A Church sacrament is a holy ordinance through which the believer receives an invisible grace under the form of an outward sign, visible or audible. It should be
instituted by Christ Himself. Our Church believes that there is a real efficacy in the sacraments themselves, and that they truly bring invisible graces to the
believers.
1- For instance it is said that Baptism brings salvation. "When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein
few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us." (1 Pet. 3:20,21)
2- And the Holy Communion brings true life in this world: "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." (John 6:53),
and brings eternal life: ?Who eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. He that eateth of this bread
shall live forever. (John 6:54,58) The same can be said of the other sacraments.
Performance of Sacraments:- Certain prayers are set for each sacrament to ask for the blessing of the Holy Ghost.
Who has the right to perform Church Sacraments
(A) A bishop may perform any church sacrament, but there must be at least three bishops for the consecration of a bishop in the sacrament of Holy Orders; a
priest can not confer Holy Orders, but the can perform the other six sacraments; a deacon can only help the bishop or the priest in celebrating the seven sacraments.
(B) Some other christians say that sacraments and all church ordinances can be celebrated by anyone of the laity, and that there is no need for the clergy,
supposing that all Christians are of the same standing, and Christ did not distinguish anyone in His church. In reply please turn to what is mention in this
connection in the sacrament of the Holy Orders.
(C) Others think that the sacraments lose their efficacy if the minister's life is not a good one. But our church teaches that the blessings got through the
Sacraments do not depend on the life of the minister because of the following reasons:
1. The Apostle Paul asserts that the work of grace in the heart does not depend on any human effort, but absolutely on God "Neither is he that planteth anything neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. (1 Cor. 3:7)
2. Though the Lord did not baptize, and baptism was left to the disciples, yet it was said that it was He who baptized." (John 1:33; 4:1, 2)
In the same manner we can say that it is not the minister who performs the sacraments, but God who works in him, with him, and through Him. "For it is God which
worketh in you." (Phil. 2:13) "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also..." (2 Cor. 6:1) "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but
the grace of God which was in me." (1 Cor. 15:10) "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:20)
3. When Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against Moses and against God, took their censers and offered incense in them, they were severely punished; but God ordered that "the censers of these
sinners against their own souls" should be made "broad plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed" (Numbers 16:37, 38)
4. The Lord ordered us to accept the teaching even of wicked teachers, and not to imitate their bad example (Matt. 23:1-3)
5. John Chrysostom said: - It happens that the leaders are wicked and the laity are righteous. But the grace does not depend upon the life of the clergy. This I
say in order that no one should doubt of the legality of ordinances celebrated if he examines the priest's life because every thing depends upon the power of
God who alone grants the race through the sacrament performed. And St. Athanasius said: "The priest does not consecrate the water (of baptism) but merely
performs the due service, for which he obtains grace from God." He also said: "If we baptize, confirm and forgive, everything is due to Christ who performs it."
It was also said : It makes no difference whether the sacraments are given at the hands of righteous or wicked ministers, because sacraments resemble the
seeds which are scattered on the earth by the farmer, and which will produce the due crop whether the hands of the farmer are clean or dirty; and because
if the efficacy of the sacraments depends upon the life of the minister, it follows that our salvation depends upon their desire."
SOURCE: Rev. Marcos Daoud, The Orthodox Church Sacraments, Tinsae Ze Gubae Printing press, Addis Ababa 1952.
