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Baptism

Prayer over the Catechumens

The Clergy go to the Vestibule of the Temple to meet the persons to be baptized (the "Catechumens").

The Catechumens begin by facing East.

Christians pray facing East (the direction of Sunrise) - adapting the traditional Jewish practice of praying toward Jerusalem, .

The Gospel according to St. Luke 1:79 says that the Christ is the "Anatole ex ypous" (the Dayspring from on high {i.e. the Sunrise [or in Latin, "ORIENS ex alto", the "Orient from on high]}).

Jesus ascended into the heavens East of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12).

East is also the direction symbolic of the 2d Coming of the Messiah (Matt. 24:27)

And Paradise (Eden) is traditionally placed in the East (Apostolic Constitutions 2.57.14).

West on the other hand is the Direction of the Great Sea (the Mediterranean) and thus symbolic of Death and Chaos.

The Priest then:

- breathes upon the Catechumen 3 times,

- This "insufflation" is a symbolizes the Holy Spirit being breathed into the person by God.

The word "Spirit" literally means "breathe" or "wind".

Thus the breathing on the Catechumen represents the Divine Wind and Breathe of Life, i.e. the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has already been active in the person's life enlightening them and drawing them toward the One true God and His Gospel of Truth and Kingdom of Peace.

Then the Priest:

- makes the Sign of the Cross on the Candidates' forehead, and

- placing his right hand on the Catechumen's head, prays the Prayer over the Catechumen:

"In Your Name, O Lord, God of Truth, take away their former misconceptions, fill them with faith in You, with Hope and with Love, that You alone...are truly God.

"Let Your eyes look upon them with love, make them glad in the work of their hands. For all the Powers of heaven sing of You and Yours is the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever..."

The Rite of Exorcism:

The Priest prays over the Catechumens:

"LORD of Hosts! God of Israel! ...Expel from him/her all effects of the Evil One.

Command all unclean spirits and expel them.

Be quick to trample down Satan beneath her/his feet and grant her victory over him and all his unclean spirits..."

And again:

"You rescued this work of Your hands from slavery to the Enemy. Now make her/him a member of Your Kingdom and open the eyes of her/his mind that she/he may see the light of Your Good News.

"May an Angel of Light be her/his life-long companion...

The Priest blows 3 times upon the Candidate's mouth, forehead, and breast. This "exsufflation" symbolizing God purifying and expelling from the candidate any Evil in his life.

He commands 3 times:

"Drive out from him/her every evil and unclean spirit that is hiding and lurking in his/her heart..."

And continuing, he prays:

"...the spirit of error, the spirit of evil, the spirit of idolatry, and greed in all its forms.
Make her/him instead...a daughter / son and heir of your heavenly Kingdom."

The Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith

Those approaching baptism are asked 3 times:

"Do you reject Satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all forms of service to him, and all his empty promises?"

The Catechumens turn to face West. And, raising their hands, formally and definitively reject Satan - both by their verbal responses to the question, and by their symbolic act of Spitting toward the West.

Then the Candidates turn to face East.

They commit themselves and their lives to the Christ

And they profess their faith in the One true God in Trinity - in the words of the Symbol of Faith (the Nicene Creed):

"I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

"I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, through Him all things were made. Who for us...and for our salvation came down from heaven...suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He arose... He will come again to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end.

"I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets...

"I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

The Order of Holy Baptism

The priest places the end of his Epitrakhil on the Candidate and leads them into the Church Narthex where is the Baptismal Font.

The Deacon intones the Litany of Peace, leading the Faithful in prayer to bless the water:

- may this water be made holy by the power, the energy, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord,

- that the Free Gift of Redemption and the Blessing of the Jordan be sent into it...

- that this water may be their bath of New Birth...

The Priest prays a blessing upon the water:

"...Let all opposing Powers be crushed beneath the Sign of the Life-giving Cross." (3x)

And he signs it cross-wise with his hand (3x) and by breathing upon it (3x).

He then blesses Oil, praying:

"O Lord...as a sign of Reconciliation and Rescue from the Flood, You sent a dove to those in Noah's Ark, a dove bearing an Olive Branch...in this way, You prefigured the Mystery of Grace.

"By means of that fruit, Your Holy Spirit filled those who were under the Law; now You use it to perfect those who are in Grace.

"May it become...an armour of Justice, a Renewal of body and spirit...the overthrow of every form of evil...who partake of it in faith for your glory..."

The Anointing before Baptism

In preparation for Baptism, the Catechumen is anointed with the blessed olive oil:

- on the forehead:

"That her mind might be opened to accept the Faith and recognize the Truth of Christ..."

- on the breast:

"That he may love the LORD our God with his whole heart, with his whole soul, with his mind and his neighbour as herself..."

- on the shoulders:

"That she may freely accept the easy Yoke of the Christ and gladly bear His light burden..."
- on the ears:

"That his ears may need the Call of the Gospel..."

- on the hands:

"That she may raise her hands toward the Holy Place, serving Justice at all times and Blessing the Lord."

- on the feet:

"That he may follow the path of the Commandments of God."

The Baptism

Baptism must always be by Immersion - according to the Bible, .

According to Canon Law Churches of the Byzantine tradition Baptism takes place by Triple Immersion.

The Servant of God (Name) is Baptized

- in the Name of the Father. Amen!

- and of the Son. Amen!

- and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Mark 16:16a
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved..."

The Newly Baptized (a. k. a. "Neophyte") is clothed in a white robe (a "stikhar") symbolizing that they have "put on Christ" - the white garment of the Saints.

"...those who prove victorious will be dressed...in white robes;

"I shall not blot their names out out of the Book of Life, but acknowledge their names in the presence of my Father and His Angels" {Rev. 3:5};

"...they have washed their robes white again in the Blood of the Lamb,

they now stand in front of God's throne and serve Him day and night in His Sanctuary." {Rev. 7:14-15}).

This garment (now variously decorated { and called the "Stikhar" } ) is wore by all the clergy for Divine Services, since it is the basic garment of every Christian.

Grant me a Robe of Light,
You who are robed in Light as with a garment,
O Christ our God, so rich in mercy.

The Tropar of Vesting (Tone 8)

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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