Misteria inicjacji chrześcijańskiej w duchowej tradycji prawosławia

Abstract

The sacraments are called the holy mysteries in the Orthodox Church. There are transmitted various kinds of grace (redemptive, sanctifying or deifying) by them. Those institutions of the Church have been established by God Himself. From the Orthodox point of view the holy mysteries are inseparable from the spiritual life of the Church. An active participation in the sacraments is very important in spiritual progress of every Christian and the whole community of believers. The holy mysteries play a vital role in the process of spiritual healing of human being. The author’s attempt is to present the mysteries of Christian Initiation in connection to Orthodox spiritual tradition. The basic presupposition of such a description was the conviction that through sacraments, the uncreated grace and energy of God enters human heart. Baptism, the first sacrament including into the Church, is a beginning of new life. It renews the image and resemblance of God. Some spiritual writers considered Baptism as the “first resurrection” possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Initiation rite of the Orthodox Church, the continuity between Baptism and Chrismation is maintained. By this mystery the newly baptized person receive the “stamp (Gr. σφράγις) of the Holy Spirit” It is ones personal Pentecost. There is also Christological dimension of Chrismation, namely putting on Christ, which is the evidence of maintaining the Trinitarian balance. The new member of the Church becomes a child of God and has real participation in the relationship (Gr. χοινωνία) of the faithful. The fulfilling and crowning of the mysteries of Christian initiation is the Holy Communion. It is the transforming gift of the Body and Blood of Christ. Neophyte in this way not only has been united with Christ, but also with all members of His Body. The Orthodox Church has preserved the very old Tradition of the Primitive Church of distributing the first three sacraments, but she reduced the fuli celebration of the Eucharist to the Communion part. The full entrance into the Church by the mysteries of Christian initiation opens for every faithful the possibility of healing of human spirit, soul and body in all other sacraments.