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Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination

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Holy
Mysteries

Holy
Mysteries
Christian
Illumi-
nation

Baptism

Chris-
mation

Holy
Eucha-
rist
Commun-
ion

Holy Mysteries
Holy Mystery	Why Recieve	Who Receives	Minimum Age Received	Who Administers	When Received	How Often Received	Time Period NOT Recieved
All 3 Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination	Becomes a full and active member of Catholic community	All	Any age Ideally infants Ideally receives 3 Christian Illumination Holy Mysteries in immediate succession	Priest	Ideally, 1st 2 Holy Mysteries during Divine Liturgy and Holy Eucharist during Holy Communion.	1 time for Baptism & Chrismation Many times for Holy Eucharist	Great Lent Great and Holy Week
Baptism	Becomes Catholic
Chrismation	Receives the seal of the gift of Holy Spirit
Holy Eucharist	Participates in Jesus Christ's Mystical Supper Jesus Christ's gift of Himself to us

The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination initiate a person into the Christian community. These Holy Mysteries make a person a full and active member of the Catholic Church. The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.
Baptism is recived first. Chrismation immediately follows Baptism. Ideally, Baptism and Chrismation are done during a Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist is received at that Liturgy. If Baptism and Chrismation are not done during a Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. This is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination initiate a person into the Christian community. These Holy Mysteries make a person a vital and important part of the "Body of Christ", that is a full and active member of the Catholic Church. The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.
Baptism is received first. Chrismation immediately follows Baptism. Ideally, Baptism and Chrismation are done during a Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist is received at that Liturgy. If Baptism and Chrismation are not done during a Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. This is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination consists of

Recieves Exorcism (the person turns away from the devil and unites himself/herself to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church)
Is undressed (the person is "putting off the old man" as Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Prince of the Apostles Paul says)
Is Immersed (the person is "buried" with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity

/ Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Is taken from the water (a symbol of his resurrection with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ to new life)
Recieves Clothes (the person is clothed in a white robe, having "put on" the righteousness of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
Is Anointed (the person is restored, renewed, and recreated in soul and body by the "oil of gladness")
Is Chrismated (the person is "sealed" with Holy Chrism, his/her "personal Pentecost," the person receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit)
Processes (the person [or representative] carries a candle and is led by the priest, begins his/her lifelong walk with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ while the faithful sing the Baptismal Hymn)
Is Abluted or washed (the person has the Holy Chrism washed off as he/she prays for Holy God to preserve him/her in the faith and life of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
Is Tonsured (the person's hair are cut as a sign of his/her offering of all of his/her self to Holy God) This tonsure represents the child’s first offering to Holy God. Then, this tonsure is a symbol of sacrifice. Additionally, this tonsure is a symbol of obedience.
Receives Holy Communion (the person is bonded with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church,)

More Information

Baptism Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church McLean, VA

Baptism The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on Baptism. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin.

Holy Mysteries Our Lady of Redemption, Warren, Michigan

Sacraments of Initiation Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, West Paterson, NJ

Holy Communion Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, McLean, VA

Preparing for Holy Communion St. Joseph Melkite Catholic Church, Akron, Ohio

Liturgical Text

English Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file
Arabic Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file

More Information

Baptism Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church McLean, VA

Baptism The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton

Holy Communion Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, McLean, VA

Holy Mysteries Our Lady of Redemption, Warren, Michigan

Preparing for Holy Communion St. Joseph Melkite Catholic Church, Akron, Ohio

Sacraments of Initiation Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, West Patterson, NJ

Churching

Churching is received by a baby prior to receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Holy Mysteries
Holy Mystery	Why Recieve	Who Receives	Minimum Age Received	Who Administers	When Received	How Often Received	Time Period NOT Recieved
All 3 Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination	Becomes a full and active member of Catholic community	All	Any age Ideally infants Ideally receives 3 Christian Illumination Holy Mysteries in immediate succession	Priest	Ideally, 1st 2 Holy Mysteries during Divine Liturgy and Holy Eucharist during Holy Communion.	1 time for Baptism & Chrismation Many times for Holy Eucharist	Great Lent Great and Holy Week
Baptism	Becomes Catholic
Chrismation	Receives the seal of the gift of Holy Spirit
Holy Eucharist	Participates in Jesus Christ's Mystical Supper Jesus Christ's gift of Himself to us
Holy Oil	Receives healing from Holy God	All	Any age	Priest	After receive Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination Any time & place	Talk with Priest	None
Repentance	Receives forgiveness from Holy God	All	Age of reason	Priest	After receive Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination Before Divine Liturgy	Many times	None
Holy Crowning	Becomes priests of domestic church Becomes King and Queen of home	1 couple of 2 people 1 man and 1 woman	Mature	Priest	After receive Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination During Divine Liturgy	Talk with Priest	Great Lent Great and Holy Week
Holy Orders / Ordination	Becomes Priest of public church	A man	Mature	Bishop	After receive Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination During Divine Liturgy	1 time	Great Lent Great and Holy Week

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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