Questions on the Sacraments (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;'                but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.                If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.                If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.                'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'                but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.                'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'                but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;                nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.                Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.                But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.                'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'*                But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.                If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.                Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.                Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.                'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*'                But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,                that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.               
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Questions on the Sacraments (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)
   

QUESTION:

I have two questions concerning the sacraments:

If a person is interested in becoming a member of an Orthodox Church in America (OCA) parish, and if that person was baptized in a Lutheran church, would he have to be rebaptized into the Orthodox church? If not, I assume that the OCA would recognize his earlier baptism.

If one is a member of an OCA parish and is visiting, for instance, a Greek Orthodox parish in the United States, does that OCA member have the confidence that he will be able to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion from the priest of the Greek Orthodox parish?

ANSWER:

Concerning Baptism: The general practice throughout the OCA parishes is that an individual baptized according to the traditional Trinitarian formula, i.e., "In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," is not received into the Church through Baptism but, rather, through the Sacraments of Chrismation, Penance, and the Eucharist, together with a statement of faith. Individuals who have never been baptized or who have been baptized in a non-Trinitarian formula [i.e., "In the Name of Jesus Christ" or "In the Name of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier"] are received into the Church through Baptism and the other sacraments listed above.

All Orthodox Christians who are members of canonical Orthodox churches may receive Holy Communion in Orthodox churches of other canonical jurisdictions. For example, a member of an OCA parish may receive Communion in a Greek, Antiochian, Serbian, etc. church, and vice versa. It is a common courtesy, however, when visiting a different parish to contact the priest in advance, if at all possible, and let him know that you wish to receive Holy Communion. This may be accomplished through a phone call before the visit or by informing the priest upon arrival at the church. This also becomes a way to discover if there are any local considerations that should be observed.

I hope this helps!
In Christ,
Father John Matusiak








Published in January 2011.








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