THE OFFICE FOR RECEIVING INTO THE ORTHODOX FAITH PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ORTHODOX, BUT HAVE BEEN REARED FROM INFANCY OUTSIDE THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, AND HAVE RECEIVED BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

BACK OF CHURCH:

The Priest demands of him from whatsoever confession he may come:

Priest:              Do you desire to enter into and abide in the communion of the Orthodox faith?

Convert:          I do.

Then the Priest, rising, signs him with his right hand, in the form of a cross, saying:

Priest:              In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Priest lays his hands upon the bowed head of the convert and recites following prayer:

Deacon:           Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord, have mercy.

Priest:              In thy Name, O Lord God of truth, and in the Name of thine Only begotten Son, and of thy Holy Sprit, look upon thy servant, N, whom thou has graciously enabled to have recourse unto thy Holy Orthodox Church, and to take refuge under the shadow of her wings.  Remove far from him (her) his (her) former errors, fill him (her) with the true faith, and hope, and love which are in thee.  Enable him (her) to walk in all thy commandments, and to fulfill those things which are well-pleasing unto thee; for if a man does these things, he shall also find life in them.  Inscribe him (her) in thy Book of Life, and unite him (her) to the flock of thine inheritance,  May thy holy Name be glorified in him (her), together with that of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of thy life-giving Spirit.  Let thine eyes ever look upon him (her) with mercy, and let thine ears always receive the voice of his (her) supplication.  Make him (her)  rejoice in the work of his (her) hands, and in all his (her) generation, that he (she) may confess thee, worshipping thee and glorifying thy great and exalted Name, and magnify thee always, all the days of his (her) life.

EXCLAMATION:

Priest:             For all the Powers of heaven sing praises unto thee, and thine is the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

After the Prayer, the Priest shall say to the convert:

Priest:              Wherefore, renounce now, with all your heart, your errors, and false doctrines, and mistakes of judgment, and confess the Orthodox Faith. Have you renounced all ancient and modern heresies and false doctrines which are contrary to the teaching of the Holy Orthodox Church?

Convert:          I have.

Priest:              Do you desire to be united unto the Holy Orthodox Church?

Convert:          I desire it with all my heart.

Priest:              Do you believe in one God, who is adored in the holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:  Do you worship Him as your King and your God?

Convert:          I believe in one God who is glorified and adored in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:  I worship him as my King and my God.

Then the convert makes one metanoia, kneels, and bows his head to the earth, and recites the Creed:

Convert:          I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things, visible and invisible.

                        And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten not made; being of one essence with the Father by whom all things were made.  Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.  And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.  And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures.  And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.  And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead;  Whose kingdom shall have no end

                        And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets.

                        And I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.  I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.  Amen.

Priest:              Blessed is God, who enlightens every man that comes into the world.

Priest:              Tell us of the other dogmas of our Orthodox Church, its traditions and ordinances; how you hold concerning them.

Convert:          I accept and confess the Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Canons, established at the Seven Holy Ecumenical Provincial Councils, and the other traditions of the Holy Orthodox Apostolic Church of the East, its rules and ordinances; and I likewise accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which the Holy Orthodox Church of the East, our Mother, has held, and does hold.

                        I believe and confess that there are Seven Sacraments of the New Testament, to wit:  Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, Priesthood, Marriage, and the Anointing with Oil, instituted by the Lord Christ and His Church, to the end that, through their operation and reception, we may receive blessings from on high.

                        I believe and confess that, in the Divine Liturgy, under the mystical forms of bread and wine, the faithful partake of the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto the remission of their sins, and unto life eternal.

                        I believe and confess that it is proper to reverence and invoke the Saints who reign on high with Christ, according to the interpretation of the Holy Orthodox Church of the East; and that their prayers and intercessions avail with the beneficent God for our salvation.  Likewise that it is well pleasing in the sight of God that we should do homage to their relics, glorified through incorruption, as the precious memorials of their virtues.

                        I acknowledge that the images of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God and of other Saints, are worthy to be possessed and honored; not unto idolatry, but that, through contemplation thereof, we may be incited unto piety, and unto emulation of the deeds of the holy persons represented by those images.

                        I confess that the prayers of the faithful, which are offered up to God for the salvation of those who have departed this life in the faith, are favorably received, through the mercy of God.

                        I believe and confess that power has been given by our Savior Jesus Christ, unto the Holy Orthodox Church, to bind and to loose; and that whatsoever, by virtue of that power, is bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven.

                        I believe and confess that the Foundation, Head, and Great High Priest and Chief Shepherd of the Holy Orthodox Church is our Lord Jesus Christ, and that Bishops, Priests and Deacons are appointed by Him to rule the Church; and that the Guide and Pilot of this Church is the Holy Spirit.

                        I confess that this Church is the Bride of Christ, and that therein is true salvation.

                        I promise true obedience, unto my life’s end, to the Most Holy Synod of Antioch, to our Father in Christ, Metropolitan PHILIP, as the true Pastor of the Orthodox Church, and to the Priests appointed by them.

Then the Priest places the end of his stole in the convert’s right hand saying:

Priest:              Enter into the Orthodox Church, and cast away all the errors and false doctrines wherein you have dwelt.  And honor the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and His Only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, one true and living God, the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and indivisible.

Having so spoken, the Priest leads the convert into the Church, holding the end of the Priest’s stole, and places him in front of the solea, where the book of the Holy Gospels is placed upon a table.  And when he has taken his place, the convert immediately releases the end of the stole.

As they enter the Church, the Reader shall read:

                        Psalm LXVII:  God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of His countenance, and be merciful unto us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.  Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee.  O let the nations rejoice and be glad; for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.  Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee.  Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.  God shall bless us; and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

When the Psalm is finished, the Priest commands the convert to kneel down before the Holy Gospels.  And when he has done this, the Priest recites the following verse:

Priest:              Send thy Holy Spirit, and they shall be created; and renew the face of the earth.  Turn again, O Lord, how long? and be entreated for thy servant.  The crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain.  O Lord my God, save thy servant, who puts his trust in thee.  Be thou unto him, O Lord, a pillar of strength against the face of the enemy.  Let the enemy in no way prevail against him, and let not the son of iniquity go about to offend him.  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let the voice of my cry come unto thee.

Deacon:           Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Priest:              O Lord God Almighty, who alone art holy, and rests in the Saints; who, because of thy great and incalculable love toward mankind, does always offer unto them that have sinned diverse manners of repentance, and shows unto them that have wandered from the truth the right path unto knowledge of thee, the only true God, who is glorified and adored in the Trinity, that not one of them should perish, but that all may be saved, and come unto the knowledge of thy truth.  We thank thee, we glorify thee, and we magnify thee, for that thou has now shed down into the heart of this, thy reason-endowed creature, N, the light which is unto the knowledge of thy truth; and hast graciously enabled him (her) to have recourse unto thy Holy Apostolic Orthodox Church.  Illumine his (her) heart, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, with the perfect light of the grace of the Holy Spirit unto the enlightening of his (her) mind in the truth of thy Holy gospel.  Grant that he (she) may unfeignedly, irrevocably and without hypocrisy unite himself (herself) unto thy Holy Orthodox Church, and truly accept and confess the Orthodox Faith.  Number him (her) with thy chosen flock, and unite him (her) to the body of the Holy Church.  Make him (her)  a vessel of honor, and the temple of thy Holy Spirit; that, being ever nourished and guided by the Same, he (she) may keep thy saving commandments; and that doing thy gracious, acceptable and perfect will, he (she) may keep thy saving commandments; and that doing thy gracious acceptable and perfect will, he (she) may be counted worthy to receive thy heavenly good things, together with all those who are well-pleasing in thy sight.  For thou art the God of mercy and compassion and love toward mankind, and will that all men shold be saved; and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir:              Amen.

After the Prayer, the Priest  commands the convert to stand, saying:

Priest:              Rise, stand upright; stand with fear.

Convert:          This true faith of the Holy Orthodox Church, which I now voluntarily confess and unfeignedly hold, I will firmly maintain and confess whole and in its fullness and integrity, until my last breath, God being my helper. I will teach it and proclaim it, so far as lies within me.  I will strive to fulfill its obligations cheerfully and with joy, preserving my heart in purity and virtue.  In confirmation of this, my true and sincere profession of faith, I now kiss the Word and Cross of my Savior, Amen.

The convert shall kneel down and bow his head, his eyes cast down, then the Priest pronounces the absolution:

Priest:              Our Lord and God Jesus Christ committed unto His Apostles the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and bestowed upon them full power through His grace, both to bind and to loose a man from his sins upon earth.  May the same, through His unspeakable mercy, pardon, and absolve you.  I, by His almighty power, given unto me, an unworthy Priest, through His holy Apostles and their successors, do pardon and absolve you, my child, N., from all your sins; and do unite you into the fellowship of the faithful, and into the body of Christ’s Church, and do communicate you with the Divine Sacraments of the Church.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

THE OFFICE OF ANOINTMENT WITH THE HOLY CHRISM INTO THE ORTHODOX FAITH OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVERTED AND HAVE UNITED THEMSELVES WITH THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE EAST.

When the foregoing office has been completed, the Priest places the vessel with the Holy Chrism, a sponge, a wand and  a small vessel  containing warm water for wetting the sponge which shall  wipe the places anointed with the holy Chrism, on the table which has been prepared with the Book of the Holy Gospels, the Life-giving Cross, and two lighted tapers in candlesticks.

When these things have been made ready, the Priest makes three reverences toward the east, as do all those who are present.

Deacon:           Bless, Master.

Priest:              Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of  the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, unto the ages of ages.

Choir (Tone 6):            O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fills all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life; Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Gracious Lord.

When the singing is finished, the Deacon says the Litany of the Holy Chrismation:

Deacon:           In peace let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the Holy Churches of God, and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           For our Metropolitan PHILIP, for the honorable Priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and all the people, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           For the President of the United States and all civil authorities, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           Furthermore we pray, that through the anointment with the all-holy, beneficent and all-perfect Chrism, divine power may be vouchsafed unto the servant of God, N., who is now united into the Holy Orthodox Church; into the overcoming and the treading down of all adverse wiles of the Devil, and of the assaults which come through the flesh and the world, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That he (she) may be a valiant and victorious soldier of Christ our God, through the power, and effectual operation, and grace, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That he (she) may remain steadfast, strong and immovable in the Orthodox Faith, and in love and hope, through anointing with the most Holy Chrism, all the days of his (her) life, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That grace may be granted unto him (her), through anointment with the most Holy Chrism, to the end that with boldness and without fear, and unashamed, he (she) may confess the Name of Christ our God before all men, and ever be ready, for His sake, lovingly, to suffer and die, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That he (she) may increase in all virtues, and prosper in the commandments of Christ our God, through anointment with the all-holy Chrism, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That with holy fear he (she) may preserve his (her) soul in purity and truth, through anointment with the all-Holy Chrism, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That he (she) may ripen unto the perfect man (woman), unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, by the power, and effectual operation, and grace, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           That he (she), and we, with him (her) may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity; and that we may all attain unto the unity of the Faith, and unto the knowledge of the Son of God, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Deacon:           Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir:              To thee, O Lord.

Deacon:           For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. 

Choir:              Amen.

Deacon:           Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

Priest:              Blessed art thou, O Lord God Almighty, Source of all good things, Son of Righteousness, who sheds forth upon them that were in darkness the light of salvation, through the manifestation of thine Only-begotten Son and our God; and who hast given unto us, unworthy though we be, blessed purification through hallowed water, and divine sanctification through life-giving Chrismation; who now, also, art graciously pleased to regenerate this thy servant, N., that has newly received illumination by water and the Holy Spirit, to know thy truth, and in repentance to have recourse unto thy mercy; and unite himself (herself) to thine elect flock and grantest unto him (her) remission of sins, through me, thine unworthy servant.  Do thou, the same Master of all men, compassionate King of kings, grant also unto him (her) the seal of the gift of the holy, almighty and adorable Spirit, and participation in the Holy Body and precious Blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ.  Keep him (her) in thy sanctification; confirm him (her) in the Orthodox Faith; deliver him (her) from the evil one, and from all machinations of the same.  And preserve his (her) soul in purity and uprighteousness, through the saving fear of thee; that he (she) may please thee in every deed and word, and may be a child and heir of thy heavenly kingdom.

                        For thou art our God, the God of mercy and salvation, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

Deacon:           Let us pray to the Lord

Choir:              Lord have mercy.

After this Prayer, the Priest anoints the convert with the holy Chrism, making the sign of the cross upon his brow, his  eyes, nostrils and lips, and on both ears, and breast, and hands and feet, saying:

Priest:              The Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

People:            Seal

Priest:              O Lord our God, who hast graciously vouchsafed to show this thy servant, N., perfect through the true faith which is in thee, and through the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, in thy holy and most heavenly anointing:  Do thou, O Lord of all, maintain in him (her) the true faith; train him (her) in righteousness and truth, and adorn him (her) with all thy gifts.  For thou art our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir:              Amen.

Then, taking the sponge, dipping it in the warm water, the Priest wipes the places which have been anointed with the Holy Chrism, saying:

Priest:              You are justified, You are illumined.  You are sanctified. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.  You have received anointment with the Holy Chrism, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. 

Choir:              Amen.

Priest:              Peace be with you all.

Choir:              And with thy spirit.

Priest:              Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir:              To thee, O Lord.

Now, all bow their heads, and the Priest says, secretly the following prayer:

Priest:              He (she) who has put on thee, O Christ our God, now bows his (her) head with us unto Thee.  Keep him (her) always a warrior invincible in every attack of those who assail him (her)  and us: and make us all victors even unto the end, through thy incorruptible crown.

EXCLAMATION:  

Priest:              For thine it is to show mercy and to save; and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir:              Amen.

Then the Litany:

Priest:              Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great goodness, we pray thee harken and have mercy. 

Choir:              Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Priest:              Again, we pray for our Metropolitan PHILIP.

Choir:              Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy

Priest:              Again, we pray for the President of the United States and for all civil authorities, and for our armed forces everywhere.

Choir:              Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Priest:              Again, we pray for the newly illumined servant of God, N.:  That he (she) may be preserved in the faith of a pure confession, in all godliness, and in the fulfilling of the commandments of Christ all the days of his (her) life.

Choir:              Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Priest:              For thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir:              Amen

Priest:              Glory to thee, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to thee.

Choir:              Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen.  Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.  Master, bless.

Priest:              He who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother, by the might of the precious and life-giving cross;  by the protection of the honorable, Bodiless Powers of heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, forerunner and Baptist John, of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of Saint(s) N., whose memory we celebrate, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for as much as He is good and loves mankind.

                        Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

Choir:              Amen