For my flesh is food indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed.
These are, brothers, the mysteries of the Church; these are the traditions of the Fathers.
—st. basil the great (330-379AD)
What are the holy Mysteries?
What are the holy Mysteries / Sacraments of the Church?
WHAT ARE THE MYSTERIES?
The Holy Mysteries or Sacraments of the Orthodox Church are the means and channels of Grace, i.e. the sacred services and ceremonies through which divine Grace and power are communicated to sinful man and cleanse him and sanctify him, making him righteous before God.
Where is the source of the grace of the holy Mysteries?
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE GRACE?
The Grace of the Holy Mysteries and all of Christian worship comes from the Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross, as St. Athanasios declares, and indeed, from the side of the crucified Lord which was pierced by the lance of the soldier, as St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. John Chrysostom state. In the words of St. John Chrysostom, “Water and blood came forth (from the side of the Crucified Lord). These two sources did not spring forth simply by chance, but precisely because the Church is composed of both these elements, and as those who prepare for baptism well know, they are reborn through water and nurtured with the Body and Blood (of our Lord). Hence do the Mysteries have their source and beginning.”
What does it mean to say that the Mysteries cleanse and sanctify man?
HOW DO THE MYSTERIES CLEANSE AND SANCTIFY MAN?
The Mysteries are the divine and God-given powers with which the Church both cleanses man from sin and lifts from him the burden of the curse and of guilt, and bestows upon him remission of sins, feeds him spiritually and trains him in the holy life of the Spirit.
How many Mysteries are the?
HOW MANY MYSTERIES ARE THERE?
There are seven Mysteries or Sacraments of the Holy Orthodox Church: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Communion. Then according to need and disposition, Confession, the Priesthood (Holy Orders), Marriage and Holy Oil. Of the seven, the first four are obligatory. The remaining three are optional. Without the obligatory four Mysteries a man cannot become a Christian. If he is not baptized and chrismated, if he does not commune frequently and confess his sins, he does not receive grace and does not become a Christian.
Is Baptism the same thing as salvation?
ARE BAPTISM AND SALVATION SYNONYMOUS?
No. Holy Baptism is the first essential step towards salvation in Christ, but is not a guarantee or promise of salvation. When man arises from the Font of Baptism, he still retains a certain inclination and tendency towards evil. In light of this inclination, the Christian must struggle to work towards holiness and perfection. Only through this struggle and his continued participation in the Mysteries of the Church and the mercy of God, is man saved.