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Baptism
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ORDER THAT TAKES PLACE BEFORE PRAYER
FOR MAKING A CATECHUMEN The
Priest unties the girdle of the one who is about to be enlightened and divests
them of outer clothing and shoes. He stands them facing East, wearing only a
tunic, unbelted, bareheaded and unshod, with the hands down. He breathes on
their face three times, signs the forehead and breast three times and places his
hand on their head as he says the following Prayer: In
your name, Lord God of truth, and that of your Only-Begotten Son and your Holy
Spirit, I place my hand on the head of your servant N., who has been counted worthy to take
refuge in your holy Name and to be guarded under the shelter of your wings.
Remove from him/her that ancient error and fill him/her with faith in you, and
hope and love, so that he/she may know that you alone are God, true God, and
your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and your Holy Spirit. Grant that
he/she may walk in your commandments and preserve those things that are pleasing
to you, for if someone does them, they will live by them. Inscribe him/her in
your book of life and unite him/her to the flock of your inheritance. Let your
holy Name and that of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and of your
life-giving Spirit, be glorified in him/her. Let your eyes remain ever fixed in
mercy on him/her, and your ears to hear the voice of his/her supplication. Make
him/her glad in the works of his/her hands and in all his/her race, that he/she
may confess you, worshipping and glorifying your great and most high Name, and
may praise you throughout all the days of his/her life. For every power of
heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory, of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. FIRST
EXORCISM Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: People: Amen. SECOND EXORCISM Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord,
have mercy. Priest: People:
Amen. THIRD EXORCISM Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: People: Amen. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord,
have mercy. Priest: Then
the Priest breathes on the mouth, forehead and breast of the Catechumen, saying: Drive
out of him/her every evil and unclean spirit hiding and lurking in his/her
heart. (He says this three
times) The spirit of error, the spirit of wickedness, the spirit of
idolatry and diabolic oppression; the spirit of lying and every uncleanness
which operates in accordance with the teaching of the devil. And make him/her a
rational sheep of the flock of your Christ, an honoured member of your Church, a
vessel made holy, a child of light and an heir of your Kingdom. So that, having
lived in accordance with your commandments, preserving the seal undamaged and
keeping his/her garment undefiled, he/she may attain to the blessedness of the
Saints in your Kingdom. Aloud: People: Amen. When
the Catechumen is undressed and unshod, the Priest turns him/her to the West
with hands raised on high, and says: Do
you renounce Satan? And all his works? And all his angels? And all his worship?
And all his solemn rites? And
to each question the Catechumen, or the Godparent, if the catechumen is a
barbarian or a child, answers and says: I
renounce them. And
when he/she has said this three times, the Priest again asks the one to be
baptized: Have
you renounced Satan? And
the Catechumen, or the Godparent, answers: I
have renounced him. After
he/she has said this three times the Priest says: Then
blow and spit on him. After
this the Priest turns the Catechumen to the East with lowered hands and says to
him/her three times: Do
you unite yourself to Christ? The
Catechumen, or Godparent, answers three times: I
unite myself to him. And
again the Priest asks three times: Have
you united yourself to Christ? And
each time the Catechumen, or Godparent, answers: I
have united myself to him. And
the Priest asks: And
do you believe in him? The
Catechumen, or Godparent, answers: I
believe in him as King and God, and continues: I
believe in one God, Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible. And
in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten from the
Father before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not
made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made; for our
sake and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the
Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man; he was crucified also for us
under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; he rose again on the third
day, in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven and is seated
at the right hand of the Father; he is coming again in glory to judge the living
and the dead; and his kingdom will have no end. And
in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father,
who together with Father and Son is worshipped and together glorified; who spoke
through the Prophets. In one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; I confess one
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins; I await the resurrection of the dead and
the life of the age to come. Amen. When the holy Profession of faith has been
completed [the Priest again asks three times: Have you united yourself to Christ? and the rest. The Catechumen, or the Godparent, answers each time as
before. After the third question and the third recitation of the Creed] the
Priest asks three times: Have
you united yourself to Christ? And
the Catechumen, or the Godparent, answers: I
have united myself to him. And
the Priest says: Bow
down also and worship him. The
candidate makes a prostration, saying: I
worship Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity consubstantial and undivided. The
Priest says: Then
he says this Prayer: Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Priest: Master,
Lord our God, call your servant N. to your holy
Enlightenment and count him/her worthy of the great grace of your holy Baptism.
Put off his/her old self and renew him/her for eternal life and fill him/her
with the power of your Holy Spirit for union with your Christ, that he/she may
no longer be a child of the body, but a child of your kingdom. Through the good
pleasure and grace of your Only-begotten Son, with whom you are blessed,
together with your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and
to the ages of ages. People: Amen. SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
The Priest enters the Sanctuary and vests in
white vestments and the cuffs. While all the candles are being lit he takes the
censer, goes to the Font and censes it in a circle. He hands the censer away and
makes a bow. Then the Deacon says: The Priest, out loud: People: Amen. Deacon: In
peace, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord,
have mercy. And so after each petition. Deacon: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us
pray to the Lord. For
the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and
for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. For
this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear
of God, let us pray to the Lord. For
our Archbishop (N.),
for the honoured order of presbyters, for the diaconate in Christ, for all the
clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. For
our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, her Government, and all
in authority, let us pray to the Lord. That
this water may be sanctified by the power, operation and descent of the Holy
Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. That
there may be sent down upon it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan,
let us pray to the Lord. That
there may come down upon these waters the cleansing operation of the Trinity
beyond being, let us pray to the Lord. That
we may be enlightened with the enlightenment of knowledge and true religion
through the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. That
this water may shown to be a protection against every assault of visible and
invisible enemies, let us pray to the Lord. That
the one to be baptized in it may become worthy of the incorruptible Kingdom, let
us pray to the Lord. For
the one who now draws near for holy Enlightenment and for his/her safety and
salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That
he/she may be shown to be a child of light and heir of eternal blessings, let us
pray to the Lord. That
he/she may be rooted in, and be a partaker in the death and resurrection of
Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord. That
he/she may preserve the garment of Baptism and the pledge of the Holy Spirit
unsullied and undefiled on the dread Day of Christ our God, let us pray to the
Lord. That
this water may become for him/her a washing of rebirth for forgiveness of sins
and a garment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord. That
the Lord God would hearken to the voice of our supplication, let us pray to the
Lord. For
our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and constraint, let us pray
to the Lord. Help
us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your grace. Commemorating
our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and
Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another
and our whole life to Christ our God. People: To you, O Lord. While the Deacon is saying this the Priest
says this prayer quietly: Compassionate
and merciful God, you test minds and hearts and alone know the secrets of
mortals, for no deed is hidden in your sight, but everything is naked and
exposed to your eyes. You know all about me; do not then despise me or turn your
face from me, but overlook my offences at this hour, you who overlook the sins
of mortals for their repentance. Wash away the filth of my body and the
defilement of my soul by the power of your invisible and spiritual right hand,
lest, as I proclaim freedom to others and grant it by the perfect faith of your
ineffable love for mankind, I myself, as a slave of sin, become unworthy of it.
May I not, Master, alone good and lover of mankind, may I not be turned away
humiliated and put to shame, but from on high send power out to me and give me
strength for your great and heavenly Mystery which lies before me, and through
my miserable person form your Christ in the one who is about to be reborn. Build
him/her up on the foundation of your Apostles and Prophets, and do not pull
him/her down, but plant him/her as a plant of truth in your holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church, and do not pull him/her out. So that by his/her progressing in
true religion, your all-holy name, of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may be
glorified also through him/her, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. It
is to be noted that the Priest says none of this out loud, but he even says the Amen to himself. Then he
says the following prayer in a loud voice: Great
are you, O Lord, and wonderful are your works; and no word will be adequate to
sing the praise of your wonders (x3). For as by your will you brought the universe from
non-existence into being, by your might you uphold creation and by your
providence you direct the world. From four elements you composed the world, with
four seasons you crowned the circle of the year. All the spiritual Powers
tremble before you. The sun sings your praise, the moon glorifies you, the stars
entreat you, the light obeys you, the deeps tremble before you, the springs are
your servants. You stretched out the heaven like a curtain; you established the
earth on the waters; you walled in the sea with sand; you poured out the air for
breathing. Angelic Powers minister to you, the choirs of Archangels worship you,
the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, as they stand and fly around
you, veil themselves in fear of your unapproachable glory. For you, God
uncircumscribed, without beginning and ineffable, came upon earth taking the
form of a slave, being found in the likeness of mortals. For through the
compassion of your mercy, Master, you could not endure to watch the human race
being tyrannized by the devil, but you came and saved us. We confess your grace,
we proclaim your mercy, we do not conceal your benevolence. You set at liberty
the generations of our nature, you sanctified a virgin womb by your birth. All
creation sang your praise when you appeared. For you, our God, were seen on
earth and lived among mortals. You also sanctified the streams of Jordan by
sending down to them from heaven your all-holy Spirit, and you crushed the heads
of the dragons that lurked their. Therefore, O King, lover of mankind, be
present now too, through the visitation of your Holy Spirit, and sanctify this
water (x3). Give it the grace of redemption, the
blessing of Jordan. Make it a source of incorruption, a gift of sanctification,
an deliverance from sins, a destruction of demons. Make it unapproachable by
hostile powers and filled with angelic strength. Let those that conspire against
your creature flee from it, because I, Lord, have called upon your Name, which
is wondrous and glorious and fearful to adversaries. And
breathing on the water three times, with two fingers he makes the sign of the
Cross in it three times and prays over it, saying: Let
all adverse powers be crushed beneath the sign of the image of your Cross (x3).
We pray you, Lord, let all airy and invisible spectres withdraw from us, and do
not let a demon of darkness hide itself in this water, and do not let an evil
spirit, bringing darkening of thoughts and disturbance of mind, go down into it
with the one who is being baptized. But do you, Master of all things, declare
this water to be water of redemption, water of sanctification, cleansing of
flesh and spirit, untying of bonds, forgiveness of offences, enlightenment of
soul, washing of rebirth, renewal of spirit, gift of adoption, garment of
incorruption, source of life. For it was you, Lord, who said, ‘Wash and be
made clean, and put away evils from your souls’. It is you who have given us
the grace of rebirth from on high through water and Spirit. Manifest yourself,
Lord, in this water, and grant that the one being baptized in it may be
transformed for the putting off of the old self that is corrupted after the
desires of deception, and may put on the new that is renewed after the image of
the One who created him/her. So that, planted in the likeness of your death
through Baptism, he/she may also become a partaker in your Resurrection, and
having guarded the gift of the Holy Spirit and increased the deposit of grace,
may receive the prize of his/her high calling and be numbered with the
firstborn, whose names are inscribed in heaven, in you our God and Lord, Jesus
Christ. Because to you belong glory, might, honour and worship, together with
your Father who is without beginning and your all-holy, good, and life-giving
Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. People:
Amen. Priest:
Peace to all. People: And
to your spirit. Deacon: Let
us bow our heads to the Lord. People: To you, O Lord. The Priest breathes on the container of oil
three times and signs the oil three times as it held by the Deacon [Godparent]. Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. The
Priest says the following prayer quietly: Master,
Lord God of our fathers, who sent out a dove to those in Noë’s ark, with a
branch of olive in its beak as sign of reconciliation and salvation from the
flood, and through these things prefigured the Mystery of grace; who have given
the fruit of the olive for the completion of your holy Mysteries; who through it
both filled those under the Law with the Holy Spirit, and make perfect those
under grace; do you yourself bless this olive oil also by the power, operation
and descent of your Holy Spirit, so that it may become an anointing of
incorruption, a weapon of righteousness, renewal of soul and body, a driving
away of every operation of the devil, for the removal of all evils from those
who are anointed with it in faith, or who partake of it to your glory and that
of your Only-Begotten Son and your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Deacon: Let
us attend. The Priest, chanting Alleluia three times with the People, makes three Crosses with the oil in the
water. Then he proclaims: Blessed
is God, who enlightens and sanctifies everyone who comes into the world, now and
for ever, and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. The
one to be baptized is brought forward. The Priest takes some of the oil and
makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead, breast and back of the candidate,
saying: The
servant of God, N., is
anointed with the oil of gladness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As
he signs their breast and back he says: For
healing of soul and body. On
the ears: For
the hearing of faith. On
the feet: For
your feet to walk. On
the hands: Your
hands made me and fashioned me. And
when the whole body has been anointed the Priest baptizes the person, holding
them upright and facing East, as he says: The
servant of God N. is
baptized, in the name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy
Spirit. Amen. At
each invocation the Priest immerses them and raises them again. After the
baptism the Priest washes, as he and the People chant (x3): Psalm 31 And
as he clothes the newly baptized, the Priest says: The
servant of God N. is
clothed with a tunic of righteousness, in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then
the following is chanted in Tone 8: After
the newly-baptized is clothed: People: Lord,
have mercy. And
the Priest says this prayer: Blessed
are you, Lord God Almighty, the source of blessings, the Sun of righteousness,
who have made the light of salvation shine for those in darkness through the
appearing of your Only-Begotten Son and our God, and have granted us, unworthy
though are, the grace of blessed cleansing by holy Baptism, and divine
sanctification by life-giving Anointing. And you have now been well-pleased to
make your newly-enlightened servant to be born again through water and Spirit,
and have granted him/her forgiveness of sins both voluntary and involuntary. Do
you then, Master, compassionate, universal King, grant him/her also the Seal of
the gift of your holy, all-powerful and adorable Spirit and the Communion of the
holy Body and precious Blood of your Christ. Keep him/her in your
sanctification; confirm him/her in the Orthodox Faith; deliver him/her from the
evil one and all his devices, and by your saving fear guard his/her soul in
purity and righteousness; so that being in every deed and word well-pleasing to
you, he/she may become a child and heir of your heavenly Kingdom. Aloud: People: Amen. And
after the Prayer he anoints the newly baptized with the holy Myron, making a
sign of the Cross on the forehead, the eyes, the nostrils, the mouth, the two
ears, the breast, the hands and the feet, and saying: Seal
of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen. [In
many places it is the custom for the Priest to place the baptismal Cross, after
blessing it in the Baptismal Water, round the neck of the newly baptized and to
give them a lighted candle. See Appendix.] Then the Priest, having washed his hands,
censes the Font, going round it in a circle, with the Godparent and the
Newly-baptized following and standing opposite him, while we chant: As
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. As
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. As
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. Glory
to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both
now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Have
put on Christ. Alleluia. As
many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. [Deacon: Let us attend. Priest:
Peace to all. Reader: And
to your spirit. Deacon: Wisdom.] Reader: Prokeimenon
in the 3rd Tone. [Psalm 26] The
Lord is my enlightenment and my Saviour; * whom shall I fear? Verse:
The Lord is the defender of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Deacon:
Wisdom. The Apostle. The Reading is from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans. Deacon: Let
us attend. Reader: Priest: Peace to you. Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. The Gospel Deacon:
Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Priest: Peace to all. People:
And to your spirit. Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to
Matthew. People: Glory
to you, Lord, glory to you. Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: People:
Glory to you, Lord, glory to you. Then
the Litany and Dismissal. [Frequently the Ablution and Tonsure are done before
the Litany.] Deacon: Have
mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have
mercy. People: Lord,
have mercy. (x3) Deacon: Again
we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and forgiveness of sins for
the servant of God, the Sponsor N. Again
we pray for the newly enlightened servant of God N. That
he/she may be kept in the faith of a pure confession, in all godliness and in
the fulfilling of the commandments of Christ all the days of his/her life. Priest: For you, O God,
are good and love mankind, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the
Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. PRAYERS OF THE ABLUTION After
seven days they again bring the newly baptized to Church for the Ablution. The
Priest loosens the linen cloth and girdle saying the following Prayers: Master
and Lord, who have granted your servant forgiveness of sins through holy
Baptism, and given him/her the grace of a life of rebirth, be well pleased for
the illumination of your face to shine for ever in his/her heart; keep the
shield of his/her faith safe from attack by foes; preserve on him/her the
garment of incorruption, which he/she has put on, undefiled and unstained; by
your grace keeping the spiritual seal unbroken in him/her, and being merciful to
him/her and to us. For blessed and glorified is your all-honoured and majestic
Name, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the
ages of ages. People: Amen. Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People: Lord,
have mercy. Priest: People:
Amen. Priest:
Peace to all. People: And
to your spirit. Deacon: Let
us bow our heads to the Lord. People:
To you, O Lord. Priest: People: Amen. And
he unties the girdle and linen cloth of the newly baptized, and having joined
their ends he wets them with water and sprinkles the newly baptized, saying: You
have been justified. You have been enlightened. You have been sanctified. You
have been washed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. And
taking a new sponge with water he sponges the face of the newly baptized,
together with his/her head, breast and the rest, saying: You
have been baptized. You have been enlightened. You have been anointed with
chrism. You have been sanctified. You have been washed clean. In the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THE TONSURE Deacon: Let
us pray to the Lord. People: Lord,
have mercy. Priest: People: Amen. Priest: Peace
to all. People: And to your spirit. Deacon: Let
us bow our heads to the Lord. People:
To you, O Lord. Priest: People:
Amen. And the Priest tonsures him/her in the form of
a cross, saying; The
servant of God N. is
tonsured, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Deacon: Have
mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have
mercy. People: Lord,
have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Again
we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, for the servants of God the
Sponsor N. and the newly enlightened
N. Priest: People: Amen. And the Dismissal Priest: Glory to you, Christ God, our hope, glory to you. Reader: Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever,
and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy. Holy Master, give the blessing. Priest: May he who accepted to be baptized by John in the Jordan, Christ our true
God, through the prayers of his all-pure and holy Mother, through the
intercessions of the honoured, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John,
of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles, of the holy and righteous
forebears of God, Joachim and Anne, of Saint N. (the Saint
of the Newly-baptized), of Saint N. (to whom
the Church is dedicated), of Saint N., whose memory we keep today, and of all the Saints, have mercy
on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind. Through
the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us
and save us. People: Amen. APPENDIX The
Small Euchologion has an Instruction at the end of the service which runs as
follows: Be careful, Priest, to instruct both the nurse and
the mother not to bath or wash the face of the newly baptized until the seventh
day. On the eighth day they are to wash and bath the child and they are to
dispose of the water in a place where no one walks, or in a river, or in the
piscina of the Church. It
also says that after the service the newly baptized and the Godparent are to go
in procession to the former’s house, with everyone carrying lamps and singing As
many of you as were baptized into Christ. At
the giving of the Cross and the Candle many priests say, for the Cross, If
anyone would be my disciple, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and
follow me; for the Candle, So let your light shine before your fellows,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. It
is the custom in many places for the Godparent to return the newly baptized
infant to its mother after the service. The mother should do a prostration
before her newly enlightened child and then take it in her arms. If
it is not possible for the newly baptized to receive Holy Communion immediately
after their Baptism, they should come, or be brought, to the Liturgy at the
first opportunity in order to do so. Accompanied by their God-parent they should
come with their baptismal candle and be the first of the congregation to receive
Communion. |
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All texts and
translations on this page are copyright to This page was last updated on 30 April 2001 |