Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions The word "consecration" literally means "setting apart. " Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups.

Contents 1 Roman Catholic Church 2 Eastern Orthodoxy 2.1 Consecration of bishops 2.2 Consecration of a church 2.3 Divine Liturgy 2.4 Chrism 2.5 Antimension 2.6 House 3 Various Christian Churches 4 Latter Day Saints 5 Other religions 6 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 See also 9 External links

Roman Catholic Church

Main article: Eucharist (Catholic Church)

In regard to the Eucharist, the term consecration refers to those words/actions/intentions by which bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ (also called the Transsubstantiation). Eucharist in the Catholic Church refers to both the celebration of the Mass that is the Eucharistic Liturgy, and the consecrated bread and wine which Eucharist in the Catholic Church refers to both the celebration of the Mass that is the Eucharistic Liturgy, and the consecrated bread and wine which See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence.

The understanding in the Catholic Church is that the gifts (bread and wine) are consecrated during the Words of Institution amid the Canon of the Mass. The Words of Institution are those used inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that Canon of the Mass ( Latin: Canon Missæ, Canon Actionis) is the name given in the Roman Missal, from the first typical edition of Pope Pius In the western or Latin Church, the consecration is emphasized as being the Divine action in and through the Words of Institution, by which verba a priest is said to act "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ) as the physical and personal instrument through which Christ is present and acting. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. The Words of Institution are those used inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that

Consecration in a Catholic context also refers to the vowed religious life, also called the Consecrated Life. A vow ( Lat votum, vow promise see Vote) is a promise or Oath. In the Roman Catholic Church the term Consecrated life, also referred to as the "Religious Life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful

At one time, there was a rite for the Consecration of Virgins (see the article on Virginity in External links, below, for a description of the ritual), though it died out after the fifteenth century. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious

Consecration can also refer to the ordination of a new bishop or to the coronation or inauguration of a newly-elected pope. In a general sense the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. In the Catholic Church, a Bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the priesthood. The Papal Coronation is the ceremony in which a new Pope is crowned as earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church, sovereign of Vatican City An inauguration is a ceremony of formal Investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and

It can also refer to the solemn blessing by a bishop of a fully completed and paid-off church building (e. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. g. parish church). A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches The altar of a church may be consecrated separately, or as part of the consecration of the whole building. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place There is also a consecration of an altar stone, which may be used to celebrate Mass when there is no consecrated church building available. In Roman Catholic Churches an altar stone is a solid piece of natural stone consecrated by a Bishop. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

Chalices are also consecrated. A chalice (from Latin calix, cup borrowed from Greek kalyx, shell husk is a goblet intended to hold drink Traditionally, they were consecrated only by bishops, who would anoint them with chrysm. Chrismation is the name given in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East

Eastern Orthodoxy

In the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the term "consecration" can refer to either the Sacred Mystery (Sacrament) of Cheirotonea (Ordination through laying on of hands) of a Bishop, or the sanctification and solemn dedication of a church building. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world It can also (more rarely) be used to describe the change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Divine Liturgy. Churches and Ecclesial Communities contrasted in relation to Eucharistic theology: Roman Catholic Church See also Eucharist (Catholic Church The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The Chrism used at Chrismation and the Antimension placed on the Holy Table are also said to be consecrated. Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated Chrismation is the name given in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East The Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place

Consecration of bishops

Orthodox believe their bishops to be in Apostolic Succession, and that at their Ordination they receive the fullness of the Grace of the Priesthood (priests and deacons function as the "hands" of the Bishop and are thus an extension of his ministry). In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions For the Orthodox, the office of bishop is the highest rank in the Church. Although certain bishops may receive titles such as Patriarch, Metropolitan, or Archbishop, ultimately all bishops are equal, and such titles constitute marks of dignity and honor, but not any higher order in the Church or greater measure of grace. Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a Pater familias over an extended family In Hierarchical Christian churches the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the Diocesan bishop or In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead At his Ordination, a bishop receives grace not only to perform the Sacred Mysteries but also to bestow the grace of Ordination on others.

The Scriptural foundation for Cheirotonia is found in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:15-26; Acts 6:2-6) and the Epistles to Timothy (1_Timothy 4:14; 2_Timothy 1:6). The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. The First Epistle to Timothy is one of three letters in New Testament of the Bible often grouped together as the Pastoral Epistles. Just as in Acts there were two stages involved: (a) election and (b) the prayerful laying on of hands, so the Ordination of a bishop in the Orthodox Church takes place in two stages:^[1]

• Election--In the Early Church, bishops were elected by the entire local church over which they were to preside. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Bishops in neighboring dioceses would assemble the local clergy and laity, and all together would elect the new bishop. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. It should not be thought, however, that such elections were merely democratic--the emphasis was upon consensus rather than majority rule--and election by acclamation was not unheard of. An acclamation, in its most common sense is a form of Election that does not use a Ballot. In time, with the danger of so sacred an undertaking descending into base electoral politics, it became the custom for episcopal nominations to be performed by a Synod of bishops. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application In the Early Church a bishop could be married, but the danger arose of episcopal dynasties forming. So with the rise of monasticism in the 4th century, it became customary to choose bishops from among the monks. MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective This became a canon of the Church at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Anglican Communion of churches The Sixth Ecumenical Council met on November 7, 680 for its first session it ended its meetings said to have been eighteen in number on September 16 ^[2] If he has not yet been Tonsured, he must make his vows before Consecration. Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches mystics Buddhist novices and Monks and some Hindu temples of cutting the Hair from the Technically, a bishop must be chosen from among the Archimandrites; so prior to his Consecration, a bishop-elect will normally be elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. The title Archimandrite ( Greek: - archimandrites) primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches A candidate for the episcopate does not have to be in Holy Orders, but if not, he must be ordained a deacon^[3] and then priest (each successive Ordination--deacon, priest, bishop--must be performed on separate days). In a general sense the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities The person elected to the episcopate must voluntarily accept his nomination before the Consecration can proceed.

(Contrary to what the person above wrote, there is no hint of election in the early church (book of Acts). Leaders were appointed by other leaders. Most of the converts were new believers and had no business voting for bishops. Paul tells Titus (TITUS 1:5) to "appoint elders (Greek: bishops) in every town. . . " not to hold an election. )

• Cheirotonia--Because the Acts of the Apostles describes the Cheirotonia being accomplished with prayer, the Consecration is always performed in the context of the Divine Liturgy. Normally, this will occur on a Sunday or Feast Day which has an All-Night Vigil. The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter is the greatest of the feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. For the musical setting by Rachmaninoff, see All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff The All-night vigil is a service of the Eastern Orthodox During the Vigil (or before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy), the bishop-elect must make a formal and public Profession of Faith to ensure the Orthodoxy of his belief (see the article on orlets for a more detailed description of this procedure). An Eagle rug, ( Greek αετός aëtos; Church-Slavonic орлецъ orlets: eagle) is a small Rug, usually round upon During the Divine Liturgy, after the Trisagion the bishop-elect kneels before the Holy Table, touching his forehead to the Holy Table, and the Gospel Book is opened and laid, with the writing down, upon his neck. The Trisagion ('Thrice Holy' is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels All of the consecrating bishops place their hands on the Gospel and say the Prayer of Consecration, during which the Holy Spirit is believed to descend upon the new bishop and imparts the grace of the episcopate upon him. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance The bishop is then clothed in the vestments of a bishop and presented to the people. Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics The ancient participation of the laity in the election of bishops is retained in their triple acclamation of Axios ("He is worthy") at the time the Omophorion is placed on the new bishop's shoulders. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition the omophorion ( Greek:; Slavonic: омофоръ omofor)

According to the Canon I of the Apostolic Canons, a bishop must be Consecrated by at least two or three bishops. ^[4] Normally, there will be three or more Consecrating Bishops.

Consecration of a church

See also: Dedication

The Greek words meaning ‘dedicate’ and ‘dedication’ are not easy to translate into English, since they also have the connotation of ‘newness’, ‘renewal’. Dedication (Lat dedicatio, from dedicare, to proclaim to announce is to immerse oneself with sincerity into a certain subject or properly the setting apart The opening Stichera for Vespers, for example, make frequent play on the ideas of ‘new’ and ‘old’. A sticheron (plural stichera) is a particular kind of Hymn used in the Divine Liturgy, Acolouthia ( Daily office) or other services Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the David, in Psalm 51:10, asks God to ‘renew a right Spirit within me’, rather than ‘dedicate a right Spirit’. ^[5]

The Consecration of a Church is a complex service filled with many profound symbolisms. Many biblical elements taken from the Consecration of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40) and the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5-7) are employed in the service. The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן "Residence" or "Dwelling Place" According to Orthodox theology, once a building has been Consecrated as a church, it may never again be used for any secular purpose.

No one may construct an Orthodox church without the blessing of the local bishop. Before construction begins on a new church, the bishop or his representative lays a foundation stone which may or may not contain relics of a saint. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Only after all construction on the new church has been completed may it be Consecrated.

The Orthodox ritual for the Consecration of a Church is modeled on the ritual of Baptism and Chrismation. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Before the Consecration begins, there is a Great Blessing of Waters as is served at Theophany;^[6] Chrism, white robes, and tapers are used during the service (the bishop will wear a special white linen garment over his vestments, called a Savanon). Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy. Theophany, from the Greek, theophaneia (meaning "appearance/showing of God" refers to the appearance of a Deity to a human or to a divine disclosure A procession goes three times around the church building, just like a similar triple procession around the font at Baptism. Another symbolism which occurs frequently in the service is the Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection of Christ. The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh This article describes the Christian Passion For other meanings see Passion.

Relics of Saints (preferably martyrs) are placed in the Holy Table during the Consecration (Revelation 6:9). A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom This is a continuation of the practice of the ancient Church of celebrating the Liturgy over the tombs of the Martyrs.

The Consecration should be performed by the diocesan bishop; but if he is unable to do so, the bishop may delegate an Archimandrite or other senior priest to perform the service in his behalf. The bishop himself must consecrate the Antimension (see below) and send it with the priest who will be performing the service. In this case, the rite of Consecration is briefer than normal. There is no Consecration of the Antimension (since the bishop himself accomplished this earlier), and no Relics are placed in the Holy Table.

There are a number of differences between the rite of Consecration as practiced by the Greeks and as practiced by the Slavic churches. Generally, the Greek rite presumes that the Holy Table will be made of stone, while the Slavic presumes it will be made of wood.

Divine Liturgy

For more details on this topic, see Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy.

If the term "Consecration" is used to refer to the change of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, the Orthodox emphasize that the Consecration is the Divine response to the Epiclesis, in which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to come down upon the Gifts and change them. The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was In most Christian churches the epiclesis (also sometimes spelled epiklesis, since it is a transliterated Greek word is that part of the Unlike the West, the Orthodox do not hold that there is one specific moment at which this "change" takes place; it is a Sacred Mystery, which begins with the Prothesis (see Liturgy of Preparation). The Liturgy of Preparation, also Prothesis ( Greek &Pi&rho&omicron&theta&eta&sigma&iota&sigmaf a setting forth or Proskomedia (an offering Instead, the Orthodox would say only that the change is completed at the Epiclesis (rather than at the Words of Institution). The Words of Institution are those used inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that

Orthodox do not normally use the term "Transubstantiation" to describe the "change. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. " The Latin doctrine of Transubstantiation attempts to explain "how" the elements are changed; Orthodox regard this as attempting to explain the unexplainable. Orthodox only explain "that" the elements are changed, without attempting to delve too deeply into the Mystery.

Chrism

Main article: Chrism

Sacred Chrism (Myron) is used for the Chrismation (Confirmation) of the faithful after Baptism. Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated In the Orthodox Church the Sacred Mystery of Chrismation is performed immediately after Baptism. Persons from other Christian confessions who are not received into the Church by Baptism may be admitted by Chrismation (depending upon the regulations of the jurisdiction). ^[7] Apostates who have left the Church and then repented and returned are restored after appropriate penance to full communion through Chrismation. ^[8] Chrism is also used in the Consecration of the Holy Table and the entire church building, and is used to anoint the Relics of the Martyrs before they are placed in the Holy Table, and to Consecrate the Antimension. In the past, Chrism was used at the Anointing of Orthodox Emperors and Kings. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of

In the early church, after an individual was Baptized, one of the Apostles would then lay hands upon them and they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). According to Orthodox Tradition, as the Church grew it became impossible for the Apostles to go to each convert personally, so the Apostles laid their hands upon a vessel of oil, consecrating it, and the oil was distributed to the various churches so that all could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whenever new Chrism is consecrated, it is added to the existing stock. The Orthodox believe that the same Chrism consecrated by the Apostles is still in use today, having been added-to by all generations of the Church. The earliest mention of the use of Chrism is by Saint Hippolytus of Rome (†235). For places named after the saint see Saint-Hippolyte Saint Hippolytus of Rome (c

While any bishop is empowered to Consecrate the Chrism, so long as he adds to the existing stock; in practice the Consecration is reserved to the Primates who preside over the local autocephalous churches. Primate (from the Latin Primus, "first" is a title or rank bestowed on some Bishops in certain Christian churches Autocephaly, in Hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches is the status of a hierarchical church whose Traditionally, the Consecration of Chrism occurs during Holy Week. Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter. The preparation of the Chrism begins on Great Monday, using a recipe based upon the Anointing Oil consecrated by Moses (Exodus 30:22) Then, on Great Thursday the Patriarch or Metropolitan will consecrate the Chrism. Holy Monday or Great and Holy Monday is the Monday of Holy Week, which precedes the commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The holy anointing oil described in Exodus was created from 500 Shekels (about 6 kg of Myrrh, half as much (about 3 kg of fragrant Cinnamon Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a Pater familias over an extended family In Hierarchical Christian churches the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the Diocesan bishop or Chrism is not consecrated every year, but only according to need. The Patriarch or Metropolitan will normally make a formal announcement beforehand when there is going to be a Consecration of Chrism.

Antimension

Main article: Antimension

The Antimension (literally, "In place of the Table") is a piece of cloth, often silk, that has depicted on it Christ laid out for burial with Icons of the four Evangelists in the corners. The Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament ^[9] It also has a space provided for the bishop to inscribe and sign the Antimension. Relics of Martyrs are sewn into the Antimension, and it is usually wrapped in another protective cloth called the Iliton, which is often red in color and symbolizes the swaddling-clothes with which Christ was wrapped after His birth, and also the winding-sheet in which His body was wrapped after His Crucifixion.

It is forbidden to celebrate the Divine Liturgy without the Antimension. If the Holy Table is damaged or destroyed the Divine Liturgy may still be celebrated with the Antimension. If it becomes necessary to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in an unconsecrated building, it is permitted to do so as long as the priest uses an Antimension.

Only a bishop may Consecrate an Antimension. This may take place as a part of the Consecration of a church, or as a separate rite. The bishop wears a special linen garment over his vestments, called a Savanon, during the service, just like when he consecrates a church. He will anoint the pocket sewn into the Antimension to receive the Relics with Chrism, he then places the Relics in the Antimension and seals them in place with wax mastic. Mastic ( Greek:μαστίχα( Pistacia lentiscus) is an Evergreen Shrub or small Tree of the Pistacio family growing He then inscribes the Antimension with the name of the church for which it has been Consecrated and signs it. He may also stamp it with his official seal.

The Antimension always remains the property of the Bishop. He bestows an Antimension and Chrism on a priest as a sign that the priest has his authorization to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries. If a bishop withdraws this authorization from the priest, he takes the Antimension and Chrism away from him.

House

In the Eastern Orthodox Church each household is considered to be a house church. House church (or " home church " is an informal term for an independent assembly of Christians intentionally gathering in a home or on other grounds The husband and wife are the ministers of the house church, and the crowning (wedding) is their ordination. In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs A wedding is the Ceremony in which two people are united in Marriage. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies Though the Orthodox married life is sacramental in nature, the ministry of the husband and wife is a ministry of love, not the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries (sacraments). The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. Naturally, their house is consecrated, that it may be a fitting sanctuary for their ministry. The consecration of a dwelling is modelled on the consecration of a church, though it is not considered to be as solemn as that of a church. The service may be conducted by any priest, and does not require the permission of a bishop. However, if the family erects a chapel on their property and desires to have it consecrated, the ceremony for that chapel would be the same as for a church, and only the ordained clergy would actually celebrate the Sacred Mysteries in the chapel. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a

In consecrating a home, there are several services that take place. First of all, there is the "Blessing for the Foundation of a Home", similar in concept to the blessing of the foundation stone, but consisting only of a single prayer. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will Obviously, this service is used only when a new home is being constructed from scratch.

There is also a "Prayer When One is About to Take Up His Abode in a New Home", said before the family moves into a new home, whether they built it or not.

The actual "Blessing of a New Home" takes place once the family is fully moved in, and repeats many of the ceremonies at the Consecration of a Church. The house is blessed with holy water, the walls are anointed with blessed oil, and a candle is placed in front of each place where the house was anointed. Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy. Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated A candle is a Light source and sometimes a Heat source consisting of a solid block of Fuel and an embedded wick. As he anoints each wall in the Sign of the Cross, the priest says, "This house is blessed through the anointing with this Holy Oil, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Sign of the Cross, or Signum crucis in Latin is a ritual hand motion made by members of many but not all branches of Christianity. Amen. "^[10] Among the imagery used in the service is the salvation which came to the house of Zaccheus when Jesus visited it (Luke 19:1-10). In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of Zacchaeus (Greek Ζακχαῖος Hebrew זכי which means pure) was a superintendent of customs a chief tax-gatherer (publicanus at Jericho (

There are a number of other blessings which take place in the home, such as the annual blessing at Theophany, and the slava which is celebrated on the feast day of the family's patron saint. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Slava ( Cyrillic: Слава is the Orthodox Christian custom of honoring a family Patron saint. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members These, however, are simple blessings, and not consecrations.

Various Christian Churches

Church buildings, a chapels and altars are consecrated to the purpose of religious worship, and vessels are consecrated for the purpose of containing the Eucharistic elements, the bread and wine/the body and blood of Christ. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those

In the Eucharist, Lutherans hold that the consecration is effected by the recitation of the Words of Institution (sometimes sung) over the bread and wine, resulting in the sacramental union whereby the bread is the communion of Christ's true body and the wine is the communion of Christ's true blood. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Words of Institution are those used inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that For the band see " Plainsong (band " For the song on The Cure's 1989 album see " Disintegration " Sacramental union ( Latin, unio sacramentalis; German, sakramentliche Einigkeit) is the Lutheran theological Doctrine Among Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and other Protestants that accept some form of Real Presence Theology, the elements are consecrated when the presiding/celebrating minister calls upon the Holy Spirit to "make them be for us the body and blood of Christ. The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was "

A person may be consecrated for a specific role within a religious hierarchy, or a person may consecrate his or her life in an act of devotion. In particular, the ordination of a bishop is often called a consecration. In a general sense the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight In churches which follow the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (the historical episcopate) the bishops who consecrate a new bishop are known as the consecrators and form an unbroken line of succession back to the Apostles. The episcopate is the collective body of all Bishops of a church The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e Also, those who take the vows of religious life are said to be living a consecrated life. A vow ( Lat votum, vow promise see Vote) is a promise or Oath. A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually

Among some religious groups there is also a service of "deconsecration," to return a formerly consecrated place to secular purpose (for instance, if the building is to be sold or demolished). Deconsecration is the act of removing a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated by a minister or priest of that religion

Latter Day Saints

See also: Setting apart

In the nineteenth-century Latter Day Saint tradition, consecration involved the giving of member's worldly possessions to the church in a type of voluntary religious communism, which was practiced off and on during the 19th century, but is now extremely rare among Latter Day Saint denominations. Setting apart is an ordinance or ritual in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific A Latter Religious communism is a form of Communism centered on religious principles A Latter Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still covenant to live the Law of Consecration by consecrating themselves, and everything with which the Lord has blessed them, or will bless them to the building up of the kingdom of God and the establishment of Zion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Within the Latter Day Saint movement, Zion is often used to connote a Utopian association of the righteous See Law of Consecration. In the Latter Day Saint movement (also known as Mormonism) the law of consecration has two broad meanings

The priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also perform a consecration of oil, for use of blessing the sick. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known The term 'consecration', as it applies to the Lord's Supper in other Christian churches, is simple called a 'blessing' by the Latter-day Saint priesthood. A Latter

Other religions

Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, Reform Judaism and Thelema all use the term. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently subjected to vandalism and the insertion of personal opinions Thelema is a philosophy of life based on the rule or law "Do what thou wilt

Notes

Bibliography

• Orthodox Dogmatic Theology: A Concise Exposition, Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky (Tr. "Forane" redirects here For the veterinary anesthetic see Isoflurane. Hieromonk Seraphim Rose, Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, Platina CA) 1984. Hieromonk, or Hieroschemamonk, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, ( Greek: Ἱερομόναχος Ieromonachos; Slavonic: Ieromonakh Seraphim Rose, born Eugene Dennis Rose ( August 13, 1934 - September 2, 1982) was a Hieromonk (also called Priest
• The Law of God, Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy (Tr. "Forane" redirects here For the veterinary anesthetic see Isoflurane. Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville NY) 1996.
• Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, Isabel F. Hapgood (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, New York) 1975.

See also

• Dedication
• Cornerstone

External links

• Consecration article in Catholic Encyclopedia
• Virginity article in Catholic Encyclopedia discussing Consecration of a Virgin
• Consecration of an Orthodox Church 6 pages of photos, Serbian Orthodox Church
• Photos of Consecration of Altar and Antimens in the Russian Orthodox Church
• The Sanctification of Holy Chrism by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Dedication (Lat dedicatio, from dedicare, to proclaim to announce is to immerse oneself with sincerity into a certain subject or properly the setting apart The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia The Serbian Orthodox Church ( Serbian: Српска Православна Црква / Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva; СПЦ / SPC) or the See also Eastern Orthodox Church Structure and organization The Slavic Orthodox Church is organized in a hierarchical structure History Early history Christianity in Byzantium existed from the time of the Twelve Apostles, but it was in the year 330 that the Roman Emperor

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