A sacrament is an act, the start of a series of acts, of spiritual
significance--but one of such
significance that we experience the direct and immediate presence of the Spirit
of God in that moment. Sacraments are thus moments of mystical
significance, moments wherein we Become, as we are made more aware.
Church of the East, being a mystical religious movement holds the sacrament
of the moment very dear. Sacraments are the high-Lights on the Way, and
they can come to us in any form, at any time. An attitude of meditation, or an
attitude of worship, is what we seek to hold and keep. Attitude is
what spiritual awareness is about.
The Church today shares in ancient Sacramental rites which have served
humankind for many thousands of years, rites that Yesu established in the
Church, that St. Thomas and The Magdalene partook in and that our forebears continued.
Sacrament of Ordination
We believe that the deacon, priest and teacher is called to service by
God. Once prepared with knowledge, the Church community convenes and, in
the presence of God witnesses the ordination of the new servant. The
first ordination we know of happened c. 42AD just north of today's city of
Bombay when St. Thomas ordained Xenephon. (AofT 6:20-26)
More on ordination...
Sacrament of Marriage
We believe in sacred marriages. We believe that two people become
soul-mates and walk The Way of theosis together, for mutual benefit.
We believe this to be the purpose of marriage. We do not believe that
social custom, the need for a steady sexual partner, or the need to 'have
one's own children', or economical reasons
should be reason for marriage. Marriage is essentially a partnership
between two people who decide to walk The Way as one, instead of walking The
Way as a single devotee.
More on marriage...
Sacrament of Naming a Child
Thanksgiving for a child, presenting the child to its community and
appropriately naming the child in the presence of his/her extended family, is
a moment of great significance in any parent's career.
This is more a sacrament of establishing the child in a caring fellowship,
the extended family, than it is a naming ceremony.
Sacrament of Initiation
Church of the East uses the same Initiation formula St. Thomas
used. The formula is illustrated in Scripture dating back to the 1st
century. Initiation combines the
sacraments of Baptism, Anointment and partaking in the Great Mystery (the
humble meal of bread and wine). Initiation is performed for adults who successfully
completed senior catechism and desire to be anointed into fellowship with the
Christ spirit. As with all sacraments, Initiation is
optional and not a prescribed prerequisite for standard fellowship. Acts of
Thomas 11 describes one of the ceremonies of Initiation St. Thomas performed.
Sacrament of Therapeutic Anointment
We learn about spiritual healing from Yesu our Lord, from The Magdalene and
from St. Thomas--and we know that this art is a sacrament, a process and event
in which the Spirit is especially present with us. Counselors, Teachers
and Magdalenes are trained in the art of healing anointment.
We are working on more Internet material for this topic...
