18- The holy breath

 

St-Takla.org Image: H. H. Pope Shenouda breathing on Fr. Kirellos Kolta of Saint TaklaHaymanout Church, Alexndria, Egypt, during his ordination as a Hegomen. And seen in the back Father Monk Cherubim Al-Bakomy صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: قداسة البابا شنوده ينفخ النفخة المقدسة في وجه قدس أبونا كيرلس قلته كاهن كنيسة القديس تكلاهيمانوت، الإسكندريةـ مصر، خلال رسامته قمصا. ويظهر في الخلف قدس أبونا الراهب شاروبيم الباخومي

The Lord Jesus ordained His disciples granting them the Holy Spirit and the Episcopal Authority, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. The Lord describes such ordination as:

(John 20:20-23) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. {21} So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

[15] This Holy Breath Still Upheld And Is Handed Over From Generation To Generation

In the ordination of priests, the ordained opens his mouth while the chief priest (bishop) breathes on him and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. The new priest then recites a portion from psalm 119 which says “I opened my mouth and for myself, I attracted a Spirit”.

[16] By The Laying Of Their Hands, The Apostles Ordained Bishops, Priests And Deacons and Gave Them The Holy Spirit