QUESTION:
10/10/2009: I was baptized and chrismated by a rogue Russian Church outside of Russia priest, Father Herman Podmoshensky, two months before he was defrocked. My parents and I were received into an OCA church when I was 2. I found the whole of this out recently. I have been practicing as an Orthodox Christian.
1. Should I be conditionally re baptized and/or chrismated?
2. Could I marry in the Orthodox Church without a baptismal certificate, but only a note of reception in parish's registry?
3. Have I been been sinning by receiving sacraments? Should I stop? |
ANSWER:
1. Probably not, but on the parish priest where you are attending can give you instructions after consulting with the bishop. Reception by confession would seem indicated here.
2. You should try to have a document draw with the signature of the witnesses to your baptism / chrismation. This may prove necessary in the case you mention.
3. If you were not aware of the situation and received the mysteries in good faith and with the clear conscience, probably not, especially if you had confession in the parish. Remember that confession reunite the penitent to the Church (i.e. the diocese / the local Church), and this is what was needed in this case. But if you were received in the OCA when you were two, then the "sacramental actions" of Herman Podmoshensky are probably irrelevant, only sinful and confusing. |
