Iravaban.net spoke about the seven sacraments of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the series “The Church and the Law” interviews with the spiritual pastor of the Holy Martyrs Church of Davtashen of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese, Father Khoren Marukyan
– What are the seven sacraments of the Armenian Apostolic Church? Let’s understand what the sacrament in religion means, when those sacraments were formed and on what base?
– In the theological and religious sense of the word sacrament, we mean the revelation of invisible things. That is, under outwardly visible forms man receives invisible divine gifts, graces. There are seven sacraments. Two were instituted by Jesus Christ, the Baptism and the Communion. The other five are based mainly on these and the gospel truth. They are sacraments of: Confirmation, Penitence, Ordination, Matrimony (or Marriage), and Unction of the Sick.
– Let’s try to separately refer to these, explaining the meaning of each sacrament. What is the significance of Baptism? Is there an acceptable age for the church to baptize a person?
– The sacrament of baptism is connected with the spiritual birth. Man is born spiritually, becomes an adoptive, an heir, a citizen of the kingdom of God. It is our church order that an eight-day-old baby should already be baptized. Of course, if these days pass, we are baptizing, but the correct thing to do is to baptize an eight-day-old baby. The sacrament of baptism is very important. By living a spiritual birth, being cleansed from Adamic sin, a person is established in adoption, in inheritance.
– The Confirmation sacrament is performed immediately after Baptism. What is the essence of this sacrament and why is it separate from Baptism if it is considered an integral part?
– Yes, it is an integral part, because in Baptism there is also the Confirmation and also the third sacrament, the sacrament of Communion, which are performed together. That is, baptism means spiritual birth, Christian, adoptive, and the sacrament of Confirmation is the spiritual arrival of every believer. Just as the apostles after the spiritual arrival were given the privilege of speaking different languages, in the same way, a person after spiritual arrival becomes a member of the church, a member of the mysterious body of Christ. Immediately after the Confirmation, during which the person is affirmed in all that.
– What is the significance of the sacrament of Communion? In fact, it is implemented immediately after these two sacraments.
– It is performed in the case of Baptism after Baptism and Confirmation. But in reality we all make mistakes in different circumstances, we stumble and we need Penitence before the coming to Communion. That is, one must confess, sincerely repent. By Penitence we mean three important principles: prayer, fasting, and mercy. Only after passing this path, we come to the sacrament of Holy Communion. If sin has been the cause, we have been deprived of God’s presence, especially if we have consciously, voluntarily committed evil, unforgivable, deadly sins, we are forgiven through Penitence, and through the Sacrament of Communion, participating in the liturgy; we are reaffirmed in adoption and in inheritance. We are in unity with God. The sacrament of communion is the sacrament of love.
– What does the Sacrament of Penitence mean and how is it carried out?
– The sacrament of Penitence implies repentance. A person should check himself every day, relive the day before going to bed, remember, live with regret, and ask for forgiveness. In case of Penitence, a person can come to the clergy to confess his sins. This is so important to an extent that when a person confesses, tells, he may have committed other sins during that time, but he did not notice, and the clergyman helps to see the other sins as well, to say that this is also a sin, confess.
– Father Khoren, let’s talk about the sacrament of Matrimony (or Marriage). Would you comment on the essence of the sacrament?
– The meaning and purpose of the Matrimony sacrament is to form a family, procreation, to have children. The married couple is established in the union that our ancestors had. Adam was created from dust, Eve from Adam’s rib. That is why Adam says bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. That is, they have the same body, they are in union, God has blessed. And growing old together is the sacrament of this union. This sacrament is also very important in the meaning of common sense, so that a person can stay away from sensible desires through it.
– Let us also make a brief reference to the last sacrament the Unction of the Sick. What is this sacrament based on, and how is it carried out?
– The purpose of the sacrament Unction of the Sick is to bring spiritual and physical health to a person. There is the same section of Penitence in the Unction of the Sick. This is also a reason to confess, to repent. The purpose of the sacrament is to make a person stand up, strengthen him with faith, and grant him health.
– The sacrament of ordination refers to the clergy. What is this sacrament, who can be ordained and who can ordain? Can a person who does not have the path of a clergyman be ordained or does he have to go a certain way to achieve it?
– Of course, he must pass a path. First of all, one must study in the seminary, the spiritual and mental abilities must be enough for a person to be ordained. The sacrament of ordination is that the clergyman is given special authority to carry out these sacraments, to preach, to deliver the word of God.
The bishop can ordain, and the bishop is ordained by the Catholicos of All Armenians.
– In conclusion, please clarify which sacraments are mandatory by church rules and which are voluntary. Also please note which sacraments may be repeated and which are performed only once?
– Baptism, Confirmation, Penitence, are obligatory for a Christian believer, but the Matrimony and, Ordination are not obligatory, and the Unction of the Sick is upon conjuncture. Baptism, Confirmation, Penitence are unique, and the rest are repetitive.
