Sacrament

Sacraments are the method through which Eastern Orthodox Christians come closer to God. Usually through hymns, prayer, acts or deeds, processions, or lessons they continue their relationship, and prepare themselves for their life with him in heaven. The Eucharist, Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Annointing of the Sick are considered to be the most important, or most practiced sacraments.

http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7105.asp

Marriage

The sacrament of marrige is not a union of man andwomen, but yet a way for the church to recognizethat the lord is already in the couple life. The stepsto a marrige in the Eastern orthodox church arevery specific. The marriage starts out with theChurch praying for the couple, then the rings areplaced on the right hand. Right after this is done themarriage continues into the procession where thepreist chants psalm 128. The man and Women mustthen proclaim that they came freely into this. Theyare then handed candles that are lit representingthem following the light of God. As the marriagecomes to an end the man and women are crowned,which are taken off at the end of the wedding andthe preist prays for the crowns to be excepted intothe kingdom of heaven. For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church

Canonization

Canonization is when a Christian Church declares a deceased person to be a saint. That person is then inscribed into the canon or list of recoginized saints.

Advent

Advent is a holy season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, also known as the season of Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western Christian year and commences on Advent Sunday. (The Eastern churches begin the year on 1 September.) Adventus is the Latin word for "coming". The season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Jesus the Christ.

Lent

Lent is an Eastern Orthodox holiday which always begins on a Monday between February 15 and March 21. The beginning date, Clean Monday, is set at seven weeks before Easter. Lent is a period of self-denial and is observed with strict abstinence from meat, dairy products, wine, and olive oil. Orthodox Christians also make a sacrifice during this period such as giving up a favorite food or other pleasure.

http://www.kencollins.com/holy-04.htm

Communion

Communion is a time when we come together to honor and remember what Christ did for us in his life, death, and resurrection. During communion, we eat bread and drink wine to represent Christ's body and blood, as a way of affirming our faith in Christianity.

(https://www.midnightoilproductions.com/store/images/media/communion.jpg)

Baptism

Baptism is one of the seven Sacrements in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It joins both the Mystical Body of Christ, and the Church. In other words it is the entry into the Holy Church. There are three main purposes of Holy Baptism. The first is to remove the consequences of the 'original sin'. The second is to wash away all other sins committed before the time of Baptism if the person is beyond the age of infancy. The last is to unite the person to "The Body of Christ" and to open the door of salvation and eternal life to him/her. Properly, the mystery of baptism is administered by bishops and priests. During the service water is blessed and the catchumen is fully immersed into the water a total of three times.Most children of Orthodox families are norally baptized right after birth.

Baby being Baptised... http://youtube.com/watch?v=XL_Jo8XcU_s

*The service of Baptism has remained largly unchanged for over 1500 years.

http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/Baptism.htm

Confession

The purpose of confession, Repentence, is to confess your sins to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. People usually confess to a Parish Priest. Because people are not perfect they will sin at some point or another, when this happens all that is required from god is to admit your sin and learn from it. Before repenting the person usually will pray, and recite/reflect, on the 10 Commandments. Annonimity for confessors is extremely important for the churches credibility and any Priest who breaks this secrecy will be kicked out of the church, and his reputation will be ruined. It's also very important for the church to have the confessing know that repentence is not just an apology, but is supposed to be able to start over and learn from your sins through Christ.

http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8493.asp
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Confession#Preparing_for_Confession
http://www.allsaints.il.goarch.org/vsItemDisplay.dsp&objectID=F488208C-B7B4-4CFD-BAEA9B18EC3F5534&method=display