(i.e. the person/child who is now undergoing instruction in Christianity)

The Three Exorcisms

Prayers of Deliverance for the Catechumen

Renunciation of Satan and Declaration of Allegiance to Christ and Confession of Faith

• The Litany

• The Prayer for the Priest

• The Blessing of the Baptismal Water

• The Blessing of the Oil and the Anointment of the Water and of the Catechumen

At this point, the child to be baptized is presented naked (older children and adults will wear something) before the priest, who takes oil from the hands of the sponsor and anoints the child on various parts of his/her body, saying the following:

On the Forehead:

"The Servant of God is anointed with the Oil of Gladness, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

On the Nose:

"For Sweet Fragrance"

On the Mouth:

"My mouth shall speak wisdom"

On the Breast:

"For the Healing of Body and Soul"

On the Feet:

"That you may walk in the way of the Lord"

On the Hands:

"Your Hands, O Lord, have made and fashioned me"

On the Back:

"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."

At this point, the priest immerses the servant of God into the Blessed Waters, Baptizing him/her in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is through this sacramental symbol that he/she becomes a partaker in the Saving Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Immediately following the Baptism, the newly-born Christian receives the Life-giving Breath of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Chrismation.

The Prayer of the Anointment of the Holy Spirit

In the composition of Holy Chrism, the olive oil symbolizes the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit that enables the Christian to fight off and to overcome the enemies of Salvation: temptation, sin and death. The newly baptized person is anointed with the Holy Chrism on his/her face in the form of a Cross and his sense organs and thus receives the imparting of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Prayers of the Tonsure

The Tonsure is the solemn cutting of hair, which in ancient times signified that a person was in service to a master. Today, the tonsure after Chrismation symbolizes the first gift the Christian gives back to God and is a sign of his dedication in service to the Lord.

The Vesting of the Newly Baptized

The newly Baptized person puts on a white garment signifying their renewed nature in Christ. The hymns of the service refer to this robe as "a robe of 'Divine Light," meaning that through Baptism, we are clothed in the very nature of Jesus Christ.

The Joyous Procession of the New Christian

A circular procession is made around the Baptismal Font as the priest joyously censes the font and the new Christian. Other Christians (usually children) present may join in the procession around the font holding lighted candles.

The Apostolic and Evangelical Readings Romans 6:4-11 Matthew 28:16-20

Romans 6:4-11

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

• December 25 - January 6 (Christmas Day through the Feast of Epiphany)

• February 2 (Presentation of the Lord)

• Holy Week & Pascha

• Pentecost

• August 6 (Transfiguration)

Now the newly Baptized and Illumined Servant of God receives his/her first Holy Communion. The child having received the new life in Christ now receives the Heavenly Food that alone sustain that life: Holy Communion. The Lord offers Himself to us food.

The Dismissal

At the end of the service, the mother receives the newly baptized child from its Godparent who says to her: "Receive your child baptized, illumined and dedicated to God." Following the ceremony, witness pins (gold Crosses adorned with ribbons) are distributed to and worn by all who were witnesses of the marvelous things God has accomplished.

For more information on the sacrament of Baptism, please refer to the church library, which is open Sundays after the Liturgy.