Criteria For True & Lawful Priesthood - St. Sebastian Dabovich

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • St. Sebastian of San Francisco & Jackson, Apostle to all America and first American-born priest, reposed in 1940 after his remarkable labor for Christ and His lost sheep. This excerpt comes from his essay "The True Church of Christ" which is recorded in full by Orthodox Wisdom (see link below).
    St. Sebastian lists five criteria for true and lawful priesthood:
    1) Unbroken succession from the Apostles
    2) Confession of the truth and rejection of heresy
    3) Administer sacraments according the rules of the Church, not changing essential actions of the rites
    4) Live according the truth of the Church, her Ecumenical Councils and Holy Tradition
    5) Unity with the Orthodox Church in the spirit of peace and love
    This is an excerpt from St. Sebastian's article "The True Church of Christ". Listen to the full text here:
    • The True Church of Chr...
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    St. Sebastian writes:
    If, for instance, in a certain locality bishops and priests were found to be wanting, the succession being broken, and in their absence the laity elected new ones and laid their hands upon them and proclaimed them to be bishops and presbyters, such a hierarchy would be unlawful and without grace, as the laity cannot transmit that which they do not possess themselves-the grace of the priesthood.
    An authentic hierarchy is such, which confesses all the truths of holy religion, for there are heresies which entirely deprive bishops and priests of the ministerial grace.
    A Priesthood to be lawful must administer the Sacraments orderly, according to the rules of the Holy Church Catholic, not changing essential actions, as there are acts and conditions in the rites of Mysteries that are essential, without which a certain Sacrament may not be valid. Should a sacred minister violate an essential rule he is subject to degradation, if the violation has been intentional, or at least, the Mystery is void of power. The seventh rule of the Apostolic Canon enjoins: "Should anyone, bishop or presbyter, administer not three immersions in Baptism in commemoration of the death of the Lord, but one, let him be cast out." And those who were baptized by one immersion, it was ordered that they should be rebaptized.
    The Orthodox Church is catholic, because she was organized by the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of all people in the whole world, and she is the gathering of all true believers in all places, times, and peoples.
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    Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

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