Sacraments

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Baptisms

What a Sponsor needs:

1. A complete change of clothing for the baby, including an undershirt
2. One Gold Cross
3. One small bottle of olive oil
4. One bar of soap
5. One white bath towel
6. Two white hand towels
7. Three white candles
8. One white sheet
9. The sponsor must be Orthodox in good standing with the Church (requires proof of Orthodox Baptism & letter from own parish priest)

Days when Baptisms are NOT performed:

• September 8, the Nativity of the Theotokos
• September 14, the Elevation of the Holy Cross
• November 21, the Presentation of the Theotokos
• December 25, the Nativity of Christ (Christmas)​
• January 5, Eve of Theophany
• January 6, Theophany, the Baptism of Christ
• February 2, the Presentation of Christ
• March 25, the Annunciation
• Palm Sunday (The Sunday before Pascha)​
• Holy Week (the week prior to Pascha)
• Ascension of Christ (forty days after Pascha)
• Pentecost (fifty days after Pascha)
• August 6, the Transfiguration
• August 15, the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos​

Weddings

We need from the couple:

1. Full Name
2. Mother’s maiden name
3. Date of Baptism
4. In what religion you were baptized
5. Have you ever been married?  In a Greek Orthodox Church, in any other Church or just civilly?
6. Schedule three premarital sessions with the priest

What a Koumbaro/Koumbara (Best Man/Maid of Honor) needs to bring:

1. A set of crowns
2. A silver tray
3. Three candles (two decorated)
4. The koumbaro/koumbara must be Orthodox, and in good standing with the Church (requires proof of Baptism & letter from Parish Priest)

Marriages are NOT performed on fast days (or seasons) and major feast days as follows:

• Great Lent (starts on a Monday, 7 weeks prior to Pascha)
• Fast of the Apostles (varying in length from 1 to 6 weeks; it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends on June 28, the eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul)
• Fast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (August 1-14)
• Christmas Fast (November 15 - December 24)
• Individual fast days:
  • Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29)
  • Eve of Epiphany (January 5)
  • All Wednesdays and Fridays
• Any Feast Day of the Lord or the Theotokos as follows:
  • September 8, the Nativity of the Theotokos
  • September 14, the Elevation of the Holy Cross
  • November 21, the Presentation of the Theotokos
  • December 13 through 25
  • December 25, the Nativity of Christ (Christmas)​
  • January 5, Eve of Theophany
  • January 6, Theophany, the Baptism of Christ
  • February 2, the Presentation of Christ
  • March 25, the Annunciation
  • Palm Sunday (The Sunday before Pascha)​
  • Holy Week (the week prior to Pascha)
  • Ascension of Christ (forty days after Pascha)
  • Pentecost (fifty days after Pascha)
  • August 6, the Transfiguration
  • August 15, the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos

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​Check the church calendar here.​​

Funerals

• Funeral services are permitted on any day of the year, except for Sundays and Great and Holy Friday.

Memorials

​Days when Memorials are NOT performed:

• From the Saturday of Lazarus, to St. Thomas Sunday
• Any Feast Day of the Lord or the Theotokos as follows:
  • September 8, the Nativity of the Theotokos
  • September 14, the Elevation of the Holy Cross
  • November 21, the Presentation of the Theotokos
  • December 25, the Nativity of Christ (Christmas)​
  • From December 25 through January 6
  • January 6, Theophany, the Baptism of Christ
  • February 2, the Presentation of Christ
  • March 25, the Annunciation
  • Palm Sunday (The Sunday before Pascha)​
  • Holy Week (the week prior to Pascha)
  • Ascension of Christ (forty days after Pascha)
  • Pentecost (fifty days after Pascha)
  • August 6, the Transfiguration
  • August 15, the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos

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More info: www.goarch.org/-/instructions-for-weddings-divorces-baptisms-funerals-and-memorials