svátosti

Svátosti, in a religious context, generally refer to sacred rites or ceremonies that are believed to convey divine grace or have spiritual significance. The term originates from Latin "sacramentum," meaning an oath or a sacred thing. Different religious traditions recognize and interpret svátosti in various ways.

In Christianity, the concept of svátosti is particularly prominent. The Catholic Church recognizes seven svátosti: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. These are seen as visible signs instituted by Christ to give grace. Protestant denominations typically recognize fewer svátosti, often only Baptism and Communion (or the Eucharist), viewing them as ordinances or sacraments with symbolic importance and a means through which God's grace is conveyed. The specific theological understanding of how grace is imparted through these rites varies among Christian traditions.

While the term "svátosti" is most commonly associated with Christianity, other religions may have practices that share similar characteristics of ritualistic actions believed to connect believers with the divine or signify spiritual transformation. These might include rites of passage, purification ceremonies, or other significant communal or personal observances. The universality of ritual in human religious experience suggests a common thread in the desire to engage with the sacred through tangible actions.