Sacraments to non-Orthodox

[Kyra]

Hello forum members,

I'm not sure if this topic is suitable to this section of the forum . . . .

I was wondering if any Fathers especially, could shed some light on the issue of allowing the Holy Mysteries of our Church, to non Orthodox.

The context to which I refer to especially is one where new "enquirers" and catechumens are allowed / encouraged to partake in sacramental confession and absolution. Does this occur through the 'economia' of the church, or should it not occur prior to baptism and or chrismation ? My feeling is that it should not, but by the same token have seen this phenomenon in recent times and have felt less than comfortable with this practice.

In my view and experience it seems that some Orthodox churches are giving away the spiritual depth and purpose of the preparation of the catechumen in order to 'gain numbers' perhaps (especially small congregations, headed by (no offense intended - 'convert' Priests) . . . or perhaps certain Fathers entertain, once again in my view, the naive concept that 'all Christians' should partake of the Holy Mysteries regardless of their 'creed or confession' and hence disregarding the bigger spiritual picture.

Thank you for responses to this query and commentary in advance. If I have offended anyone with some of the terms used, or seem judgemental with ideas expressed, please forgive me.

In Christ,

Kyra

[Father David Moser]

Kyra,

I don't know what you have seen, however, the universal practice of the Church is that sacraments are only given to those who are Orthodox. It is possible that inquirers might go forward at the time for confession and they might also speak with the priest about their sins, however, it would be improper for the priest to grant them sacramental absolution. You, watching from afar, would never know what the priest might have done - he might only have given a advice and a blessing - but not the absolution. Even if an inquirer were to come and say that they had "gone to confession" and were given "absolution" by the priest, I would be wary of jumping to the conclusion that the priest was indeed giving them this sacrament.

Many people who are not "churched" often mistake a blessing for a sacrament. By way of example there has been more than one case of a person coming from Russia in the post soviet years claiming to have been baptized, however on closer questioning, the priest discovers that what they interpreted as "baptism" was actually being sprinkled with Holy Water during a Krestny Khod (cross procession). So people make mistakes about what they might or might not have received, but I would still give the priest the "benefit of the doubt" on matters like this.

Fr David Moser

[Kyra]

Thank you for your prompt reply Father David.

I thank you for your insight and humbling me with your sobering advice on my query, especially about jumping to conclusions. Thank you for clarifying the stance of the Church regarding the Holy Mysteries also.

I could very well have mistaken the reading of prayers/stole over head at the icon of Christ before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy., etc as a sacramental confession /absolution. I guess my reaction to this also stems from the fact that Holy Communion has also been given to non Orthodox individuals within the same congregation.

However, as you rightly have stated, I shouldnt jump to conclusions.



Kyra

[Father David Moser]

As I said - I don't know what you have seen. If these things trouble you, then go to the priest in question, tell him that you are troubled and confused by what you have observed and ask him to explain to you so that you can understand. If you approach with such an attitude, how could he refuse to help you understand better what it is he does and why he does it that way.

Fr David Moser

[Andreas Moran]

Fr David,

Your blessing. You touch on a matter of concern. I know one or two Russians who were baptised before the actual fall of communism, and it appeared that they were not Chrismated. One woman I know was baptised in secret, and, knowing nothing, she accepted what had happened as her entry into the Church. It later transpired that, whilst her baptism, performed with little evidence of interest by the priest, she recalls, must have been valid, she had not been Chrismated. Indeed, she remembered immediately going off for swim in the river and having a picnic! In later years, she became a devout and active member of her parish but was troubled by a feeling of a lack of grace, and of some hindrance to its activity. Talking over things with her spritual father, he identified the problem and, with the blessing of higher authority, Chrismated this woman. Since then, she has felt renewed. I wonder how many Russians have suffered in this way and do not know why?

In Christ,

Andreas.

[Kyra]

Many thanks again Fr David.

Kyra

[Kosta]

dear Kyra,

You hit the nail on the head when you called it recent phenomena, a better word for it is called MODERNISM and is tied to ecumenism

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Kosta

Kyra did not say that it was a recent phenomena, but that it was a phenomena she had seen recently.

Why is the blessing of a catechumen after receiving spiritual advice as Fathers here have described tied with modernism? Surely a catechumen requires much advice and many blessings.

Peter

[Kosta]

No, she is speaking of offering the sacraments to those not yet baptised and chrismated. Sacraments are for those christians already in the church. Offering the sacraments to either those not yet baptised or from a heterodox confession is liturgical abuse and a recent phenomenon.