In Holy Baptism, a person is joined to Christ's death and resurrection through threefold immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Sin is washed away, and the one baptized is born again into the life of the Church as a living member of the Body of Christ. The Orthodox Church baptizes infants as well as adults, entrusting each one to the grace of the Mystery and to the faith of the Church that stands with them.

• "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." — Matthew 28:19
• "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." — John 3:5
• "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." — Romans 6:3–4
• "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." — Acts 2:38

For the practical steps of preparing a child for Baptism and choosing godparents, see Preparing for Baptism and Godparenthood.

Immediately after Baptism, the newly baptized is anointed with Holy Chrism, with the words, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." Chrismation completes Baptism as the Church's own Pentecost for each new member: it seals and confirms the grace already given in the water and grants the gifts of the Holy Spirit for a life of faith, following the pattern of the laying on of hands by which the Spirit was given to the newly baptized in the Acts of the Apostles.

• "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." — Acts 8:17
• "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." — Acts 19:6
• "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." — 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
• "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." — 1 John 2:20

At the Divine Liturgy, bread and wine are set apart and, through the descent of the Holy Spirit invoked by the priest, become the true Body and Blood of Christ. The Church calls this the Sacrament of sacraments: in receiving Holy Communion, the faithful are united to Christ Himself and to one another, receive the forgiveness of sins, and are strengthened for eternal life. It is received by baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared through prayer, fasting, and confession.

• "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you... He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." — John 6:53, 56
• "Take, eat; this is my body... For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." — Matthew 26:26, 28
• "This do in remembrance of me... For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." — 1 Corinthians 11:24–26
• "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" — 1 Corinthians 10:16

For prayers in preparation, see Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion; for how often to receive, see On the Regular Reception of the Holy Mysteries.

In Confession, a Christian acknowledges sins before God in the presence of a priest, who, by the authority Christ gave the Apostles, declares God's forgiveness and gives counsel toward a changed life. Confession restores one who has fallen back to the purity received in Baptism. The Church encourages receiving it regularly, especially during the fasting seasons, and at least once each year.

• "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." — John 20:22–23
• "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." — Matthew 16:19
• "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." — James 5:16
• "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:9

For a fuller treatment of this Mystery, see Holy Confession: Returning to God.

Through the laying on of the bishop's hands, men are set apart as deacons, priests, and bishops to serve the Church in the ministry of word and sacrament, continuing the apostolic ministry Christ Himself established. A man may marry before ordination but not after; bishops are chosen from among the celibate or widowed clergy. This Mystery preserves the Church's unbroken continuity with the Apostles.

• "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." — Acts 14:23
• "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." — Titus 1:5
• "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." — 1 Timothy 4:14
• "Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them." — Acts 6:6
• "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." — 2 Timothy 1:6

In Marriage, a man and a woman are joined by the Church into a single life — an icon of the union between Christ and the Church — to be lived out and perfected together through mutual love, patience, and growth toward God. Orthodox marriage is a lifelong calling, not merely a civil contract, and the Church's blessing asks for a union that endures into the age to come.

• "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." — Genesis 2:24
• "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? ... What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." — Matthew 19:5–6
• "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." — Ephesians 5:31–32

For practical preparation, see Preparing for Marriage in the Orthodox Church, Choosing a Spouse You Can Struggle Toward Heaven With, and Preparing for Your Orthodox Wedding.

In Holy Unction — traditionally served by several priests together — the sick are anointed with oil blessed through prayer, asking God for healing of body and soul and for the forgiveness of sins. Anyone who is ill in body, mind, or spirit may receive this Mystery; many parishes also serve it for the whole community during Holy Week.

• "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." — James 5:14–15
• "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." — Mark 6:13

To request Holy Unction or a pastoral visit, see Prayers in Illness and for the Suffering.