extreme cases is a situation permitted when a sacrament is performed by one priest. The anointing is done seven times, during which passages from the gospel are read. In particular, chapters from the Epistle of the Apostles and special prayers that are designed specifically for this occasion are being heard. But the ceremony of anointing consists only in the fact that the priest blesses and puts a cross on the forehead of a believer.

Rites associated with the completion of life

No less important are the Orthodox rites of burial and others associated with this action. In Orthodoxy, this moment is given a special meaning, because the soul parted with the flesh and goes into eternity. We will not go deeply, we will dwell on the most important points.

Among the rites of the Orthodox Church, a special place is occupied by the burial service. This is the name of the memorial service, which is performed on the deceased only once. For example, the same memorial service or memorial service can be performed several times. The meaning of the funeral service is in the singing (reading) of certain liturgical texts. It is important to understand that the order in the Orthodox rite of burial or burial service varies depending on who the ritual is for: a monk, a lay person, a baby, or a priest. The funeral is carried out so that the Lord forgave the sins of the dead person and gave rest to the soul, which has already left the body.

Among the Orthodox sacraments and rites, there is also a memorial service. It differs from the funeral service in that it is much shorter. As a rule, a memorial service is carried out on the third, ninth and fortieth day after death. A memorial service is a prayer song, which is why they confuse it with a funeral service. It is possible to hold a memorial service in the year of death, the birthday of the deceased, namesake.

The next rite of Orthodox Christians, which few people know about, is lithium. This is also one of the types of funeral services. The ceremony is much shorter than the requiem, but also takes place in accordance with the rules.

Consecration of food, shelter and good beginnings

We have already talked about the rite of catholicism in the Orthodox Church, but there are also rituals called lighting. They are held so that God's blessing may come upon man. If you recall the teachings of the church, it says that until the second coming of Christ, the devil will do invisibly evil deeds. People are doomed to see the fruits of his activities everywhere. A man cannot resist the devil without the help of heavenly forces.

For this reason, it is important to conduct rituals in the Orthodox religion. Thus, the home is cleansed of the presence of dark forces, food from the devilish influence, and good beginnings are carried out without interference. But all this works only if a person unshakably believes in God. If you doubt that the rite will help you, then you should not start. The rite in this case is considered not only empty, but also a sinful act, which is pushed by the same devil.

Water blessing

This is the name of the rite of blessing water. By tradition, water blessing can be great and small. In the first version, the ceremony is performed once a year, and in the second - it is performed many times in twelve months. This is done at the time of Baptism or at the service of prayers.

The ceremony is held in honor of the great event - the immersion of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan. This moment is described in the Gospel. It was then that Jesus became the type of the ablution of all human sins. Ablution takes place in the holy font, which opens the way for people inside the Church of Christ.

The sacraments

We have already figured out what rituals are, it is time to determine the sacraments. They are somewhat different from rituals, but many still consider them to be such. Consider the most popular sacraments.

Epiphany

Among the Orthodox sacraments and rites, baptism is very popular. Even secular people want to baptize children. A child can be baptized after forty days have passed from birth. To conduct the ceremony, the presence of godparents is enough. As a rule, they are chosen from the closest people. Godparents must be chosen very carefully, because they must spiritually educate the godson and support him throughout life. Now the rules are not so severe, if before it was impossible for the mother to be present at the baptism, now this rule is valid only for forty days from the birth of the child.

During baptism, the child should be dressed in a new baptismal shirt and be in the arms of one of the godparents. The latter during the ceremony pray and are baptized with the priest. A servant of God three times carries the baby around the font, and also dips him three times in the font. During baptism, a lock of hair is cut from the head of the child, which symbolizes obedience to God. Boys at the end of the rite are brought to the altar, but the girls are leaned against the face of the Virgin.

It is believed among the people that if a person has undergone the rite of baptism, then in all endeavors God's help will be provided. The Savior will protect from sins and troubles, and also give a rebirth.

Participle

There is an opinion that the rite of communion in the Orthodox Church saves a person from past sins and gives the forgiveness of the Lord. Communion is carried out before the wedding, but this does not mean that preparation for this ceremony is not necessary.

You need to start going to church every day at least a week before communion. On the day when the sacrament will be performed, a person must defend the entire morning service. By the way, preparation for the sacrament consists not only in attending church, but also in observing certain rules. They are exactly the same as during the post. You can’t eat animal food, have fun, drink alcohol and babble.

As you see, the rite of communion in the Orthodox Church is not so complicated, but a person can get rid of all sins. Recall that Communion is necessary only if you believe. An unbeliever cannot receive the long-awaited forgiveness; he, having communed, will commit a sin. How does the rite go?

So, the rite of the sacrament in the Orthodox faith begins with the fact that a person confesses to the priest. This must be done on the day of the ceremony, only before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. Communion is held directly at the end of the service. Everyone who wants to take communion, alternately approach the pulpit, where the clergyman holds the chalice. The bowl needs to be kissed and stepped aside, there everyone will receive a sip of holy water and wine.

By the way, the hands during the procedure must be folded on the chest with a cross. On the day of the communion rite in the Orthodox Church, you must keep your thoughts clean, refrain from sinful food and entertainment.

Wedding

Even an unchurched person knows that rituals differ not only in meaning, but also according to the rules of the conduct, the requirements for believers. As for the wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church, the rules here are different. For example, only people who have registered their relationship with the registry office can get married. This is because the priest does not have the right to perform the ceremony without presenting a certificate of marriage.

There are some obstacles that prevent the wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church. The rules prohibit the marriage of people with different faiths if one of the couple is not yet divorced. Never marry people who are blood relatives or who have previously taken a vow of celibacy.

By the way, the wedding can not be carried out during the great church holidays, during strict fasts and weeklies, on some days of the week.

During the ceremony, behind the pair are the best men who hold crowns over the pair. All women who are present at the wedding must be covered with a head. During the ceremony, the groom should touch the face of the Savior, and the bride should touch the face of the Virgin.

From ancient times, it is believed that weddings can protect marriage from external destruction, gives the family the blessing of God and his help in difficult times in life. Weddings also help to maintain respect and love in a couple.

The ceremony, of course, is beautiful and solemn, which is not surprising, because all church rites catch the eye. The sacrament of the wedding gives the couple tranquility, eliminates internal torment and feelings of loneliness. With the help of the rite, a person can look inside himself, gain life values, or clear his mind of bad thoughts.

There is also a ritual of debunking in the Orthodox Church, but we'll talk about it another time.

The funeral

In addition to cheerful and pleasant ceremonies, there are also those associated with death. Orthodox funeral rites differ in their rules, which you need to know. Thus, the burial of believers takes place on the third day after death. Orthodox traditions teach people to respect a lifeless body. After all, even after death, a person continues to be a member of the Jesus Church, while the body is considered a temple in which the Holy Spirit used to live. By the way, the Orthodox believe that after a certain time the body will come to life and acquire the qualities of immortality and incorruption.

How to prepare for the funeral?

1. The body of a believer is washed immediately after death. This rite symbolizes the integrity of the spirit and the absolute purity of a person who will appear before the eyes of the Lord. According to the rules of the rites of the Russian Orthodox Church, bathing is done with soap, warm water and a soft rag or sponge.
2. During ablution, it is necessary to read the Trisagion song and light the lamp. The latter burns as long as the body is in the room. Only clean women who themselves have taken a bath, or older people, can do the ablution.
3. After washing the deceased, they put on washed new clothes. This is done in order to show immortality and incorruption of the soul. Christians believe that after death a person will appear at the Judgment of God and give an account for the life passed.
4. An Orthodox cross is necessarily worn on the body, and hands and feet are tied. Moreover, the hands need to be folded in a certain way: the right should be on top. A small icon is placed in the left hand, which is different for men and women. So, women are given the icon of the Virgin Mary, and men - Christ. With its help it is shown that the deceased believed in God's Son and betrayed his own soul to him. Now he is moving to the holy, eternal and reverent vision of the Holy Trinity.

How are Orthodox people buried? Traditions and ceremonies regulate the order of burial. So what are we talking about?

1. At the death of a Christian, they read the canon of eight songs, which is composed according to church rules. This is necessary because every person before death experiences a sense of fear. Orthodox servants confirm that the soul succumbs to passion after being separated from the physical shell.
2. The consciousness of a person is very difficult in the first three days after death. At this time, people see the Guardian Angels who accompanied them throughout their lives after baptism. Moreover, along with the Angels, evil spirits appear before their eyes, which already cause horror with their vile appearance.
3. The canon is read in order for the soul of the deceased to find peace in the afterlife. Relatives and relatives are required to gather the courage that is necessary in order to say goodbye to a deceased relative. They must fulfill a prayer request before Heavenly Father.
4. Before burying the body, the coffin and the deceased are sprinkled with holy water. A whisk is placed on the forehead of the deceased, which the priest issues before the funeral service. The corolla symbolizes the fact that the Christian with honor passed away, defeated a frightening death. On the corolla is the face of the Mother of God, the Son of God, as well as John the Baptist. The nimbus is adorned with the inscription "Trisagion".
5. A cotton pad is always placed under the shoulders and head of the deceased, while the body is covered with a white sheet. The coffin is placed in the middle of the room facing the home iconostasis, that is, in such a way that the deceased's face is turned to the icons. Candles are lit around, which warn that the deceased Christian is moving into the area of ​​calm and light.

By the way, priests and monks are not traditionally washed after death. The priests are dressed in church clothes, a cover is laid on his head, which says that the deceased was involved in the Mysteries of the Lord. But the monks are dressed in specific clothes and wrapped in a cruciform mantle. The monk’s face always closes, because he was far from worldly passions during his life.

Orthodox church rituals are also valid if the body is brought to the temple. How does this happen? Now let's figure it out. Before you take the body out of the house, you must read the canon of the outcome of the soul. By the way, this is done no later than an hour. The dead person is always carried forward with their feet. At the time when the body is carried out, a prayer in honor of the Holy Trinity is sung. It symbolizes that the deceased confessed with sincerity to God and goes into the kingdom of heaven. There he will be an ethereal spirit who sings praise and surrounds the throne.

After the body was brought to the temple, it is placed so that the face of the deceased was turned to the altar. Lamps are lit on four sides of the deceased. The Church believes that on the third day after death, the soul of the deceased begins to experience terrible suffering, although the body is lifeless and dead. In such a difficult period, the deceased really needs the help of priests, and therefore the Psalter and canons are read over the coffin. , , .

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By the way, if the church is too far from the house of the deceased, then an absentee funeral service is performed. It should be ordered by relatives in the nearest monastery.

When the ritual is completed, before closing the coffin, a distinctive prayer book is put into the hands of the deceased, more precisely, in the right hand. On the forehead they put a paper whisk. Farewell is carried out already with the body, wrapped in sheets.

Since everything is clear with the burial rites, then let us clarify the moment of the church schism. Of course, this question was studied back in school, but most likely you already forgot everything you knew.

Church schism

The unification of the rites of the Russian Orthodox Church occurred after the split of the church. Why did it happen? Let's get it right.

Until now, the Russian Orthodox Church has not been concerned with reform. Recent changes occurred in the seventeenth century, but whether there will be new ones is still unknown. Let's talk about previous experiences.

As early as 1640, there was talk of the need for church reform. Representatives of the clergy already then wanted to unify the rules of worship and church texts. But they could not achieve unity in the choice of the sample to be leveled. Someone wanted to use Greek church books as a model, and others - Old Russian books.

As a result, those who wanted to bring church rites and books in accordance with the Byzantine canons won. There are several explanations for this:

1. The Russian state sought to stabilize its own position among other Orthodox countries. In government circles, people often talked about Moscow as the third Rome; this theory was put forward by Philotheus, the Pskov old man who lived in the fifteenth century. Church schism, which occurred in 1054, led to the fact that the Orthodox center was considered Constantinople. Filofei believed that after the fall of Byzantium, it was the capital of the Russian state that would become the stronghold of the true Orthodox faith. For Moscow to receive this status, the Russian Tsar needed to enlist the support of the Greek Church. And in order to receive it, it was necessary to conduct a service in accordance with local rules.
2. In 1654, the Pereyaslav Rada decided that the territory of Polish Ukraine should join Russia. In the new territory, the Orthodox liturgy was held according to Greek rules, and therefore the unification of rites and rules would contribute to the unification of Little Russia and Russia.
3. Not so long ago, the Time of Troubles passed, popular unrest continued throughout the country. If uniform rules of church life were established, then the process of national unity would have gone much faster and more fruitfully.
4. Russian worship did not comply with the Byzantine canons. Making changes to the liturgical rules is considered secondary in the implementation of church reform. By the way, the church schism was caused by these edits.

With whom did the church split? The case was under Emperor Alexei Mikhailovich, who reigned from 1645 to 1676. He never ignored the problems that concerned the Russian people. The Tsar considered himself Orthodox, and therefore devoted much attention and time to the affairs of the church.

The church schism in our country is firmly connected with the name of Patriarch Nikon. In the world, his name was Nikita Minin, he became a clergyman at the request of his parents and was very successful. Once Nikon was introduced to the young Alexei Mikhailovich, it was in 1646. Then Minin came to Moscow in order to settle monastery affairs. The seventeen-year-old sovereign appreciated Nikon's efforts and left him in Moscow. Nikon had a very strong influence on the sovereign and was actively involved in resolving state issues. In 1652, Nikon became a patriarch and began preparations for church reform, which had long been brewing.

First of all, the patriarch began to edit all the books of the Orthodox religion and rites. This was done in order to comply with Greek laws. Despite this, the beginning of the church schism is considered to be 1653, because the changes at that time affected the liturgical rules, which led to the confrontation of Nikon with supporters and adherents of the old rites and rules.

So what did Patriarch Nikon do?

1. Replaced the duodenal sign with the tripled one. Just this innovation caused the most unrest among the Old Believers. The new sign of the cross was considered disrespectful to God, because a cookie was obtained from three fingers.
2. The patriarch introduced a new spelling of the name of God. Now it was necessary to write "Jesus", and not as before the reform - "Jesus."
3. The number of prosphora for the liturgy was reduced.
4. The changes also affected the bows. Now there is no need to beat the bows of the earth, instead of them appeared belt.
5. From the moment of reform, the procession during the procession should be against the sun.
6. During church singing, "Hallelujah" is now pronounced three times, instead of the previous two.

So what are the reasons for the split? Before answering this question, it is necessary to understand what is called a church schism. So, they call the separation of some of the believers from the Orthodox Church, the Old Believers opposed those transformations that Nikon wanted to introduce.

The reasons for the split, of course, greatly influenced the subsequent history of the Russian state and were caused by the short-sighted policies of church and secular authorities.

Church schism can be defined as confrontation or cooling, which means that all this has badly affected the relationship between the church and the authorities. Patriarch Nikon is guilty of this, or rather, his harsh methods. This led to the fact that in 1660 the patriarch lost his dignity. Over time, he was completely deprived of the holy dignity and exiled to Belozersky Feropontov Monastery.

But this does not mean that the reforms ended with the resignation of the patriarch. In 1666, new church books and rituals were approved, which were necessary for the whole Orthodox Church to adopt. The Church Council decided that those people who were supporters of the old faith, not only excommunicated and even equated to heretics.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is necessary to know all the sacraments and rites of the Orthodox Church, if you really want to join God. Churched people, of course, are aware of everything, but this does not mean that they were born with this knowledge. Everyone who comes to church can count on a detailed explanation. It's never too late to come to the church; the doors of the temple are always open in front of every person.

There is no definite time when it is worth turning to God. Some come to this at the end of life, and others at the very beginning. The Lord loves all people equally and does not divide them into good and bad. A person who has come to the temple is ready not only to repent, but also to work on his soul.

Do not blame the believers, because they care not only about the body, but also about the soul. Sometimes only through God can one realize all his mistakes and sins and atone for them. Of course, there are fanatics, but they are still a minority. It is also important to teach children about the church from an early age. So the kids will have the correct idea of ​​God, and the church for them will not be some special place. Now a lot of Sunday schools are being built, which promises the spread of faith among the population.

We do not live under the Soviets, and therefore it is worth thinking broader, rather than templates. It was then said to everyone that faith is opium for the people, forgetting the ending of the dictum. But you must remember about it.