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What are the Sacraments?

The mysteries of the Church are encounters with the living Christ, communicating His grace through material signs.

Christ acts in every mystery

  • The sacraments are not mere symbols; Christ Himself baptizes, feeds, forgives, and heals through the Church.
  • Water, oil, bread, and wine reveal creation's vocation: to become a vessel of divine life.

Shaping daily life

  • Baptism and Chrismation begin a lifelong journey of prayer, repentance, and Eucharistic communion.
  • Regular confession and the Eucharist nurture healing and steady growth in holiness.

Mission for the world

  • Every sacrament sends us back into our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods as witnesses of Christ's mercy.
  • The faithful become living icons, extending the Church's hospitality to seekers and the suffering.
What are the Sacraments? | Orthodox Christianity 101