Sacrament Forms & Information
Baptism
The ultimate goal of Baptism is the restoration of true life that has been lost in sin. St. Paul describes this restored life in the following manner: “All those who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ!” Salvation is a process that begins with fleeing from sin and being baptized, it continues through a life of repentance and culminates with the partaking of eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
Infant baptism is biblical and the ancient tradition of the Church. The requisite of being an “age of reason” prior to baptism began during the Protestant Reformation; no such tradition existed in the early Church. The fruit of being grafted into the body of Christ by baptism, granted understanding and knowledge of God. This is why St. Peter said in his sermon at Pentecost: “Repent and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those at a distance, as many as the Lord our God shall call forth.” [Acts 2:38,39] What sin does a child have? It is the ancestral sin that all humanity inherits being born with a fallen nature, subject to sin and death. “Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and thus death passed to all men, on account of which all have sinned— [Rom. 5:12].” Baptism constitutes a second birth in Christ for everyone. The Orthodox Church believes in one Baptism for the remission of sins thus we begin our journey through life being saved and perfected in Christ.
If you are seeking baptism for yourself or a loved one, please contact the priest of St. Katherine’s or the church administrator, who will inform the priest: (480) 899-3330.
Wedding
The Holy Sacrament of Marriage bears witness that through His action, God is active in our lives. It is He who joins a man and a woman in a relationship of mutual love. Through this Sacrament, a man and a woman are publicly joined as husband and wife. They enter into a new relationship with each other, with God, and with the Church. Since Marriage is not viewed as a legal contract, there are no vows in the Sacrament.
According to Orthodox teachings, Marriage is not simply a social institution, but an eternal vocation of the Kingdom itself. A husband and a wife are called by the Holy Spirit not only to live together but also to share their Christian life together so that each, with the aid of the other, work out their salvation and grow closer to God and become the persons they are meant to be.
In the Orthodox Marriage Service, after the couple has been betrothed and exchanged rings, they are crowned with “crowns of glory and honor” signifying the establishment of a new family under God. Near the conclusion of the Service, the couple drink from a common cup which is reminiscent of the wedding of Cana and which symbolized the sharing of the burdens and joys of their new life together.
For inquiring couples, please refer to the documents linked below and call the church office at (480) 899- 3330 with any further questions.
Confession
As members of the Church, we have responsibilities to one another and, of course, to God. When we sin, our relationship to God and to others becomes distorted. Sin is ultimately alienation from God, from our fellow human beings, and from our own true self which is created in God's image and likeness.
Confession is the Sacrament through which our sins are forgiven, and our relationship to God and to others is restored and strengthened. Through the Sacrament, Christ our Lord continues to heal those broken in spirit and restore the Father's love those who are lost. According to Orthodox teaching, the penitent confess to God and is forgiven by God. The priest is the sacramental witness who represents both Christ and His people. The priest is viewed not as a judge, but as a physician and guide. It is an ancient Orthodox practice for every Christian to have a spiritual father to whom one turns for spiritual advice and counsel. Confession can take place on any number of occasions. The frequency is left the discretion of the individual. In the event of serious sin, however, confession is a necessary preparation for Holy Communion.
If you wish to receive the mystery of confession, please contact the priest of St. Katherine’s or the church administrator, who will inform the priest: (480) 899-3330.
Funeral
The death of a Christian not only affects the family, but also the entire Church, for we are all part of the Body of Christ. The Orthodox Funeral Service, which expresses this fact, is not to be seen primarily as an opportunity to extol, in a sentimental way, the virtues of an individual. Rather, the various prayers and hymns emphasize the harsh reality of death, as well as the victorious Resurrection of Christ through which the power of death is conquered. The Funeral Service comforts those who mourn; it is also the means through which the Church prays for one of its members who has died in the faith of Christ. Orthodoxy views the end of physical existence only as the termination of one stage of life. God's love is stronger than death, and the Resurrection of Christ bears witness to this power.
The Orthodox Funeral consists of three Services. First, there is a Vigil Service after death, which is usually conducted at the time of the wake. This service is called the Trisagion Service. The Church prays to Christ "to give rest with the Saints to the soul of Your servant where there is neither pain, grief, nor sighing but life everlasting." While the Church prays for the soul of the deceased, great respect is paid to the body. Orthodoxy believes the body of the Christian is sacred since it was the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
The body will share also in the final restoration of all creation. The Funeral Service is continued at the Church, where the body is brought on the day of burial. Ideally, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. After the Funeral Service, the congregation offers its Farewell to the deceased. The Trisagion Service is repeated at the graveside.
If you are making final arrangements following the passing of a loved one, please contact the priest of St. Katherine’s or the church administrator, who will inform the priest: (480) 899-3330.