What Is an Ordination Ceremony?
Ordination ceremonies officially recognize a person or group of people into new life standings or positions within a religious organization. This ritual occurs across many different faiths.
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Weddings
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Wedding ceremony During a traditional Christian wedding, the ordination ceremony includes the couple stating their vows. This may also include prayers from religious leaders and the congregation.
Buddhism
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Buddhist monk Buddhist monks must undergo an ordination ceremony that strictly adheres to prescribed rules and scripts or the ordination is invalid. Candidates must be at least 20 years old, and the public ceremony must be conducted in Pali, the historic language of Buddhism.
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Catholicism
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Catholic church The ordination ceremony of a Catholic priest includes a full mass presided over by a bishop and attended by friends, family and other priests. After prayers and vows by the bishop, priests and congregation, the bishop dresses the priest in the sacramental wardrobe and presents him with a sign of peace.
Judaism
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Jewish rabbis An official document ordains Jewish rabbis to become spiritual leaders of their communities. Rabbis must study halacha, or Jewish law, so that they may answer the questions of their congregation.
Islam
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The Koran Muslims do not ordain spiritual leaders. Many Muslim higher education programs include special graduation ceremonies at the end of Islamic studies programs, but there are no ordination ceremonies.
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