BAPTISM
Baptism is the sacrament through which one is received into the Church. Through baptism we receive the full forgiveness of sins, we “ put on Christ, ” becoming members of His body, the Church. To remind them of their Baptism Orthodox Christians usually wear throughout life a small Cross, hung around the neck on a chain during their baptismal service. Immediately after Baptism, an Orthodox is “chrismated“ (confirmed) with the Chrism (in Greek “myron”) by the priest. The sponsor (Godparent) of the baptised person must be an Orthodox Christian above the age of 12 and only one name is given to the newly baptised person.
To book a baptism, you will need to have decided on the date and time of your choice and will be required to send to the priest the birth certificate of the child and the baptism certificate of the Godparent to confirm that he/she is baptised in the Eastern Orthodox Church and of age. Once the booking has been made, please complete the baptism booking form and e-mail it to the priest with the above-mentioned documents at least one week prior to the baptism.
The fees payable are as follows: Parish - $750, Archdiocese - $250
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MARRIAGE
The sacramental union of a man and a woman should be performed in the Orthodox Church according to the liturgical tradition and blessed by a priest recognised as canonical by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
The procedure for intended weddings is as follows:
- There must be no impediment (regarding relationships) according to the Canons of the Church.
- The priest must be given notice of a least one (1) month before the intended date of marriage.
- The Parish Priest will thereupon give directions as to the necessary documents required and fees to be paid.
- In the case of mixed marriage, the non-Orthodox partner must be a person belonging to a denomination, which accepts the sacramental character of Holy Baptism.
- Having been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity, he or she would declare responsibility that future children will be baptized according to the rites of the Eastern Orthodox Church and that they shall be raised in the Orthodox faith.
- Marriages with persons who belong to the Pentecostal Church, Baptist Church, Salvation Army, Christian Revival Crusades, Reborn Christians, Assembly of God, Church of Christ and other similar religious groups are prohibited.
- A non-Orthodox Christian, who marries an Orthodox Christian does not automatically become a member of the Orthodox Church, and is therefore not permitted to receive Holy Communion or other sacraments in the Orthodox Church.
In addition, Orthodox priests are not allowed to conduct wedding services with priests of other churches. The civil marriage cannot be conducted without the priest simultaneously performing the religious service.
Marriages are not permitted:
- From 13th December until Christmas Day
- On the 5th January, the Eve of Epiphany
- From Great Lent until Easter Sunday
- From 1st to 15th August, the Dormition of the Theotokos
- On the 29th August, the Beheading of John the Baptist
- On the 14th September, Elevation of the Cross
Such services are held as an act of love and remembrance towards the departed members of the Church, on the 3rd Day, 9th Day, 40th Day, 3 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months and on the First Year anniversary of your loved ones passing. They also held at other times, for example yearly and on Soul Saturday.
They are not, however, held on the following days:
- From the Saturday of Lazarus until the Sunday of St Thomas
- On the feast days of our Lord: 1 January, Epiphany (6 January), the Presentation (2 February), the Annunciation (25 March), the Ascension, Pentecost, the Transfiguration (6 August) and Christmas Day
- On the Feast of the Parish Church
- On the 15 August, the Dormition of the Theotokos
For more information please contact Fr Nectarios (M) 0414 241 360 (E) rector@ststephanos.com.au