Roman-Latin. Armenian. Lutheran. Alexandria, Antioch and others are not, equally with the Bishop of Rome, successors of the Apostles? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief of those who think that the Pope of Rome is superior to the Ecumenical Councils, and infallible in faith, notwithstanding the fact that several of the Popes have been heretics, and condemned as such by the Councils? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce all the other doctrines of the Western Confession, both old and new, which are contrary to the Word of God, and to the true tradition of the Church, and to the decrees of the seven Ecumenical Councils? Answer. I do. The tanner! from the Armenian Confession is questioned as follows by the Bishop: Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief that in our Lord Jesus Christ there are not two natures, Divine and human, but one only; the human nature being swallowed up by the Divine? Answer. I do. The Bishop questioneth the convert from the Lutheran Confession thus: Dost thou renounce the false doctrine that, for the expression of the dogma touching the Procession of the Holy Ghost the declaration of our Saviour Christ himself: "who proceedeth from the Father" doth not suffice; and that the addition, of man's invention: “and from the Son": is required? Answer. I do. Bis/mp. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief that in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist the bread is not transmuted into the Body of Christ, and doth not become the Body of Christ; and that the wine is not transmuted into the Blood of Christ, and doth not become the Blood of Christ; but that the presence of Christ's Body only for a short time doth touch the bread, which remaineth simple bread? Answer. I do. Bis/mp. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief of the teachers who do not accept as Sacraments Chrismation, Marriage, Anointing with Oil, and the Priesthood itself, and presume to administer Baptism and the Eucharist, never having received, through the laying-on of hands by a Bishop, that Ordination which hath been transmitted from one to another, even from the holy Apostles? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief of the teachers who receive not the traditions of the Holy Church, reverence not the Saints, and deprive the dead of spiritual aid and the living of spiritual consolation, in that they reject prayers for the dead? Answer. I do. The Bishop questioneth the convert from the Reformed Confession after this wise: Dost thou renounce the false doctrine that, for the expression of the dogma touching the Procession pf the Holy Spirit, the declaration of our Saviour Christ himsel : "who proceedeth from the Father" doth not suffice; and that the addition, of man's invention: "and from the Son": is required? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the false doctrine, that the predestination of men to their salvation, or their rejection, is not in accordance with the Divine foreknowledge of the faith and good works of the former, or of the unbelief and evil deeds of the latter; but in accordance with some arbitrary destiny, by reason of which faith and virtue are robbed of their merit, and God is held accountable for the perdition of sinners? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief that in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist the bread and wine are not transmuted into the Body and Blood of Christ, and are merely emblems of the Body and Blood of Christ? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief of the Reformed teachers, who reject five Sacraments: Chrismation, Confession, Marriage, Anointing with Oil, and the Priesthood itself; and presume to administer Baptism and the Eucharist, never having received, through the laying-on of hands by a Bishop, that Ordination which hath been transmitted from one to another, even from the holy Apostles? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou renounce the erroneous belief of the Reformed teachers who receive not the traditions of the Holy Church, reverence not the Saints, and deprive the dead of spiritual aid, and the living of consolation, in that they reject prayers for the dead? Answer. I do. Lutheran. Reformed. And after these special zlestions, appointed for the converts from different Confessions, the Bishop shall proceed with the catechizing which is common to all, and shall ask: Bishop. Hast thou renounced all ancient and modern heresies and false doctrines which are contrary to the teachings of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Eastern Church? Answer. I have. Bishop. Dost thou desire to be united unto the Holy OrthodoxCatholic Eastern Church? Answer. I desire it with all my heart. Bishop. Dost thou believe in one God, who is adored in the holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: and dost thou worship him as thy King and thy God? Answer. I believe in one God who is glorified and adored in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and I worship him as my King and my God. Then he maketh one lowly reoerenee, kneeling and bowing his head to the earth, and reciteth the Creed. I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Being of one Essence with the Father; By whom all things were made; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen. Bishop. Blessed is God, who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world. And again the Bishop saith: Dost thou accept the Apostolical and Ecclesiastical Canons framed and established at the Seven Holy Universal and Provincial Councils, and the other traditions and ordinances of the Orthodox Church? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou acknowledge that the Holy Scriptures must be accepted and interpreted in accordance with the belief which hath been handed down by the Holy Fathers, and which the Holy Ortho Or the Bishop (or Priest) may, at his discretion, use the Shorter Office, as fol loweth: Tell us of the other dogmas of tions and ordinances; how thou our Orthodox Church, its tradiholdest concerning them? And he replieth: I accept and confess the Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Canons, established at the Seven Holy Ecumenical and Provincial Councils, and the other traditions of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic dox Church, our Mother, hath al- | Church of the East, its rules and ways held and still doth hold? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou believe and confess that there are seven Sacraments of the New Testament, to wit: Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, the Priesthood, Marriage, and Anointing with Oil, instituted by Jesus Christ and his Church, to the end that, through their operation and reception, we may obtain blessings from on high? Answer. I believe and confess it. Bzshop. Dost thou believe and confess that in the Divine Liturgy, under the mystical forms of the holy bread and wine, the faithful partake of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto the remission of sins, and unto life eternal? Answer. I believe and confess it. Bishop. Dost thou believe and confess that it is proper to reverence and invoke the Saints who reign on high with Christ, according to the interpretation of the Holy Orthodox Church; and that their prayers and intercessions before God avail with the beneficent God unto our salvation: and that it is well-pleasing in the sight of God that we should do homage to their relics, glorified through incorruption, as precious memorials of their virtue? Answer. I believe and confess it. Bishop. Dost thou confess that the images of our Saviour Christ; and of the Ever-virgin Mother of God, and of the other Saints are worthy of being owned, held and honoured; not unto idolatry, but that, through contemplation there ordinances; and I likewise will accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which the Holy OrthodoxCatholic Church of the East, our Mother, hath held, and doth hold. I believe and confess that there are Seven Sacraments of the New Testament, to wit: Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, the Priesthood, Marriage, and Anointing with Oil, instituted by Jesus Christ and his Church, to the end that, through their operation and reception, we may receive blessings from on high. I believe and confess that, in the Divine Liturgy, under the mystical forms of bread and wine, the faithful partake of the holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto the remission of their sins, and unto life eternal. I believe and confess that it is proper to reverence and invoke the Saints who reign on high with Christ, according to the interpretation of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church of the East; and that their prayers and intercessions avail with the beneficent God unto our salvation: Likewise that it is wellpleasing in the sight of God that we should do homage to their relics, glorified through incorruption, as the precious memorials of their virtues. I acknowledge that the images of our Saviour Christ, and of the Ever-virgin Mother of God, and of other Saints are worthy to be owned and honoured; not unto idolatry, but that, through contemplation thereof, we may be incited unto piety, and unto emula of, we may be incited unto piety, and unto emulation of the righteous deeds represented by these images? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou confess that the prayers of the faithful which are offered up to God, and more especially when accompanied by the oblation of the unbloody sacrifice, for the salvation of those who have departed this life in the faith, are favourably received, through the mercy of God? Answer. I do. Bishop. Dost thou believe and confess that power hath been given by our Saviour Christ unto the Orthodox-Catholic Church to bind and to loose and that whatsoever, by virtue of that power, is bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven? Answer. I believe and confess it. Bishop. Dost thou believe and confess that the Foundation, Head, and Great High Priest and Chief Shepherd of the Holy OrthodoxCatholic Church is our Lord Jesus Christ; and that Bishops, Pastors and Teachers are appointed by him to rule the Church; and that the Guide and Pilot of that Church is the Holy Spirit? Answer. I believe and confess that this Church is the Bride of Christ, and that therein is true salvation, which was in the Ark of Noah at the Flood. tion of the righteous deeds represented by those images. I confess that the prayers of the faithful, which are offered up to God for the salvation of those who have departed this life in the faith, are favourably received, through the mercy of God. I believe and confess that power hath been given by our Saviour Christ unto the Holy OrthodoxCatholic Church, to bind and to loose and that whatsoever, by virtue of that power, is bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. I believe and confess that the Foundation, Head, and Great High Priest and Chief Shepherd of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church is our Lord jesus Christ and that Bishops, Pastors and Teachers are appointed by him to rule the Church and that the Guide and Pilot of that Church is the Holy Spirit. I confess that this Church is the Bride of Christ, and that therein is true salvation. I promise true obedience, unto my life’s end, to the Most Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias (2f it be in a Diocese, then the Bishop of that Diocese is named), as the true Pastor of the Russian Church, and to the Priests appointed by them. Bishop. Dost thou promise true obedience, unto thy life’s end, in guidance which is salutary unto the soul, to the Most Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias; to the Most Holy Patriarch, the Equal-of-the-Apostles (or to the Ecclesiastical Authorities of the Autocephalous Provincial Church); and to the Bishop of this Diocese, as the true Pastors appointed by the Holy Spirit; and to the Priests ordained by them? Answer. I promise it, with heart unfeigned. |