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HOLY MYSTERY - BAPTISM
The meaning of Baptism is to start again, of dying to an old way of life and being born again into a new life. Thus, Baptism has always been connected to the act of reconciliation. However, in the Christian Church, Baptism is not just about reconciliation, it is also the act of a person’s death and resurrection in and with Jesus. Christian Baptism is our participation in the event of Easter.
Baptism is usually undertaken in infancy but can be initiated for an adult.
In The Holy Mystery of Baptism, the child is joined to the Church. The godparents must be Christians, because it is they who speak on behalf of the child, sponsor their entrance into the Church and receive the child out of the baptismal waters into the Church and cares for the child’s spiritual life.
In our Byzantine Rite, Baptism begins with the rejection of Satan and the acceptance of Christ. Before being baptised, the child’s godparents, profess the Nicene Creed, the symbol of Christian faith.
“…we acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.”
After professing the Nicene Creed, the baptismal water is prayed over and blessed as the sign of the goodness of God’s creation. The child is also prayed over and blessed with holy oil as the sign that their creation by God is holy and good. Then there is the proclamation of Alleluia―meaning God be praised.
The child is then immersed three times in the water in the name of the Holy Trinity. The priest will pray:
"The servant of God (name) is baptised in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Through the act of immersion, the baptised child dies to this world and is born again in the resurrection of Christ into eternal life. The threefold immersion signifies the child’s participation in Christ's three-day burial and resurrection.
The child is clothed with the garments of salvation, symbolised by the white baptismal robe which represents regeneration, newness, kingship, and future immortality. White is the colour of royalty, symbolising both the gifts of Baptism and the responsibility to remain faithful to the baptismal pledge.
The baptised child is led in procession three times around the baptismal font as the symbol of their procession to the Kingdom of God and their entrance into eternal life. Throughout the procession the words of the Apostle Paul are chanted by the priest.
In ancient times the procession was made from the baptistery to the Church. Baptisms were normally performed at the Easter Liturgy. Today, our Easter procession around the Church, is in remembrance that we are baptised, that we have left the life of this world to enter eternal life.
The service of Baptism used in our Church has remained largely unchanged for over 1500 years.
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