The sacramental mysteries : a Byzantine approach - Kucharek, Casimir A. (Allendale, N.J. : Alleluia Press, 1976)
Part One. The Pagan and the Christian Mysteries Compared. The Transformation of the Pagan World -- The Origin and early meaning of mystery -- The Pagan Mysteries -- The Sacramental Mysteries in Apostolic Christianity -- The Sacramental Mysteries in the Pre-Nicene Fathers -- The Sacramental Mysteries in the Post-Nicene Period -- Part Two. The Seven Sacramental Mysteries of the Ancient Church. The Human use of Divine Powers in the Sacramental Mysteries -- The Basic meaning of baptism in the early church -- The Training period for baptism -- The Ancient baptismal rites -- Confirmation-Christmation in the Apostolic Church -- Confirmation-Chrismation in the Pre-Nicene Church -- Confirmation-Christmation in the Post-Nicene Church -- The Establishment of the Eucharist -- The Basic meaning of the Eucharist in the early church -- The Ancient celebration of the Eucharist -- The Power of Remitting sins given to the apostles -- The Apostolic use of forgiving and retaining sins -- The Rise of rigorism in loosing and binding -- The Unction of the sick in the scriptures -- The unction of the sick in the Early church -- The Establishment of priestly orders -- The Pre-Nicene bishops -- The "Apostolic succession" of bishops -- The Pre-Nicene presbyters and deacons -- The Meaning of marriage in scripture and tradition -- The Ancient marriage rites -- Part Three. Byzantine Sacramental Synthesis. Synthesis of the seven Sacramental Mysteries -- Visible-invisible reality -- The Visible reality -- Sacramental causality-efficacy -- The Invisible reality : grace-energies-theosis.
Keywords: Sacraments. History