463:) is used for the Chrismation (Confirmation) of the faithful after Baptism. In the Eastern Church the Sacred Mystery of Chrismation is performed immediately after Baptism. Persons from other Christian confessions who are not received into the Church by Baptism may be admitted by Chrismation (depending upon the regulations of the jurisdiction). Apostates who have left the Church and then repented and returned are restored after appropriate penance to full communion through Chrismation. Chrism is also used in the Consecration of the Holy Table and the entire church building, and is used to anoint the Relics of the Martyrs before they are placed in the Holy Table, and to Consecrate the Antimension. In the past, Chrism was used at the
482:). According to Eastern Christian Tradition, as the Church grew it became impossible for the Apostles to go to each convert personally, so the Apostles laid their hands upon a vessel of oil, consecrating it, and the oil was distributed to the various churches so that all could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whenever new Chrism is consecrated, it is added to the existing stock. The Eastern Church believes that the same Chrism consecrated by the Apostles is still in use today, having been added-to by all generations of the Church. The earliest mention of the use of Chrism is by Saint
545:
445:") to refer to the change, Eastern Christians often avoid this term, regarding it as an attempt to explain the unexplainable. The shared faith of East and West is "that" the elements are changed, but "how" they are changed is Mystery. The Latin Church too holds that the manner in which the change occurs "surpasses understanding".
418:, in which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to come down upon the Gifts and change them. Unlike the prevailing opinion in the West, the Eastern Christians do not hold that there is one specific moment at which this "change" takes place; it is a Sacred Mystery, which begins with the Prothesis (see
376:
The
Consecration should be performed by the diocesan bishop; but if he is unable to do so, the bishop may delegate an Archimandrite or other senior priest to perform the service in his behalf. The bishop himself must consecrate the Antimension (see below) and send it with the priest who will be
380:
There are a number of differences between the rite of
Consecration as practiced by the Greeks and as practiced by the Slavic churches. Generally, the Greek rite presumes that the Holy Table will be made of stone, while the Slavic presumes it will be made of wood.
90:
function as the "hands" of the Bishop and are thus an extension of his ministry). The office of bishop is the highest rank in the Church. In their priesthood and bestowed Divine Grace all bishops are equal, and although certain bishops may receive titles such as
145:
would assemble the local clergy and laity, and all together would elect the new bishop. It should not be thought, however, that such elections were merely democratic—the emphasis was upon consensus rather than majority rule—and election by
103:, such titles constitute marks of dignity and honor, but not any higher order in the Church or greater measure of grace. At his Ordination, a bishop receives grace to perform all the Sacred Mysteries, including Ordination of others.
529:
will consecrate the Chrism. Chrism is not consecrated every year, but only according to need. The
Patriarch or Metropolitan will normally make a formal announcement beforehand when there is going to be a Consecration of Chrism.
377:
performing the service. In this case, the rite of
Consecration is briefer than normal. There is no Consecration of the Antimension (since the bishop himself accomplished this earlier), and no Relics are placed in the Holy Table.
154:
of bishops. In the Early Church a bishop could be married, but the danger arose of episcopal dynasties forming. So with the rise of monasticism in the 4th century, it became customary to choose bishops from among the
343:). A procession goes three times around the church building, just like a similar triple procession around the font at Baptism. Another symbolism which occurs frequently in the service is the
130:). Just as in Acts there were two stages involved: (a) election and (b) the prayerful laying on of hands, so the Ordination of a bishop in the Eastern Church takes place in two stages:
150:
was not unheard of. In time, with the danger of so sacred an undertaking descending into base electoral politics, it became the custom for episcopal nominations to be performed by a
259:
According to the Canon I of the
Apostolic Canons, a bishop must be consecrated by at least two or three bishops. Typically, there are three or more consecrating bishops.
38:(Ordination through laying on of hands) of a bishop, or the sanctification and solemn dedication of a church building. It can also (more rarely) be used to describe the
277:
The Greek words meaning ‘dedicate’ and ‘dedication’ are not easy to translate into
English, since they also have the connotation of ‘newness’, ‘renewal’. The opening
312:
No one may construct an
Eastern church without the blessing of the local bishop. Before construction begins on a new church, the bishop or his representative lays a
309:) are employed in the service. According to Eastern theology, once a building has been Consecrated as a church, it may never again be used for any secular purpose.
17:
731:
248:
of a bishop and presented to the people. The ancient participation of the laity in the election of bishops is retained in their triple acclamation of
489:
While any bishop is empowered to
Consecrate the Chrism, so long as he adds to the existing stock; in practice the Consecration is reserved to the
478:
In the early church, after an individual was
Baptized, one of the Apostles would then lay hands upon them and they would receive the Holy Spirit (
293:
The
Consecration of a Church is a complex service filled with many profound symbolisms. Many biblical elements taken from the Consecration of the
212:
being accomplished with prayer, the Consecration is always performed in the context of the Divine Liturgy. Normally, this occurs on a Sunday or
339:; Chrism, white robes, and tapers are used during the service (the bishop will wear a special white linen garment over his vestments, called a
39:
552:
The Antimins (literally, "In place of the Table") is a piece of cloth, often silk, that has depicted on it Christ laid out for burial with
548:
Commencing the consecration of an antimension, the bishop unfolds the relics lying on the antimension being consecrated to sew into it.
236:
is opened and laid, with the writing down, upon his neck. All of the consecrating bishops place their hands on the Gospel and say the
244:
is believed to descend upon the new bishop and imparts the grace of the episcopate upon him. The bishop is then clothed in the
373:). This is a continuation of the practice of the ancient Church of celebrating the Liturgy over the tombs of the Martyrs.
213:
772:
707:
370:
123:
220:. During the Vigil (or before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy), the bishop-elect must make a formal and public
352:
286:
410:
If the term "Consecration" is used to refer to the change of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) into the
298:
198:
The person elected to the episcopate must voluntarily accept his nomination before the consecration can proceed.
777:
414:
Body and Blood of Christ, the Eastern Christians emphasize that the Consecration is the Divine response to the
723:
111:
569:
332:
115:
141:, bishops were elected by the entire local church over which they were to preside. Bishops in neighboring
752:"The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ" (
344:
514:
479:
724:"Our Lady Mary, Mother of God, mediator for all grace and advocate for all the devotees before God"
625:
Both the Greater and the Lesser Blessing of Waters are patterned after the Eastern rite of Baptism.
164:
119:
232:
the bishop-elect kneels before the Holy Table, touching his forehead to the Holy Table, and the
665:
419:
385:
348:
271:
176:
31:
106:
The Scriptural foundation for electing and consecration by laying on of hands is found in the
589:
160:
607:
He may be blessed as a Reader and Subdeacon on the same day he is ordained to the diaconate.
427:
389:
107:
71:
324:. Only after all construction on the new church has been completed may it be Consecrated.
8:
526:
228:
for a more detailed description of this procedure). During the Divine Liturgy, after the
96:
388:, the altars are invariably used to be consecrated with the name of St. Mary before the
688:
506:
483:
434:
138:
616:(each successive Ordination—deacon, priest, bishop—must be performed on separate days)
289:, asks God to ‘renew a right Spirit within me’, rather than ‘dedicate a right Spirit’.
47:
753:
490:
225:
711:
598:
says that the election is the work of men, but the ordination is the work of God.
557:
518:
217:
327:
The Eastern ritual for the Consecration of a Church is modeled on the ritual of
156:
635:
438:
405:
43:
306:
302:
766:
494:
411:
392:
to all the other saints. This type of veneration concerns with the so-called
285:, for example, make frequent play on the ideas of ‘new’ and ‘old’. David, in
192:
127:
704:
544:
75:
661:
502:
442:
313:
241:
233:
180:
172:
147:
55:
51:
393:
294:
253:
100:
79:
647:
Thus, while Baptism may not be repeated, Chrismation may be repeated.
522:
498:
464:
415:
336:
245:
229:
92:
657:
594:
539:
278:
168:
497:
churches. Traditionally, the Consecration of Chrism occurs during
183:
at all, may be elected a bishop, but if so, he must be ordained a
472:
468:
422:). Instead, Eastern Christians would say only that the change is
328:
282:
175:, and so when a non-monastic is elected to the episcopate, he is
142:
74:, and that at their ordination they receive the fullness of the
454:
366:
362:
358:
188:
184:
87:
83:
42:
of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at the
694:(Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, V2–14, Erdmans) p. 594.
553:
510:
321:
317:
151:
59:
331:
and Chrismation. Before the Consecration begins, there is a
179:
a monk before consecration. One who is not a priest, or in
224:
to ensure the orthodoxy of his belief (see the article on
433:
While Eastern Christian declarations have used the term "
369:) are placed in the Holy Table during the Consecration (
634:
All Chrismated members of the Church are admitted to
167:, but subsequently the requirement became not merely
70:Eastern Christians believe their bishops to be in
656:The Antimins bears some similarities to both the
191:; also, he is typically elevated to the rank of
764:
208:—Because the Acts of the Apostles describes the
265:
501:. The preparation of the Chrism begins on
65:
256:is placed on the new bishop's shoulders.
543:
14:
765:
754:Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1333
734:from the original on January 16, 2019
426:at the Epiclesis (rather than at the
28:Consecrations in Eastern Christianity
18:Consecrations in Eastern Christianity
728:St. Baselios Indian Orthodox Church
24:
25:
789:
399:
252:("He is worthy") at the time the
62:are also said to be consecrated.
505:, using a recipe based upon the
650:
641:
746:
716:
697:
682:
628:
619:
610:
601:
582:
159:. Episcopal celibacy became a
13:
1:
692:The Seven Ecumenical Councils
675:
316:which may or may not contain
301:) and the Temple of Solomon (
570:Christian laying on of hands
7:
533:
493:who preside over the local
171:, but specifically being a
10:
794:
537:
452:
403:
269:
773:Eastern Christian liturgy
448:
705:Consecration of a Church
575:
333:Great Blessing of Waters
266:Consecration of a church
165:Sixth Ecumenical Council
30:can refer to either the
563:
66:Consecration of bishops
668:Roman Catholic Church.
549:
420:Liturgy of Preparation
386:Syriac Orthodox Church
291:
272:Dedication of churches
238:Prayer of Consecration
778:Christian processions
703:Archimandrite Ephrem
590:Clement of Alexandria
547:
404:Further information:
275:
163:of the Church at the
428:Words of Institution
108:Acts of the Apostles
72:apostolic succession
240:, during which the
222:Profession of Faith
120:Epistles to Timothy
710:2010-03-17 at the
550:
484:Hippolytus of Rome
435:transubstantiation
16:(Redirected from
785:
757:
750:
744:
743:
741:
739:
720:
714:
701:
695:
686:
669:
654:
648:
645:
639:
632:
626:
623:
617:
614:
608:
605:
599:
586:
560:in the corners.
335:as is served at
314:foundation stone
307:2 Chronicles 5–7
21:
793:
792:
788:
787:
786:
784:
783:
782:
763:
762:
761:
760:
751:
747:
737:
735:
722:
721:
717:
712:Wayback Machine
702:
698:
687:
683:
678:
673:
672:
655:
651:
646:
642:
638:, even infants.
633:
629:
624:
620:
615:
611:
606:
602:
587:
583:
578:
566:
542:
536:
509:consecrated by
459:Sacred Chrism (
457:
451:
408:
402:
274:
268:
218:All-Night Vigil
68:
34:(Sacrament) of
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
791:
781:
780:
775:
759:
758:
745:
715:
696:
680:
679:
677:
674:
671:
670:
649:
640:
636:Holy Communion
627:
618:
609:
600:
580:
579:
577:
574:
573:
572:
565:
562:
538:Main article:
535:
532:
519:Great Thursday
453:Main article:
450:
447:
406:Divine Liturgy
401:
400:Divine Liturgy
398:
371:Revelation 6:9
267:
264:
263:
262:
261:
260:
202:
201:
200:
199:
124:1 Timothy 4:14
67:
64:
58:placed on the
44:Divine Liturgy
32:Sacred Mystery
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
790:
779:
776:
774:
771:
770:
768:
755:
749:
733:
730:. Malankara.
729:
725:
719:
713:
709:
706:
700:
693:
690:
685:
681:
667:
663:
659:
653:
644:
637:
631:
622:
613:
604:
597:
596:
591:
585:
581:
571:
568:
567:
561:
559:
555:
546:
541:
531:
528:
524:
520:
516:
512:
508:
507:Anointing Oil
504:
500:
496:
495:autocephalous
492:
487:
485:
481:
476:
474:
470:
466:
462:
456:
446:
444:
440:
436:
431:
429:
425:
421:
417:
413:
407:
397:
395:
391:
387:
382:
378:
374:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
334:
330:
325:
323:
319:
315:
310:
308:
304:
300:
296:
290:
288:
284:
280:
273:
258:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
216:which has an
215:
211:
207:
204:
203:
197:
196:
194:
193:archimandrite
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
153:
149:
144:
140:
136:
133:
132:
131:
129:
128:2 Timothy 1:6
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
104:
102:
98:
94:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
63:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
19:
748:
736:. Retrieved
727:
718:
699:
691:
684:
652:
643:
630:
621:
612:
603:
593:
584:
556:of the four
551:
527:Metropolitan
515:Exodus 30:22
503:Great Monday
488:
480:Acts 8:14–17
477:
460:
458:
432:
423:
409:
383:
379:
375:
365:(preferably
357:
353:Resurrection
340:
326:
311:
292:
276:
249:
237:
221:
209:
205:
139:Early Church
134:
112:Acts 1:15–26
105:
97:Metropolitan
76:Divine Grace
69:
35:
27:
26:
664:of the pre-
662:Altar stone
558:Evangelists
517:) Then, on
467:of Eastern
443:metousiosis
355:of Christ.
345:Incarnation
287:Psalm 51:10
242:Holy Spirit
234:Gospel Book
210:Cheirotonia
206:Cheirotonia
181:Holy Orders
148:acclamation
56:Antimension
52:Chrismation
36:Cheirotonea
767:Categories
676:References
666:Vatican II
394:hyperdulia
295:Tabernacle
270:See also:
254:Omophorion
118:) and the
116:Acts 6:2–6
101:Archbishop
80:Priesthood
60:Holy Table
523:Patriarch
499:Holy Week
465:Anointing
424:completed
416:Epiclesis
337:Theophany
303:1 Kings 8
299:Exodus 40
246:vestments
230:Trisagion
214:Feast Day
187:and then
93:Patriarch
732:Archived
708:Archived
660:and the
658:Corporal
595:Stromata
540:Antimins
534:Antimins
491:Primates
486:(†235).
469:Emperors
279:Stichera
177:tonsured
169:celibacy
143:dioceses
137:—In the
135:Election
54:and the
50:used at
738:Jan 15,
689:Canon I
592:in his
384:In the
367:martyrs
349:Passion
341:savanon
329:Baptism
283:Vespers
88:deacons
84:priests
78:of the
588:Saint
455:Chrism
449:Chrism
437:" (in
412:actual
390:prayer
363:Saints
359:Relics
318:relics
226:orlets
189:priest
185:deacon
48:Chrism
46:. The
40:change
576:Notes
554:Icons
511:Moses
473:Kings
461:Myron
439:Greek
322:saint
320:of a
250:Axios
161:canon
157:monks
152:Synod
99:, or
740:2019
564:Also
521:the
471:and
351:and
281:for
173:monk
86:and
525:or
441:, "
430:).
361:of
769::
726:.
475:.
396:.
347:,
305:;
195:.
126:;
114:;
95:,
756:)
742:.
513:(
297:(
122:(
110:(
82:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.