My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAAN PLACE OR WORSHIP
IS SACRED AND MUST NEVER DEFILED OR
DESECRATED.
"And He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘ My house shall be
called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den
of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).
"Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those
who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the
money changers and the seats of those who sold doves" (Matthew 21:12).
When our Lord,God and Savior saw that worship and place of worship had become commercialized, He acts against the abuses, boldy overturning "the tables" and casting the tradesmen out. In Orthodox Sacred Tradition the local bishop consecration the newly erected temple of worship by the anointing it with holy Chrysm and the sealing of holy martyrs relics in the crypt, the Altar Table becomes the Throne of God and the Tomb of Christ. Consequently, it can never be used for profane and immoral acts or purposes and be sold. The deposition of Holy Relics is a vital requirement that ties the newly established parish directly to the ancient Church, which historically celebrated the Divine Euchrist over the graves of Holy Martyrs. During the CONSECRATION of the church, the bishop washes the Altar Table and anoints it with Holy Chrism, imparting an indelible spiritual SANCTIFICATION TO THE WOOD OR STONE.
The Altar Table is permanently dedicated to divine use through the deposition of holy relics and holy Chrismation, IT CANNOT BE
"DECONSECRATED" OR RELEGATED TO NON-SACRED (PROFANE) USE. IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO SELL, TRADE, OR REPURPOSE THE CONSECRATED CHURCH.
The CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH (Εγκαινια Ναου) is the divine service of SANCTIFICATION AND SOLEMN DEDICATION OF A BUILDING FOR USE AS A TEMPLE OF WORSHIP. The CONSECRATION of a church is a complex service that is filled with profound symbolisms. The Old Testament speaks of the Consecration of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40) and the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5-7).
The consecrating bishop performs a most solemn divine service and liturgy TO DEDICATE A CHURCH, SETTING APART EXCLUSIVELY FOR WORSHIP. The rite includes a solemn Prayer of Dedication and the anointing of the Holy Altar and walls with Sacred Chrism. As the bishop anoints the walls and the Altar, he recites the following: "May this church be anointed with the oil of gladness and the power of God’s blessings."
The consecrating bishop offers the following prayer: "O Lord our God, Who hast bestowed upon the holy Martyrs which suffered for Thy sake this glory also, that their relics should be sown in all the earth, in Thy holy churches, and should bring forth fruits of healing: Do Thou, the same Master, Who art the giver of all good things, through the intercession of the Saints whose relics Thou has graciously permitted to be placed in this Thy Venerable Altar, enable us without condemnation to offer unto Thee thereon the bloodless sacrifice: And grant us all those petitions which are unto salvation, vouchsafing also to the relics threin of those who have suffered for Thy Holy Name, that they may work miracles into our salvation. For Thine art the Kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
The Orthodox Service of the Consecration of a church (often linked to the "baptism" of the building) involves three processions around the building, the dereposition of Holy Relics and the Altar Table, washing and anointing the Altar, and consecrating the Nave. The consecration divine service is complex and spans several hours, the full rubrics and prayers inspiring and edifying.
In the Orthodox Church, the concept of the "Church" refers to both the physical building and the gathered body of believers (the Body of Christ). It is abused, defiled, or desecrated when clergy and laity violate ITS SANCTITY THROUGH IMMORAL WICKED ACTS, HERESY, CANONICAL INFRACTIONS, OR THE PHYSICAL MISTREATMENT OF SACRED SPACES AND OBJECTS. Clergy are entrusted with guarding the spiritual and physical sanctify of the Church, making their transgressions particularly grave. Sexual misconduct, financial corruption, and engaging in scandalous behavior directly defile THE MORAL PURITY OF THE CHURCH. Sinful behavior such as adultery, fornication and committing sacrilege within a church building (such as using sacred spaces for depraved and sexual acts and other secular and irreverent activities) DEFILES THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE DEDICATED TO GOD. The physical description of a church building typically requires a special rite of cleansing or reconsecration by a bishop before it can be used for worship again.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church sexual intercourse is sacred and reserved strictly for marriage. Having intercourse inside a church building compounds the sin of extramarital sex with grave sacrilege and defilement of a holy place. Clergy who engage in sexual intercourse, especially in a church, face permanent removal from the priesthood.
The Consecrated church building must always be treated with profound reverence knowing that it is dedicated to the Almighty God for the purpose of worshipping Him and keeping this dedicated space unadulterated and holy. Upon entering the consecrated church we enter the Kingdom of God on earth. The church is the domain of God where the faithful are in His presence seeking forgiveness, healing, mercy and restoration. All the Mysteries (Sacraments) are conducted in the church for the purpose of sanctifying the faithful.
________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 