== The Sacraments/ Divine Mysteries ==
The Orthodox Church uses the Greek word mysterion, instead of sacrament, to denote the divinely instituted rites which manifest sanctifying divine grace. Mysterion means anything hidden or incomprehensible. Its chief meaning is linked to the hidden and secret Will of God related to the salvation of the world, now manifest in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word (Logos).
The mysteries are effective when two basic conditions are observed. First, the ministers of the mysteries must be canonically ordained and in canonical order with the Church. Second, they must be "ordained" to conduct the prescribed rites of the Church because the rites express the faith of the Church.
The Orthodox Church has never formally determined a particular number of Sacraments.