Articles in the Sacraments category

THE BREAD, THE WINE, THE MODE

Athonite Priestmonk Chrysostomos explains how God “innovates the mode” of bread and wine to acquire Divine properties while retaining their natural properties.

April 3, 2020 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Let everyone examine himself

Can holy Communion transmit Coronavirus? Orthodox theologians have answered on both sides of the spectrum. We offer a few brief reflections on this issue.

April 1, 2020 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Unbaptized spouses: welcome to the Church! –Abp. Elpidophoros

Taking one step closer towards complete apostasy, Archbishop Elpidophoros has declared non-Orthodox spouses to be “100% part of our community”.

February 29, 2020 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

A symbol or actual body and blood?

“Do the bread and wine truly become the actual Body and Blood of Christ?” A reader asks to be assured of what the Church has always taught.

January 29, 2020 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Repentance: the beginning and end of our spiritual journey

King Manasse, the wicked king of the Jews who repented after a 55 year reign, is just one figure the Church sets before us to show that change is possible.

April 12, 2019 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

There is no “valid” baptism outside the Church — Part 2 of 2

Those who are not reborn by the divine grace in the only ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH, do not belong to any church, either visible or invisible.

December 1, 2018 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

There is no “valid” baptism outside the Church — Part 1 of 2

If you have received a valid baptism, whether Roman Catholic or Protestant, why join the Orthodox Church?

November 30, 2018 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

You are invited to the Heavenly Banquet

What is “The Heavenly Banquet”? Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis talks about his book on the Divine Liturgy in this interview he gave for “Come Receive the Light”.

November 3, 2018 by Orthodox Witness

Is there grace outside the Church?

Is God’s grace received only by members of the Church or can there be grace outside the Church? Are only Orthodox Christians saved?

June 8, 2018 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Marriage “in Christ” — Part IV

We offer concluding remarks, based on our analysis of the sacrament of Orthodox Marriage in the previous three installments of this series.

December 24, 2017 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Marriage “in Christ” — Part III

How many know that marriage is holy, and it is called a sacrament, because of its connection with the Holy Eucharist?

December 11, 2017 by Orthodox Witness

Marriage “in Christ” — Part II

We examine, in brief, the rite of crowning, considered by many to be the climax of the wedding ceremony.

December 3, 2017 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Marriage “in Christ” — Part I

Everything a Christian does should be done “in Christ”. In this first of four articles on marriage, we look at what it means to be married “in Christ”.

November 17, 2017 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

My desire was to be received through Baptism

Congratulations to a former Protestant who asked to be received in the womb of the Holy Orthodox Church through Baptism, instead of chrismation.

December 13, 2016 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

How a “Byzantine wedding” is conducted

How a Byzantine wedding is conducted

December 11, 2016 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

The Orthodox Church’s Reaction to Homosexual Marriage

Shortly after the June 26 Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, a friend emailed me an article with her own comment in two short monosyllabic words: “So sad.” My reply was a bit longer: “The world continues its course, and Orthodox Christianity its own. The two are diametrically opposed. There should be no surprise there.” I think we should add a few more thoughts on this important subject.

July 13, 2015 by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Sacraments