Ordination, or the sacrament of holy orders, is the sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest or bishop and ministers in the name of Jesus Christ and the church. The ceremony includes many rituals, including the laying on of hands and anointing.

There are three ordinations within the sacrament of holy orders:

    1)      Diaconate

    2)      Priesthood

    3)      Episcopal

The essential rite of the sacrament takes place during the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration. This tradition dates back to ancient times and is mentioned in the Bible.

Only a bishop can ordain a priest.