The seven sacraments of the Assyrian Church of the East

[picnic]

The seven sacraments of the Assyrian Church of the East aren't entirely the same of the RCC or the EOC. The following is taken from wikipedia:

Priesthood:

The Priesthood is the ministry of mediation between God and man in those things which impart forgiveness of sins, convey blessings and put away wrath. This is the priesthood of Christ in which the priests of the Church share.


Baptism:

Baptism is the immersion in and the washing with water and this is divided into five kinds.

Oil of Unction:

The Oil of Unction is an apostolical tradition, originating from the oil consecrated by the Apostles.

Oblation (Qorban):

The oblation is a service offered up by those below to those above, through material elements, in hope of the forgiveness of sins and of an answer to prayer. A meal of leavened bread and vine beverage.

Absolution:

The Holy Eucharist, communion, mass, or Liturgy is the heart and essence of the Christian faith and worship. Correct preparation for it is essential. The priesthood of Melchizedek, among whom Jesus has been designated Highpriest, is a priesthood of spiritual physicians who treat sin as an ailment needing medical attention. in this sense absolution or curing people of their sins in order to present them blameless before God is the central work of this priesthood.

Holy Leaven (Melka):

The holy and blessed Apostles, Thomas and Bartholomew of the Twelve, and Adai and Man of the Seventy, who discipled the East, committed to all the Churches in the East the Holy Leaven Melchizedek used for both bread & wine. The tradition remains in the west only in the form of keeping the eucharitic hosts together. It might be related to the Jewish tradition of keeping some Challah dough to make the next Challah.

Sign of the Cross:

This is also a special sacrament exclusive to this church. This replaces the western sacrament of marriage, which is not counted as a sacrament in this Church.

Any comments?

 

[mophed20]

why wikipedia? they are so biased, and in many cases wrong! you should look it up elsewhere.

i mean...."apostolical"?!!?! that isn't even a word! my browser underlines it with red!

and what are you attempting to prove?

 

[picnic]

A more reliable source - the sacraments are still the same though:

http://www.assyrianchurch.com.au/sacraments.htm

I'm not trying to prove anything. I just thought it was interesting that this ancient church has different sacraments to the EOC and RCC and was posting in case anyone else finds it interesting.

 

[mophed20]

i hope you didn't think i was attacking you. i just re-read what i wrote (should've done that before i clicked on "post") and it seemed pretty presumptuous. i apologize. it is a little weird that they would have different sacraments though.

 

[BigNorsk]

What's their definition of "sacrament" it's pretty difficult to even discuss if we don't know what we are discussing. Maybe they just mean they are rites. Maybe they think they are means of grace. I don't know, but it's a big leap to think that their definition of what a sacrament is is the same.

Marv

 

[a_ntv]

Priesthood:

The Priesthood is the ministry of mediation between God and man in those things which impart forgiveness of sins, convey blessings and put away wrath. This is the priesthood of Christ in which the priests of the Church share.

The Catholic Church calls it Holy Order
That is identical to the use in CC, EO and OO: the Assirian Church of the East has the three degree of this sacrament: bishops, preist, deacons.
The Catholic church recognizes the full validity and apostolic succession of the ACoE bishops, as the ones in the EO and OO (while the Protestant and Lutheran ordinations are considered not valid by us)

Baptism:

Baptism is the immersion in and the washing with water and this is divided into five kinds.

The Catholic Church recognizes the full validity of ECoE baptism

Oil of Unction:

The Oil of Unction is an apostolical tradition, originating from the oil consecrated by the Apostles.

This is the sacrament of Confirmation.
As in the CC and EO/OO the chrisma shall be blessed by the bishops, the same is done in the ACoE
Probably this sacrament includes also the Anointing of the Sick, that we number as a different sacrament being celebrated with a separate oil, but that can be considered the same sacrament if celebrated with the same oil, as is the use of the ACoE

Oblation (Qorban):

The oblation is a service offered up by those below to those above, through material elements, in hope of the forgiveness of sins and of an answer to prayer. A meal of leavened bread and vine beverage.

This is the Eucharist
The Catholic Church recognizes the full validity of ECoE Eucharist (while the Protestant and Lutheran Eucharist is considered not valid by us).
More, there is also an official agreement of intercommunion when needed between the CC and the ACoE


Absolution:

The Holy Eucharist, communion, mass, or Liturgy is the heart and essence of the Christian faith and worship. Correct preparation for it is essential. The priesthood of Melchizedek, among whom Jesus has been designated Highpriest, is a priesthood of spiritual physicians who treat sin as an ailment needing medical attention. in this sense absolution or curing people of their sins in order to present them blameless before God is the central work of this priesthood.

This is the confession
The Catholic Church recognizes the full validity of ECoE Confession, evenif the form is slightly different form our

Holy Leaven (Melka):

The holy and blessed Apostles, Thomas and Bartholomew of the Twelve, and Adai and Man of the Seventy, who discipled the East, committed to all the Churches in the East the Holy Leaven Melchizedek used for both bread & wine. The tradition remains in the west only in the form of keeping the eucharitic hosts together. It might be related to the Jewish tradition of keeping some Challah dough to make the next Challah.

This sacrament is typical of the ACoE
In fact the Catholic Church considers it as a step of the ACoE the Eucharist

Sign of the Cross:

This is also a special sacrament exclusive to this church. This replaces the western sacrament of marriage, which is not counted as a sacrament in this Church.

This sacrament is the marriage
The Catholic Church recognizes the full validity of ECoE Marriage
Well, this sacrament, as it is defined, includes also other blessings that exist also in the CC liturgy, and are considered by us as sacrmentals (that are almost like a sacrament)

As final comment, we can say that the Catholic Church find in the ACoE use ALL and ONLY the elemtents of our sacraments (in fact any apostolic Church is free to choose the best liturgical form and matter for the sacraments, and the numbering is not an issue when the meanings are clear).
In fact the existence of a formal agreement of Intercommunion between the Catholic Church and the ACoE is the proof that the differences are only formal and not substantial as they are with the protestants (the Vatican is always extremly prudent about the sacraments...if there is the ok here...)

What's their definition of "sacrament" it's pretty difficult to even discuss if we don't know what we are discussing. Maybe they just mean they are rites. Maybe they think they are means of grace. I don't know, but it's a big leap to think that their definition of what a sacrament is is the same.

Well, the definition of sacrament is EXTRMLY clear for all Apostolic Churches (Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of East).

 

[Kristos]

I don't see many differences here.

 

[revanneosl]

Hi Picnic,

I myself found your post fascinating. Of course, I'm an obscure liturgy nerd, so it's no wonder that you're getting some folks scratching their heads.

It's a bit of a stretch for a-ntv to say that the sign of the cross (Assyrian sacrament) and matrimony (Roman sacrament) are equivalents. They're not. Likewise, the "leaven" which the Assyrian's number as a separate sacrament is, in the Roman communion, subsumed under the sacrament of Eucharist (in the commingling), while the "unction" of the Assyrians is confirmation, and not the "extreme unction" of the Roman church.

My obscure point: both communions list 7 sacraments, but the lists are different from one another. Nevertheless the two churches (at long last) recognize one another as true and valid heirs of the one and only gospel of Jesus Christ, redeemer of the world.

Just as the gospels themselves differ from one another when it comes to listing the geneology of Jesus or the names of the 12, the churches differ from one another over our lists and laws, but are still vital and living witnesses to the saving work of our Lord and Savior.

I'm going to go do the "happy ecumenical dance" now.

Grace & Peace,
Anne

 

[Rhamiel]

props for the very interesting post, picnic, I do not know a lot about that Church

a_ntv could you clarify "In fact the existence of a formal agreement of Intercommunion between the Catholic Church and the ACoE is the proof that the differences are only formal and not substantial "

 

[a_ntv]

props for the very interesting post, picnic, I do not know a lot about that Church

a_ntv could you clarify "In fact the existence of a formal agreement of Intercommunion between the Catholic Church and the ACoE is the proof that the differences are only formal and not substantial "

See from the Vatican site: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...uni_doc_20011025_chiesa-caldea-assira_en.html

If, in some occasion, is allowed for a catholic (the chaldean are catholic) to take the Eucharist inthe ACoE (and vice versa), it means that the ACoE Eucharist is perfectly valid: and because the Eucharist is the climax of all the sacraments, also the other sacraments are perfectly valid.

 

[Rhamiel]

This differs from our relationship with our eastern orthodox brothers and sisters does it not? I understand they do not want us to recieve communion in their churches

 

[Kristos]

Anyone and everyone is welcome to commune at an EO church. You just have to confess the EO faith.