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''Main article: [[Sacraments]]''
More properly termed ''holy mysteries'', the Church's entire life is one of sacrament. In the mysteries, the Christian is united with God, becoming a partaker of the divine nature ([[II Peter]] 1:4). With all the sacraments, God makes his presence known in his divine [[Gregory Palamas|energies]], using physical means to convey Himself to His people.
There are seven generally recognized sacraments, though the number has never been fixed dogmatically by the Church. Two are sacraments of initiation into the Church, [[baptism]] and [[chrismation]]. Another completes the initiation and nourishes the life of the Christian, the [[Eucharist]], which is regarded as the highest of the sacraments. The remainder of the sacraments are occasional: [[Holy Unction|holy unction]] for the sick, [[confession]] for repentance and reconciliation with the Church, [[marriage]] for those joined in the marital community, and [[ordination]] for those called to serve the Church in holy orders.