Theology  -  Hierarchy  -  Locations  -   Education  -   Stewardship  -   Other Information  -  Index  -  Thesaurus  -  Sitemap  -  Arabic fonts  -  Home

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination

Print information only (Do not print the Table of Contents)

The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination initiate a person into the Christian community. These Holy Mysteries make a person a full and active member of the Catholic Church. The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.
Baptism is recived first. Chrismation immediately follows Baptism. Ideally, Baptism and Chrismation are done during a Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist is received at that Liturgy. If Baptism and Chrismation are not done during a Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. This is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination consists of

• Exorcism (the person turns away from the devil and unites himself/herself to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church)
• Anointing (the person is restored, renewed, and recreated in soul and body by the "oil of gladness")
• Immersion (in the baptismal water, the person is "buried" with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ in the water and raised to New Life)
• Clothing (the person is clothed in a white robe, having "put on" the righteousness of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Chrismation (the person is "sealed" with Holy Chrism, his/her "personal Pentecost," the person receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit)
• Procession (the person [or representative] carrys a candle and is led by the priest, begins his/her lifelong walk with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ while the faithful sing the Baptismal Hymn)
• Holy Communion (the person is bonded with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church,)
• Ablution or washing (the person has the Holy Chrism washed off as he/she prays for Holy God to preserve him/her in the faith and life of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Tonsuring (strands of the person's hair are cut as a sign of his/her offering of all of his/her self to Holy God) This tonsure represents the child’s first offering to Holy God.

Liturgical Text

English Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file
Arabic Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file

More Information

Baptism Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church McLean, VA

Baptism The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton

Holy Communion Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, McLean, VA

Holy Mysteries Our Lady of Redemption, Warren, Michigan

Preparing for Holy Communion St. Joseph Melkite Catholic Church, Akron, Ohio

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on Baptism. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin.

Sacraments of Initiation Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, West Patterson, NJ

Churching

Churching is received by a baby prior to receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Theology Home  -  Hierarchy Home  -  Locations Home  -  Other Information Home  -  Alphabetical Index  -  Thesaurus  -  Sitemap  -  Arabic fonts  -  Home

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is an unofficial Melkite Greek Catholic Web site and has not been reviewed or approved by any Melkite clergy person.
Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center contains a range of World Wide Web sites on Melkite faith, belief, practice, history, etc. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center does not endorse any World Wide Web site nor takes any responsibility for the contents of any World Wide Web site. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center offers these links with the understanding that Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center can not vouch for any of the contents on each site. Listing a site does not indicate acceptance nor endorsement of the doctrines / ideas / theology of the World Wide Web site. Please remember that Web sites will change their content and their location. It is the user's responsibility to decide whether or not the content on a particular World Wide Web site is appropripate.

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

This site copyright©2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008 Martha Liles. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: Sunday, January 01, 2006, 09:24:42, PST
The current date and time is: Wednesday, December 03, 2008, 18:55:50, PST or Thursday, December 04, 2008, 02:55:50, GMT