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'''Exorcism''' is the rite of [[prayer]] which expels [[demon]]s from a person or physical object. The most common use of exorcism in the Church is at the reception of a [[catechumen]], which is most often included at the beginning of the [[baptism]]al rite, and during the [[Great Blessing of Water]] which is done on the baptismal waters and at [[Theophany]]. An exorcism may also be performed if it is believed that a person is suffering from demonic influence.
:"Exorcism is the practice of expelling evil spirits by means of prayer or set formulas adopted by the Christian Church from pre-Christian practices. Christ Himself and his Apostles practiced exorcism for the people possessed. (See Matthew 10:1 and foll; Luke 11:14 and foll; Acts 16:18, 19:13 and foll.). Exorcism has been practiced on persons possessed by an evil spirit all through the development of the Christian Church beginning with New Testament times. The most well-known exorcisms are those applied to Catechumens about to be baptized. Since infant Baptism was introduced in the Church, the statements denouncing Satan and accepting Christ are given by the Godfather/mother in the place of the candidate to be baptized. The Orthodox exorcisms before Baptism are four in number. Following them, and after the candidate or sponsor gives the affirmations in Christ, he is required to recite the Nicene Creed as the final seal of a successful candidacy.
:It should be noted here at this point that the Orthodox exorcisms are in essence prayers for averting the influence of evil spirits rather than for expelling the devil, especially in ceremonies such as sanctifying the waters (Hagiasmos), blessing the ceremonial oil, or blessing sacred vessels. It should also be noted that the importance of exorcism in Orthodox ecclesiastical life is not as great as it is in both the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. In recent years certain semi-pagan exorcistic rituals have been practiced by a number of people uncertain as to their religious belonging, including clergymen of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. Assuming the role of an exorcist is a serious offense against the Church's conception of evil and of the sacramental means by which it should be warded off. Needless to say, evil in man, whether personified or not, naturally requires the help of the Church for its expulsion but, above all, requires the spiritual strength of the individual concerned."<ref>Rev. Dr. Nicon D. Patrinacos (M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon)). ''A Dictionary of Greek Orthodoxy - Λεξικον Ελληνικης Ορθοδοξιας''. Light & Life Publishing, Minnesota, 1984. pp.168-169.</ref>
===Exorcism in the prayer book===
::<table> O God of gods and Lord of lords, Creator of the fiery ranks, and Fashioner of the fleshless powers, the Artisan of heavenly things and those under the heavens, Whom no man has seen, nor is able to see, Whom all creation fears: Into the dark depths of Hell You hurled the commander who had become proud, and who, because of his disobedient service, was cast down from the height to earth, as well as the angels that fell away with him, all having become evil demons. Grant that this my exorcism being performed in Your awesome name, be terrible to the Master of evil and to all his minions who had fallen with him from the height of brightness. Drive him into banishment, commanding him to depart hence, so that no harm might be worked against Your sealed Image. And, as You have commanded, let those who are sealed receive the strength to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all power of the Enemy. For manifested, hymned, and glorified with fear, by everything that has breath is Your most holy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and into ages of ages. Amen. </table>
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* Exorcism in the prayers for entrance into the [[Catechumen]]ate
* Exorcism prayers of St. Basil the Great
* O. H. Karahodina. ''[http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymai/medline/record/MDLN.12587301?articleId=&articleTitle=%5BPhenomenon+of+religious+experience+in+the+structure+of+feelings+of+individuals+with+mental+disturbances%5D&citedBy=false&medlinePmidWithoutMDLNPrefix=12587301&overridingDateRestriction=&related=true&restrictdesc_author=&restrictDescription=&restrictterm_author=&search=&search_area=medline&search_currenturl=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fymai%2Fmedline%2Frelated%2FMDLN.12587301&search_datecombo=&search_dateradio=combo&search_doi=&search_federated=no&search_hits=125650&search_id=&search_issue=&search_medline=yes&search_monthendcombo=&search_monthstartcombo=&search_operator1=&search_operator2=&search_preview=no&search_query=Related+to%3A+%5BPhenomenon+of+religious+experience+in+the+structure+of+feelings+of+individuals+with+mental+disturbances%5D&search_reqcount=20&search_reqfirst=1&search_sort=relevance&search_source=MEDLINE&search_startpage=&search_text1=&search_text2=&search_text3=&search_text4=&search_volume=&search_within1=&search_within2=&search_within3=&search_wordsexactly=yes&search_yearend=&search_yearstart=&searchDisciplineField=all&select1=relevance&select1=relevance&select3=20&select3=20# Phenomenon of Religious Experience in the Structure of Feelings of Individuals with Mental Disturbances]''. In '''Lik Sprava'''. January 2002, Issue 7, pp.32-36. [in Ukrainian]. (''Eastern Orthodoxy; Emotions; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Healing; Psychometrics; Religion and Psychology; Ukraine'')
== External links ==
* [http://www.catholicism.org/exorcism-nicola-aubrey.html The Exorcism of Nicola Aubrey], (1565-1566), written by Fr Michael Müller.
* [[w:Anneliese Michel|Anneliese Michel]] (+1976) at Wikipedia.
==References==
<div class="small"><references/></div>
==Sources==
* Rev. Dr. Nicon D. Patrinacos (M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon)). ''A Dictionary of Greek Orthodoxy - Λεξικον Ελληνικης Ορθοδοξιας''. Light & Life Publishing, Minnesota, 1984.
:''(Rev. Patrinacos was pastor at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1950-53, in 1953 becoming Dean of Holy Cross Theological Seminary, Brookline, MA. (+1990).''
[[Category:Liturgics]]
