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The Order of Holy Baptism & Holy Chrismation Reception into the Catechumenate If there is no deacon, before the baptismal service begins, the priest should read privately, before the icon screen, the following prayer. 0 compassionate and merciful God, You alone search the heart and soul and know their secrets. There is nothing hidden from You; all things are naked and exposed to Your sight. Since You know everything about me, do not loathe me nor turn Your face from me; but rather, at this time, overlook my offenses, as You overlook the sins of all when they repent. Wash away the filth of my body and soul and make all my being holy and perfect by Your unseen power and Your spiritual right hand, that while I proclaim freedom and offer it to others by the perfect faith of Your unspeakable love for mankind, I myself may not be found an abandoned slave of sin. 0 Master, You alone are good and love mankind, do not humiliate me, but send upon me the power from on high, and strengthen me for the ministry of this great and heavenly mystery. Form Christ in him (her) who seeks to be born again through my humble ministry. Build him (her) firmly upon the foundation of Your apostles and prophets and do not destroy him (her). Plant him (her) as a planting of truth in Your holy, catholic and apostolic Church so that he (she) may not be rooted out, and that as he (she) grows in the practice of faith, Your all-holy Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit may be glorified in him (her), now and ever and forever. Amen. The candidate should be dressed in plain, loose-fitting clothing. An infant should be sufficiently undressed to permit the anointings and baptism to be done properly. The head should be uncovered and the shoes removed. The priest meets the candidate in the narthex, to enroll him (her) in the Catechumenate. The Reception into the Catechumenate may be done privately or publicly; it may be taken immediately prior to the Divine Liturgy or even the day before. The priest sets the candidate facing East, breathes three times upon the face, signs the forehead and chest three times, and then places his hand upon the candidate's head, and says this prayer. In Your Name, 0 Lord, the God of truth, and in the Name of Your only Son and of Your Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon Your servant (name) whom You have deemed worthy to flee to Your holy Name and to take refuge under the shelter of Your wings. Free him (her) from the ancient deceit, and fill him (her) with faith in You, hope in You and love for You, that he (she) would know that You are the only true God, together with Your only Son our Lord Jesus Christ and Your Holy Spirit. Grant that he (she) may walk in the way of Your commandments and do what is pleasing to You, for "the one who observes the law shall live by it." Write his (her) name in the book of life and unite him (her) to the flock of Your inheritance. May Your holy Name be glorified in him (her), together with the holy Name of Your beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and of Your life creating Spirit. Let Your eyes always look mercifully upon him (her), and let Your ears hear his (her) prayers. Let him (her) rejoice in the work of his (her) hands and in all his (her) posterity, that he (she) may confess You by worshipping and glorifying Your great and most exalted Name, magnifying You always all the days of his (her) life. For all the powers of heaven sing Your praises, and Yours is the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. R: Lord, have mercy. The priest says one of the following two exorcisms: The Lord rebukes you, Satan: the Lord who came into the world and dwelt among us to destroy your tyranny and to deliver humanity; The Lord, who upon the tree triumphed over hostile powers, when the sun was darkened and the earth quaked, when the graves were opened and the bodies of the saints arose; the Lord, who by death destroyed death, and left powerless him who had the power of death, that is you, Satan. I adjure you by God who has shown us the tree of life and placed the Cherubim and the flaming sword every way to guard it. Be rebuked! I rebuke you by him who walked upon the surface of the sea as on dry land and rebuked the stormy winds, whose frown dries up the sea and whose rebuke melts away the mountains, for He himself now commands you through us! Be afraid, depart and keep away from this creature and never dare to return or hide yourself within him (her); lie not in wait for him (her) nor scheme against him (her) neither during the night nor during the day, neither in the morning nor at the noonday, but depart into your own dark abyss until the great day of judgment prepared for you! Fear God who is seated upon the Cherubim and looks upon the depths, fear him before whom the angels, archangels, thrones, dominations, principalities, powers, virtues, the many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim tremble, before whom tremble heaven and earth, the sea and all they contain. Begone and depart from the sealed and newly enlisted warrior of Christ our God; for I rebuke you by Him who walks on the wings of the wind and who makes the winds His messengers and flaming fire His servants. Begone and depart from this creature together with all your power and your angels. For glorified is the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit now and ever and forever. R: Amen. Or the following exorcism: 0 Lord of Power and Might, God of Israel, You heal every disease, look now upon Your servant. Seek, search and drive out from him (her) every work of Satan. Rebuke the unclean spirits and expel them, and purify the works of Your hands; quickly crush Satan under his (her) feet and grant your servant victory over him and his unclean spirits, that, having obtained mercy from You, he (she) may become worthy of Your immortal and heavenly mysteries, and glorify You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. The following exorcism is always said, following the choice of one of the two exorcisms above. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. R: Lord, have mercy. Priest: 0 eternal One, Lord and Master, You created us in Your image and likeness, and gave us the power of eternal life. When we then fell into sin, You did not turn away from us but brought about the salvation of the world by the incarnation of Your Christ. Deliver now this creature from slavery to the enemy and receive him (her) into Your heavenly kingdom. Open the eyes of his (her) mind so that the light of the gospel may shine brightly within him (her). During his (her) lifetime, give him (her) the companionship of an angel of light to rescue him (her) from every snare lying in his (her) path, from the encounter of the evil one, from the noonday demon and every evil imagination. The priest breathes in the form of the sign of the Cross upon the mouth, forehead and breast of the candidate, saying the following. He does this three times. Drive out from him (her), 0 Lord, every evil and unclean spirit hiding and lurking in his (her) heart: And the priest continues: the spirit of deceit, the spirit of wickedness, the spirit of idolatry and all greed, the spirit of untruth and every impurity brought about by the prompting of the devil. Make him (her) a spiritual lamb of the holy flock of Your Christ, a worthy member of Your Church, a son (daughter) and an heir to Your kingdom; that living according to Your commandments, preserving the seal unbroken and keeping his (her) baptismal robe undefiled, he (she) may obtain the happiness of the saints in Your kingdom. Through the grace, the mercies and the love of mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. The priest then turns the one to be baptized to the West (i.e. away from the altar, and the candidate raises his (her) hands. If the candidate is an infant he (she) is held a little raised by the sponsor. The priest asks three times: Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his angels and all his service, and all his pride? Then the candidate or the sponsors (if it is an infant) reply: I do renounce him. This is done three times, then the priest asks once: Have you renounced Satan? The candidate or sponsors reply: I have renounced him. Then the priest turns the candidate or the sponsors towards the east (i.e. towards the altar), and the candidate lowers his (her) hands. The priest asks three times: Do you commit yourself to Christ? The candidate or sponsors reply: Yes, I commit myself to Him. This is done three times. Then the priest asks once: Have you committed yourself to Christ? The candidate or sponsors reply: Yes, I have committed myself to Christ. The priest asks: And do you believe in Him? The candidate or sponsors reply: I believe in Him, for He is King and God. And continue: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to come. Amen. The priest asks again three times: Have you committed yourself to Christ? The candidate or sponsors reply: Yes, I have committed myself to Christ. Then the priest adds: Then worship Him! The candidate or sponsors bow and say: I worship the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in substance and undivided. The priest says: Blessed is God, who wishes all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, now and ever and forever. Amen. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. R: Lord, have mercy. Priest: 0 Lord, our Master and God, call Your servant (name) to Your holy enlightenment and count him (her) worthy of this great gift of Your holy baptism. Wash away his (her) old self, and give him (her) a new birth into everlasting life. Fill him (her) with the power of Your Holy Spirit, that he (she) may be one with Your Christ; and that he (she) may no longer be a child of the flesh, but rather 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-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever. R: Amen. If the church has a baptistery, all procede now to the baptistery, and all the candles are lit. The priest incenses around the baptismal font three times. If the church has no baptistery, all process now to the tetrapod or portable baptistery in the middle of the church, and all the candles are lit. The priest incenses around the baptismal font or the place where the baptism is to take place three times. The priest then stands before the baptismal font and bows. Deacon: Reverend Father, give the blessing! Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. The deacon says the following litany, and to each petition we respond, "Lord, have mercy." Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. - For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. - For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the holy Churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. - For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. - For our holy ecumenical Pontiff, (Name), Pope of Rome, let us pray to the Lord. -For our most reverend archbishop and metropolitan, (Name), for our God-loving Bishop, (Name), for the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. - That this water may be sanctified by the power, action and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. -That the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan may come upon it, let us pray to the Lord. - For him (her) who now approaches holy enlightenment and for his (her) salvation, let us pray to the Lord. - That he (she) may prove himself (herself) a son (daughter) of light and an heir of eternal blessing, let us pray to the Lord. - That this water may become for him (her) the washing of rebirth; for the forgiveness of sins and a garment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord. - That he (she) may be delivered with us from all affliction, wrath and need, let us pray to the Lord. - Protect us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, 0 God, by Your grace. - Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ our God. R: To You, 0 Lord. During this litany, the priest prays the following prayer silently. If there is no deacon, the priest says this prayer privately immediately before the service of baptism, refer to the beginning. 0 compassionate and merciful God, You alone search the heart and soul and know their secrets. There is nothing hidden from You; all things are naked and exposed to Your sight. Since You know everything about me, do not loathe me nor turn Your face from me; but rather, at this time, overlook my offenses, as You overlook the sins of all when they repent. Wash away the filth of my body and soul and make all my being holy and perfect by Your unseen power and Your spiritual right hand, that while I proclaim freedom and offer it to others by the perfect faith of Your unspeakable love for mankind, I myself may not be found an abandoned slave of sin. 0 Master, You alone are good and love mankind, do not humiliate me, but send upon me the power from on high, and strengthen me for the ministry of this great and heavenly mystery. Form Christ in him (her) who seeks to be born again through my humble ministry. Build him (her) firmly upon the foundation of Your apostles and prophets and do not destroy him (her). Plant him (her) as a planting of truth in Your holy, catholic and apostolic Church so that he (she) may not be rooted out, and that as he (she) grows in the practice of faith, Your all-holy Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit may be glorified in him (her), now and ever and forever. Amen. When the deacon has finished the litany, the priest says aloud the prayer for the blessing of water. 0 Lord God, Ruler and Creator of all things both seen and unseen, You created heaven and earth and the sea and everything that is in them. You gathered the waters into one place, enclosed their depths and sealed them by Your awesome and glorious Name. Raising the waters above the heavens, You made the earth firm upon the waters, and established the sea by Your power. You crushed the heads of serpents in the waters. You are awesome and who can withstand You? Look, 0 Lord, upon this Your creature and upon this water and grant it the grace of redemption and the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of incorruption, a gift of sanctification for the forgiveness of sins, a healing of sicknesses, the destruction of demons, impregnable to hostile powers, and filled with angelic strength. Let those who would like to ensnare Your creature flee from this water. For we have called upon Your Name, 0 Lord, which is wondrous, and glorious and fearful to the enemy. Then the priest signs the water in this way: he immerses his fingers held in the form for blessing, breathes upon the water and says the following. This is done three times: May all the enemy powers be crushed by the sign of Your Cross. (three times) And the priest continues. For to You is due glory, power, honor and worship together with Your eternal Father, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. Priest: Peace be to all! R: And to your spirit! Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord. R: To You, 0 Lord. As the deacon holds the oil (if there is no deacon, the priest holds the oil), the priest breathes upon it in the form of a cross, three times and signs it with his hand three times. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Priest: 0 Master, Lord and God of our fathers, to those in Noah's ark You sent a dove bearing in its beak a twig of the olive tree as a sign of reconciliation and of salvation from the flood, foreshadowing the mystery of grace. Now You have provided the fruit of the olive tree for the celebration of Your holy mysteries, and by it, You have filled those under the law with the Holy Spirit, and have perfected those under grace. Therefore, 0 Lord, bless this oil through the power, action and descent of Your Holy Spirit, that it may be an anointing of incorruptibility, a weapon of righteousness, and a renewal of soul and body, turning away every work of the devil. May it deliver from all evil those who are anointed with it in faith and partake of it: for Your glory and for the glory of Your only-begotten Son and Your all holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. Deacon: Let us be attentive! The priest, singing Alleluia three times with the people, pours some of the oil upon the water in the form of the cross three times, retaining a sufficient amount of oil for the anointing to follow. Then the priest exclaims: Blessed is God who enlightens and sanctifies everyone coming into the world, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. The priest then takes some of the oil and makes the sign of the cross with it on the forehead, breast ears, shoulders, hands and feet of the candidate, saying: Forehead: The servant of God (Name) is anointed with the oil of gladness in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That his (her) mind may be opened to the understanding and acceptance of the mysteries of the faith of Christ, and to the knowledge of His truth, now and ever, and forever, amen. Breast: For the healing of soul and body, and that he (she) may love the Lord God with all his (her) heart, with all his (her) soul, and with all his (her) mind, and that he (she) may love his (her) neighbor as himself (herself). Ears: That his (her) ears may be ready to listen to the teachings of faith, and accept the words of the divine gospel. Shoulders: That he (she) may willingly take upon himself (herself) the easy yoke of Christ and gladly carry His light burden and that he (she) may shun all craving of sensuality. Hands: That he (she) may innocently raise his (her) hands to heaven and do the right thing at all times and bless the Lord. Feet: That he (she) may walk in the path of the commandments of Christ. The preferred method of baptism is that of immersion. The priest holds the child upright, looking toward the East. At the pronunciation of each name of the Most Holy Trinity, the priest lowers and child into the water and immediately lifts him (her) out. If there are difficulties, for example, if the candidate is ill or weak or an adult then baptism may be administered by the pouring of the water only. Priest: The servant of God (name) is baptized into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R: Amen. After the baptism, the priest washes his hands. Then, clothing the baptized person with a white robe, he says: The servant of God (Name) is clothed in the robe of righteousness, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Troparion, Tone 8: 0 most merciful Christ our God, You clothe Yourself with light as with a garment, give me a robe of light. A lighted candle is given to the newly baptized, or to his (her) sponsors: Priest: Receive this lighted candle, and during your entire life strive to shine with the light of faith and good deeds, that when the Lord comes, you may be able to meet Him with light together with all the saints and enter unhindered into the court of His heavenly glory and reign with Him through all eternity. Amen. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, have mercy. The priest says the prayer of holy Chrismation: Blessed are You, Lord, God, Ruler of all, Source of all good things, Sun of Righteousness. You have raised up a light of salvation for those in darkness, through the manifestation of Your only-begotten Son and our God. Though we are unworthy, You have given us a blessed cleansing in holy water and a divine sanctification through holy anointing. Now, to Your newly enlightened servant, You have been pleased to give new birth by water and the Spirit, for the forgiveness of his (her) sins, whether committed willingly or unwillingly. Therefore, 0 Master and gracious King of all, grant him (her) also the seal of the gift of Your holy, almighty and adorable Spirit and the communion of the holy Body and precious Blood of Your Christ. Keep him (her) in Your holiness, strengthen him (her) in the true faith, and deliver him (her) from the evil one and all his deceitful ways. Keep him (her) in purity and righteousness by a fear of You that brings salvation, that he (she) may please You in his (her) every word and deed and become a son (daughter) and an heir of Your heavenly kingdom. For You are our God, a God of mercy and salvation, and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. After this prayer, the priest anoints the baptized person with holy chrism, making the sign of the cross on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast hands and feet saying. The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If the Church has a baptistery, then at this point all procede into the Church for the remainder of the office:
Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord. - Protect us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, 0 God, by Your grace. - Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ our God. Priest: For You are holy, our God, and we render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. R: Amen. In place of "Holy God. . . " we sing: All you, who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia! (three times) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Have put on Christ. Alleluia! And we sing once more: AU you, who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia! The Divine Liturgy proceeds as usual. At Communion, the newly-enlightened and his (her) sponsors are the first to receive communion after the priest and deacon.
R: All you who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ alleluia! (three times) Deacon: Let us be attentive! Priest: Peace be with all! Deacon: Wisdom! Be attentive! Prokeimenon, Tone 3: The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? Verse: The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink? Deacon: Wisdom! Reader: A Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. Deacon: Let us be attentive! The Reader reads Romans 6:3-11. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Priest: Peace be to you! Deacon: Wisdom! Be attentive! R: Alleluia. (three times) Deacon: Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel. Priest: Peace be to all! R: And to your spirit. Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew. R: Glory be to You, 0 Lord, glory be to You! Deacon: Let us be attentive! The priest reads Matthew 28:16-20. The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." R: Glory be to You, 0 Lord, glory be to You. Deacon: Have mercy on us, 0 God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. - We also pray for our holy ecumenical pontiff, (name), Pope of Rome, for our most reverend archbishop and metropolitan (name), for our God-loving bishop (name), for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers and for all brethren in Christ. - We also pray for our civil authorities and for all the armed forces. - We also pray for the newly enlightened servant of God (name), that he (she) be protected in the pure profession of faith, in all holiness and in the fulfillment of the commandments of Christ all the days of his (her) life. Priest: For You are a merciful God who love mankind and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit now and ever and forever. R: Amen. If the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated, Holy Communion is given to the newly-enlightened at this point. Priest: Glory be to You, 0 Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You. R: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever, amen. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; give the blessing. Priest: May Christ our true God, who was pleased to be baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation, have mercy on us and save us, through the prayers of His most holy Mother, and of all the saints, for He is good and loves mankind. R: Amen. |
