Planning Your Services

WHAT IS HOLY BAPTISM?
 
Christ called Holy Baptism birth: ...unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God! (Jn. 3: 5) Therefore “Holy Baptism is the beginning of life,” (St. Basil the Great) and the day of Holy Baptism is the birthday of the believer. During the Mystery of Holy Baptism, Christ gives birth to the person being baptized by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In order to show us the meaning and necessity of this Mystery for mankind, the Lord stresses that: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever disbelieves will be condemned. (Mk. 16: 16) By our rebirth from water and spirit, “the life of Christ dawns in us.” (St. Nichols Cavasilas).

The Orthodox Church has practiced infant baptism since the apostolic era, when it was a common occurrence for entire families to receive Holy Baptism. St. Hippolytus (253AD) mentions that it was a common practice during his era for infants to be baptized. St. John Chrysostom explains clearly why we baptize infants: “…we baptize even infants, although they are sinless, that they may be given the further gift of sanctification...that they may be brothers and members of Christ, and become dwelling places for the Spirit.”  

Baptism makes a person a participant in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and a member of His body the Church. This is the first step in becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. The Church has a responsibility to administer the sacrament only to those who have shown that this is the primary purpose for the baptism.

Guidelines for Baptism

Guidelines for Parents:

1. A Sponsor (a.k.a. Godparent, Nonos/-a) should not be just any friend or relative, but should be a faithful Orthodox Christian who can ensure that the newly baptized child will be raised in the faith.
2. Both parents, if Orthodox Christians, must be Members in Good Standing and current in their Stewardship to the Church.
3. A Christian name (Patron Saint) is to be given the child at baptism. If you are unsure about a Christian name, Fr. George can help you choose an appropriate patron saint for your child.
4. The day, time, and other arrangements must be made by submitting the Baptismal Application to the Church Office at least four weeks prior to the baptism. No dates are set until confirmed by the Church Office.
5. Someone should be appointed to undress and dress the child.
6. To insure the proper dignity and solemnity of your child’s baptism pictures should be limited as much as possible.

 
Guidelines for the Sponsor:

The Sponsor (Godfather/Godmother, Nonos/-a) must:

1. be an Orthodox Christian;
2. be a Member in Good Standing and current with their Stewardship to the Church;
3. if married, be Married in the Orthodox Church by an Orthodox Priest;
4.  if divorced, must have obtained an Ecclesiastical Divorce from the Orthodox Church.
5. if from another parish, present to the parish priest prior to the Baptism, a Letter of Good Standing from the Parish Priest stating that he/she is in good standing with the Church and that he/she is eligible to serve as a sponsor.

The sponsor should provide:

1.  Small Bottle of Olive Oil
2.  Bar of White Soap
3. Unused White Hand towel
4. Large, Unused White Bath towel
5. Unused White Bedsheet (Flat, Twin-size is suitable)
6. Baptismal Cross with Chain
7. White Underclothes (plus a diaper for infants)
8. White Baptismal Gown or Outfit, including White Bonnet

The role of the sponsor was originally to give assurance to the Church for the faith of the one who was to be baptized; this is still the practice in the case of adult baptism or chrismation. In the case of infant baptism, the Sponsor speaks on behalf of the child, who is unable to make the necessary confession of faith.
During the service, the Sponsor must be able to recite confidently the Nicene Creed in either Greek or English.
It is recommended that for three consecutive Sundays after the Baptism, the sponsor (or the parents, if the sponsor lives elsewhere) should carry the infant to the Holy Altar to receive Holy Communion. Even though this is a pious tradition, the Newly Illumined must receive Holy Communion regularly, even beyond the 3 Sundays.
 
Reception of Converts

Adults who wish to join the Orthodox Church are received in different manners depending on their previous religious background. Depending upon the specific circumstances, Fr. George will determine which of the following three means of reception is necessary:

1. Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by threefold immersion
2. Chrismation
3. Confession of Faith

 
Clinical Baptism

In the event an unbaptized infant is near death, a priest should be called immediately for a clinical baptism. If time is of the essence, however, and the priest is unable to arrive in time, any Orthodox lay person may baptize the infant by sprinkling Holy Water on the infant or by raising the infant up in the air three times while saying, “The Servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Days on Which Baptisms May Not Be Held:

Baptisms may not be performed during the following periods:

1. December 25 & January 6 (Christmas & Theophany)
2. Holy Week & Pascha
3. Any Great Feast of Our Lord & Theotokos e.g:
   • Elevation of the Cross, Sep. 14
   • Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Feb. 2
   • Annunciation, Mar. 25
   • Lazarus Saturday & Palm Sunday, 1 week before Pascha
   • Ascension, 40 days after Pascha
   • Pentecost, 50 days after Pascha
   • Transfiguration, Aug. 6
   • Dormition of the Theotokos Aug. 15th

WHAT IS HOLY CHRISMATION?
 
Chrismation is a God-instituted Mystery or Sacrament which, as can be seen in the Acts of the Apostles, was preformed by the laying on of their hands upon the heads of the faithful who thereby received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17): “Then they laid their hands on them (those that believed) and they received the Holy Spirit.” And in 19:6: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

After Baptism, Chrismation is the second sacrament of the Church. Chrismation is the application of a special oil, called Holy Chrism, which has been consecrated by our Patriarch. As the priest applies the Chrism on the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, chest, hands, and feet, he proclaims, “The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” In the New Testament, the Apostles imparted the gift of the Holy Spirit upon newly illumined Christians by the laying on of hands, as in the passage above; Holy Chrism, because it is consecrated by the hand of a direct heir to the Apostles, our Patriarch, is an extension of this practice.

Those who enter the Orthodox Church as adults are in certain cases received through Chrismation rather than baptism if they can document that they have already been baptized 1) in water 2) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and 3) in a Christian confession that believes in the Holy Trinity.

Please consult Fr. George to inquire what specific path is needed for you to enter the Church.

WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE?
 
“If a fellowship of love is to be established through the Sacrament of Marriage, the man and woman who will be joined together and wish to follow Christ must travel the road set forth by Him: If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt. 16:24) It is impossible to love our companion if we do not deny ourselves. Moreover, the love of our spouse is simultaneously the road which leads to the love of God.

“Christ is the measure of the love which will govern the marital bond: As the Church is subject to Christ, wives should likewise be subject to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church… Therefore, by these two means, the woman and the man hope to become a loving couple. The wife sees Christ in her husband, and the husband loves his wife as Christ loved the Church. Christ is the loving bond of the husband and wife: and the love of Christ for the Church is the measure of the love which the couple hopes to attain.

Because Marriage, according to Orthodox tradition, is a communal event of prayer, a wedding must be performed within the context of the Orthodox Church in order for the Church to recognize and affirm the validity and authenticity of the marriage.


Requirements

1. Stewards
One or both members of the engaged couple must be a member in good standing with the Cathedral; he/she must be a paid steward. Couples coming from another parish must pay a facilities usage fee of $750 (Applied towards Stewardship) and present documentation that they are in good standing at their home parish.

If one of the spouses has been previously married and divorced, he/she must present a copy of the civil divorce decree. Furthermore, if a previous marriage took place in the Orthodox Church, the divorced spouse must also have received an ecclesiastical divorce. Please be advised, this process for Ecclesiastical divorce can take several months.

2. Stewardship for Sponsors (Koumbaroi)
The Sponsors (koumbaros/koumbara) is the one who stands as witness on behalf of the Orthodox Church during the ceremony. Hence, it is imperative that this person be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church; there are no exceptions to this rule. The Sponsors must also be a member in good standing of the Orthodox Church.

Sponsors from another Orthodox parish must provide a Letter of Good Standing from their parish priest.

3. Invitations
No invitations should be printed until the date and time has been confirmed by the Fr. George.

4. Pre-Marital Counseling
In order to provide the engaged couple with every opportunity to enjoy all the blessings of married life, a two session program of pre-marital counseling is provided by the priest prior to the wedding. Please note that these sessions are not optional. If the engaged couple so chooses, they may seek professional pre-marriage counseling with a qualified therapist; in this case, the couple should inform the church office of their choice in advance.

**Note: Inter-Christian Marriages
The Orthodox Church can only perform a wedding for two baptized Christians. Interfaith marriages (i.e. between an Orthodox Christian and a member of a non-Christian faith) cannot be performed. The Orthodox Christian Faith will, however, bless inter-Christian marriages under the following conditions:
1. The non-Orthodox party must be a Christian who has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity.
2. The couple must pledge to baptize any children born to them in the Orthodox Church.
3. The marriage must take place in the Orthodox Church according to the prescribed form of the Service Book, the Orthodox priest being the sole celebrant.
4. Should the presence of a non-Orthodox clergyman be requested, the following must be clarified:

• The Orthodox priest, after receiving permission from the bishop, will issue an invitation to the clergyman.
• The Orthodox wedding ceremony does not permit the active participation of non-Orthodox clergy. This must be made explicit to all concerned.
• At the conclusion of the Orthodox ceremony, the guest clergyman, advised as to appropriate vesture and as agreed previously, will be properly acknowledged and may give his benediction and good wishes to the couple.

5. The following regulations concerning interfaith marriages must be observed:

• Non-Orthodox persons may act as ushers or bridesmaids at the Orthodox Marriage, but the koumbaros/ koumbara must be an Orthodox Christian, as stated earlier. 
• An Orthodox Christian whose marriage has not been blessed by the Orthodox Church is no longer in good standing with the Orthodox Church and consequently is not eligible to participate in the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, including receiving Holy Communion, acting as a sponsor at an Orthodox wedding, baptism or chrismation (confirmation), or to receive an Orthodox funeral.
• A non-Orthodox Christian who marries an Orthodox Christian does not automatically become a member of the Orthodox Church, and is therefore not permitted to receive Holy Communion or the other Sacraments of the Orthodox Church nor an Orthodox funeral.

5. Ecclesiastical Marriage License
The bride and groom are required to schedule an appointment to meet with the priest in order to apply for the ecclesiastical marriage license. At this time, the following must be presented:

• The non-Orthodox party must be a Christian who has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity.
• If the bride and/or groom have come from Greece or some other foreign country after their 18th birthday, he and/or she must present a “Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage” from the bishop of their original town and state.
• If the Bride or Groom is from an Orthodox parish in some other city, he/she must present a letter from his/her priest attesting to eligibility for marriage.
• If the Bride is under 18 years of age and/or if the groom is under 21 years of age, a letter of consent from the parents must be presented.
• If either Bride or Groom was married before in a civil service, a CERTIFIED civil divorce must be presented.
• If either Bride or Groom was married before in the Orthodox Church, that marriage must have been officially dissolved by an Orthodox Church Court. The original document attesting to the Church Divorce must be presented.
• If either Bride or Groom is a member of some other Christian Church, a letter from their clergyman stating that he/she has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and that he/she is eligible to marry must be presented.
• If the Bride or Groom are widowed, a death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented.

6. Civil Marriage License
The couple is responsible for acquiring the civil marriage license from the state. The Church cannot facilitate this process. Before the day of the wedding the couple should bring the civil license, which the priest will sign.

7. Location of the Wedding Sacrament
A wedding is not just a beautiful ceremony that can be celebrated in any setting, such as a park, a home, a beach, etc. A wedding is a sacrament of the Church and must, therefore, be celebrated inside the Church. The Greek Orthodox Church will not perform weddings outside the Church. Please do not ask the priest to perform a wedding in any other setting.

8. Sacramental preparation
The bride and/or groom who are of the Orthodox Faith are encouraged to participate in the sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion the week before the wedding.

Wedding Day Preparations:
Items necessary for the wedding day:

• Stephana (Crowns).
• Rings for both the bride and the groom.
• Two candles.
• If desired, a platter with white Jordan almonds (koupheta) are traditionally prepared for the wedding.

2. Flowers and Decorations
The Sanctuary of an Orthodox church is magnificent in its own right, and does not require further “decoration”;  Flowers are permitted in the sanctuary and the narthex area, but must be approved by the parish priest and done in good taste.

3. Wedding Gowns and Bridesmaids’ dresses
Regardless of fashion and societal custom, a sense of modesty and chastity must be maintained inside the sanctuary. Every wedding takes place in front of an icon of the ever-virgin Theotokos, whose humility and modesty requires a corresponding sense of decorum; Brides and Bridesmaids should therefore cover their shoulders in Church. If their dresses do not cover the shoulders, a wrap or jacket should be worn during the ceremony.

4. Music in the Sanctuary
Please consult our music guidelines.

5. Invitations to the Reception
If you wish to have the priest attend your reception, please send an invitation to him and his Presvytera in advance. Too many people simply assume that the priest will come and then casually mention it following the service. Due to the size of our community, it is very difficult for the priest to attend every reception. If his schedule allows, Fr. George will make every effort to attend.

6. Promptness
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is a very busy parish. It is not uncommon to have other sacraments scheduled on the same day. You must make every effort to be prompt on your wedding day. If you arrive excessively late, your wedding might be delayed until the end of the day. The priest will not delay later scheduled sacraments to accommodate tardiness.

Days when marriages are not permitted:
Weddings may not be performed during the following periods:

• September 14 (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
• December 13-25 (Nativity Fast & Christmas)
• January 5-6 (Theophany)
• Great Lent & Holy Week (7 weeks before Pascha)
• Pascha
• Pentecost (7th Sunday after Pascha)
• During the Apostles Fast (days preceding June 29; number of days changes according to date of Pascha)
•  August 1-15 (Dormition Fast & Feast)
• August 29 (Beheading of St. John the Baptist)
• On any Feast Day of our Lord or Theotokos (e.g. Transfiguration, etc.)
• On Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the Year (Fast Days)

• Parents with their own children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
• Brothers-in-law with sisters-in-law.
• Uncles and aunts with nieces and nephews.
• First cousins with each other.
• Foster parents with foster children or foster children with the children of foster parents.
• Godparents with Godchildren or Godparents with the parents of Godchildren.

“When we wish to emphasize the importance of something, we say that it is a matter of life and death. A matter of primary importance for those of us who believe in heaven and hell, perhaps even the most important, is our departure from the world and the life after death. After we are born, the only thing we can take for granted is that at some point we will die. In Holy Scripture, death is called the way of all the earth (3 Kingd. 2:2) because it is the road which we will all travel. All of us, therefore, must contemplate our death and pre- pare to encounter it.” (Be Ready: An Approach to the Mystery of Death, Hieromonk Gregorios, Newrome Press)

Funeral services are conducted only for those people who are Orthodox Christians in regular Canonical and Spiritual standing with the Church. In other words, only those people who have been Baptized and Chrismated in the Orthodox Church.
In the event of a death in the family, the following steps should be taken:

1. Call the Church Office (410) 727-1831.
2. Call the funeral director of your choice, who can arrange for the deceased to be removed, and can advise you on other steps that may need to be taken.

Funeral Arrangements:

1. Arrangements for the funeral service should be made with the church office in conjunction with the funeral director. No funerals are permitted on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection of our Lord.
2. If there is a viewing on the evening before the funeral, the priest will come to conduct a Trisagion. If there is no evening viewing, the Trisagion will be said when the deceased is first brought to the Church for the funeral.
3. No lay person is permitted to deliver a funeral oration in the Church. The Archdiocese explicitly prohibits lay people speaking in Church unless they are lay preachers designated by the Archdiocese.
4. Funeral services conducted by lay organizations, although discouraged, may be held the evening before the funeral, before the Trisagion. However, from the time of the evening Trisagion to the burial at the cemetery, no other services may be held.

A Funeral Service May Not Be Held in Cases of:
Suicide, as no one is permitted to take the life of another, likewise no one is permitted to take his/her own life; that is, suicide is viewed by the Church as self-murder and consequently as grave sin. If, however, it is clear that someone has taken his life in a compromised mental state, the Bishop may give his blessing for a Church funeral be held.

Cremation: Cremation is forbidden by the Church as being blasphemous to the body of man which is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.” Cremation is contrary to the faith and tradition of our Church and is forbidden to Orthodox Christians. A Church funeral is denied a person who has been or will be cremated.

Memorial Donations
Some families prefer Memorial Donations to the Church in lieu of flowers. If this is the choice of the family, mention should be made to the funeral director so that notification can be placed in the Obituary. Afterwards the Church Office will send a list of memorial donors to the family so the family can thank them.

Makaria (Meal of Blessedness) – Funeral Luncheon
The Makaria meal following the funeral service serves as a means of comforting the bereaved family and expressing thanks to those who attended the services or assisted the bereaved family in their hour of grief.
 
Memorial Services
If you desire to have a Memorial Service for a departed loved one you should make arrangements with the church office at least two weeks prior to the day desired.

Memorial Services are not held:
1. From the Saturday of Lazarus to and including St. Thomas Sunday
2. Any Great Feast of our Lord: Christmas, Epiphany, Pascha, Transfiguration, etc.
3. Any Great Feast of the Theotokos: Annunciation, Dormition, etc.

Memorial Services are usually held on the:
1. 40th day
2. Sixth month
3. First year
4. Third year
5. Saturday of the Souls set aside throughout the Church Year

Memorial Supplies

1. Koliva. Call the church office if you want someone to make the Koliva. 
2. List of names to be commemorated (print full baptismal first name only, no nicknames)

Graveside Trisagion
If you wish Fr. George to go to the cemetery to conduct a Trisagion, please notify the Church Office.

Artoklasia
_{“The Blessing of the Loaves”}

The Blessing of the Five Loaves is a short service of thanksgiving that is said during Vespers or at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on feast days. The service reminds of Christ feeding the five thousand in the wilderness with five loaves. The faithful offer the five loaves, along with a bottle of communion wine and a bottle of olive oil for the altar lamp, as a way to pray for the health and salvation of their family and friends, whom the priest commemorates by name during the service. Afterwards the bread is cut and distributed to all the congregation.

Items needed:
What Feast Day is being honored
5 Bread Loaves
Communion Wine (Nama Byzantino is preferred)
Bottle of Olive Oil
List of Names (Living)

Please contact the Church Office if you would like to schedule an Artoklasia. You may bake your own loaves or, if you prefer, you may purchase them through the Church Office.

The Blessing of a Mother and Child After Forty Days

 The Forty Day Blessing takes place at the conclusion of regular Sunday Divine Liturgy, or on the Sunday closest to the 40th day. It consists of prayers of thanks for the safe delivery of mother and child. Parents along with newborn are asked to wait in the Narthex until the end of Divine Liturgy and any additional services that might be scheduled on that day.
 
The service blesses the mother who has been absent from the sacramental life of the Church for forty days and formally presents the newborn child to the Church family for the first time as the priest formally brings the infant into the Sanctuary.

During the 40 days between the birth of the child, the mother and newborn should refrain from regular sacramental life/attending church services.

The blessing is done the fortieth day of the child’s birth or on the Sunday closest to the 40th day. Both parents along with the newborn must be present for the forty-day blessing.  It is also welcomed to invite the newborn's Godparents if they have been selected.

In imitation of Christ’s forty-day blessing (Luke 2:22-38), the parents of the newborn bring the baby to the church for the child to be dedicated to the Lord. This beautiful tradition is practiced throughout the Orthodox world. The mother is a symbol of the Virgin Mary, while the priest symbolizes the righteous Symeon, who held Christ in his arms at the time of the presentation.

If you are interested in having your child’s 40-day blessing at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, please contact the church office.

email: assistant@annunciationbaltimore.org
phone: (410) 727-1831