|
Baptism
For the
sacrament of Baptism, the godmother/godfather must be an
Orthodox Christian and must bring the following to
church:
-
2 small
white towels (to be used by the priest and godparent
to wipe their hands after the baptism)
-
1 big
white towel (to wrap the baby in)
-
1 white
sheet (used with the towel to wrap the baby)
-
1 small
bottle of olive oil (for the priest to pour into the
baptismal water)
-
one bar
of soap (for the priest and godparent to wash their
hands with after the baptism)
-
3 white
candles (which they light after the baptism when they
walk around the baptismal font)
-
A white
baptismal outfit
-
A gold
cross on a chain (for the baby to wear after
Chrismation)
The
baptismal day is one of the most important days in the
life of an Orthodox Christian. The sacrament of Baptism
usually occurs within the first year of a baby's life
after the forty day blessing. The sacrament begins in
the Church Narthex where the parents hand the child over
to the godparent. At that point, the godparent speaks on
behalf of the child and denounces Satan and recites the
Creed. Then, the priest, the parents and the godparent
walk towards the front of the church where a woman
(usually the grandmother) takes the baby to undress and
wrap him/her in a white towel. The priest blesses the
water in the baptismal font, and adds to it the oil that
the godparent brought. Then he takes the baby and rubs
him/her with the oil and water. Then he immerses the
baby in the font three times symbolizing the three days
that Christ spent in his tomb. While immersing the baby
in the font, the priest chants "In the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit". The priest then
takes the baby out of the water and gives him/her to the
godparent in who is holding the white sheet and towel.
What follows is the sacrament of Chrismation where the
priest anoints the baby with "myrrh" (oil that has been
blessed by the Patriarch) and cuts three locks from the
baby's hair. The priest also blesses the baby's clothes
and then usully a grandmother will dress the baby in the
white outfit. After that, the priest places the gold
cross and chain on the baby and the godparent takes the
baby and lights the big candle and the small candles.
The small candles are usually given to kids to hold.
They all then walk around the font three times
symbolizing the dance of joy. The baby then receives
Holy Communion for the first time. When the ceremony is
over, the parents kiss the hand of the godparent and
receive their baby and all relatives and friends wish
them "Na sas zisi" which means "life to him/her".
Following the ceremony is a celebration either at a
house, or a restaurant. This celebration can range from
a small gathering with cake and coffee to a huge gala
with plenty of food and entertainment.
For the three days following the baptism the baby should
not be bathed. The water from the first bath after the
Baptismal Ceremony should be used to water flowers. For
the three Sundays following the Baptism the baby
receives communion dressed in his/her baptismal outfit.
Usually the godparent takes the baby for Communion and
someone else follows holding a lit candle. The baby
should be held on our right side when receiving
Communion.
It is customary in Greece for the godparent to baptize
all girls or all boys, because traditionally a man and a
woman that have the same godparent should not marry
because in the eyes of the Church they are brother and
sister.
|
