121- Priests and Granting The Holy Spirit

 

St-Takla.org Image: The Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) as a dove. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: الروح القدس بشكل حمامة.

[4] Granting The Holy Spirit

It is inconceivable to imagine a generation surviving without the presence of the Holy Spirit.

We should also consider the fact that the gift of granting the Holy Spirit to others, was exclusive to the apostles and not given to the congregation in general.

(Acts 8:14-17) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, {15} who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was never given by anyone except the apostles (Refer to Acts 19).

So apostolic succession is of paramount necessity for the congregations beyond the apostolic era in order to receive the Holy Spirit.

Priests and Baptism

Priesthood Books by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

Priests The Authority To Absolve And To Guide