+ FIVE PILLARS OF MYSTERY +

The Mystery of the Trinity is the belief in the Father, the begetter; in the Son, the begotten; and in the Holy Spirit, the one who proceeds - one in three, three in one; three names and one God, three prosopa and one appearance, three persons and one essence. God is the only eternal Being. He alone is beyond time, space and all limitations. He abides without a beginning and without an end. The divine Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God, one Kingdom, one authority and one government.

The Mystery of the Incarnation deals with the creation of man and the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Incarnation of God the Son is primarily for the salvation of the world. The mystery teaches the two births of the Son, that is, His birth before the world from a Father without a Mother, and His birth from the Virgin Mary, without a father. He was born of two births - Son of the Father and Son of Mary - and was honored in the union (oneness), the union of Godhead and manhood.

The Mystery of Baptism is to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized at the age of thirty to be an example for all men and that all men are to be baptized in the water of life, which flowed from the right side of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Friday. All men are also to obtain adoption from the Trinity, to eat His flesh and drink His blood and live a Christian life. Except we are all born again from water and the Holy Spirit, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The baptized person will be freed from condemnation and released from bondage to the devil.

The Mystery of the Holy Communion is the body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was crucified on Friday for the salvation of all; it is what believers receive in the form of bread and wine. The bread and wine are changed into the real flesh and blood of Christ when the priest blesses them with the liturgical prayers. Whoever receives the flesh and blood of Christ, having cleansed his conscience from grudges and hatred and having preserved in faith and good works, it will be to him salvation of the flesh and of the soul, and by it he will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

The mystery of the resurrection teaches that after death there will be resurrection. It speaks about the second coming of Christ, that Christ shall come again with great power and glory. At that time, all the dead bodies will rise. Those who did good will rise resembling Christ, shining seven times brighter than the sun. But those who did evil will rise resembling the devil, clothed in darkness. Those who have good works will enter into life everlasting, and those who have done wrong shall go away into everlasting condemnation (Matthew 25:1-46).

Basic Requirements for Ethiopian Orthodox Church Members

Members must know and understand:

• The Seven Sacraments
• The Five Pillars of Mystery
• The Creed and Prayer of Faith
• The Lord’s Prayer and the Prayer of the Virgin Mary
• The Ten Commandments
• The Six Words of the Gospel (or Parables of Jesus Christ)