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Consecration

Introduction

Every Orthodox Christian has a calling from God ... a service to office the Church and the World.  In salvation terms there is marriage and there is monasticism.  There is also a form of consecration to the single life in the world which, whilst not monastic by profession shares certain characteristics with monasticism, certainly but controversially in western culture, celibacy!  From the within the ranks of the married, consecrated singles and the monastics there is also an ordination to the ministry of bishop, priest and deacon, which, of course, only a very small minority exercise. 

These variants constitute a certain "first level" of consecration because they map out certain primary responsibilities before God.  The "second level" of consecration concerns those ministries of all the baptised that are established for the building up of the body of Christ and a witness to Christ in the world.  An Orthodox Christian is expected to pray continually throughout life concerning the will of God for his or her calling.  In this matter he or she will consult with a spiritual father or mother who will assist the process of discernment.  The end of this consecration is an offering to Christ at the great day of Judgement when the faith and works of all will be taken into the Kingdom of God.

It is, therefore, clear that the consecration of life is of utmost importance for any Orthodox Christian.  There can be no passengers, freeloaders or freewheelers in the Church of God.  Time may need to be spent in the hospital of Christ's cures but upon healing ALL are expected to serve ... and some, with the martyrs on the "front line."

Resources

Scripture

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.   Therefore He says:

      'When He ascended on high,
      He led captivity captive,
      And gave gifts to men.'

 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first^[c] descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

Ephesians 4:7-16

Fathers and Saints

"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things" in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."

St. Polycarp of Smyrna: Epistle to the Philippians, Chapter 2

Contemporary

"Every one of us desires to offer things to God. One gives money. Another gives incense, oil, or other things to the Church. The truest and greatest offering, however, is the offering of man himself. It is good and beautiful to offer from our belongings to God, but what is most beautiful is to offer all of oneself to God. It is to make one's heart a throne of the Lord, and make one's being His abode. In this way one is transfigured and transformed into a living altar to the Lord."

His Grace, Bishop John Yazigi

Exploration

Pascha Cycle - "Marriage"

Pentecost Cycle - "Family Life"

Holy Cross Cycle - "Ordination"

Nativity Cycle - "Monasticism"

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