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Baptism
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{{spirituality}}
Christian '''Baptism''' is the [[Holy Mysteries|mystery]] of starting anew, of dying to an old way of life and being born again into a new way of life, in Christ. In the Orthodox Church, baptism is "for the remission of sins" (cf. the [[Nicene Creed]]) and for entrance into the Church; the person being baptized is cleansed of all sins and is united to Christ; through the waters of baptism he or she is mysteriously crucified and buried with Christ, and is raised with him to newness of life, having "put on" Christ (that is, having been clothed in Christ). The cleansing of sins includes the washing away of the ancestral sin.
==Orthodox teaching on baptism==
"'''We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins'''."
These words, found in the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], simply and yet boldly declare Orthodox teaching on baptism. The baptismal experience is often considered the fundamental Christian experience.
==Immersion in water==
The word baptize derives from [http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=907 baptizo], the transliterated form of the Greek word βάπτειν or baptivzw. In a historical context, it means "to dip, plunge, or immerse" something entirely, e.g. into water. Although commonly associated with Christian baptism, the word is known to have been used in other contexts. For instance, a 2nd century author named [[Wikipedia:Nicander|Nicander]] wrote down a pickle recipe which illustrates the common use of the word. He first says that the pickle should be dipped (bapto) into boiling water, followed by a complete submersion (baptizo) in a vinegar solution. The word was also used to explain the process of submerging cloth into a colored dye. The Christian ritual of water baptism traces back to Saint [[John the Forerunner]], who the [[Holy Scripture | Bible]] says baptized many, including Jesus. Certain forms of baptism were practiced in the Old Testament. Additionally, baptism was practiced in some pagan religions as a sign of death and rebirth.
In contrast to a common Protestant viewpoint, baptism is more than just a symbolic act of burial and resurrection, but an actual supernatural transformation. Baptism is believed to impart cleansing (remission) of sins and union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (see [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Romans%206:3-5;&version=Baptism as a Sacrament9; Romans 6:3-5]; [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Colossians%202:12,%203:1-4;&version=9; Colossians 2:12, 3:1-4]).
===Infant Baptism is performed by ===The Orthodox also practice [[infant baptism]] on the three-fold immersion basis of a person in the name of the various texts (e.g. [[Holy TrinityGospel of Matthew|Matthew]]19:14) which are interpreted to condone full Church membership for children. That This is, generally based on a person is immersed "in the name confession of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," once faith for each person of the Holy Trinity. The practice of baptism a child by the pouring his or sprinkling of water, instead of full immersion, is not taught or practiced in the Orthodox Church as in some her [[Roman Catholicgodparent]] and Protestant churchess. Baptism is immediately followed by [[Chrismation]] The Orthodox Church baptizes infants for the same reasons and [[Holy Communion]] at with the next [[Divine Liturgy]], regardless of agesame results as she baptizes adults.
===CatechumenValidity of a baptism===Because the Mystery of Baptism has actual spiritual and salvific effects, certain criteria must be complied with for it to be valid (i.e., to actually have those effects). Baptism in water is assumed. Violation of some rules regarding baptism render the baptism illicit (i.e., a violation of the [[canon law|church's laws]], and a [[sin]] for those who willingly and knowingly participate in it), and yet still valid. For example, if a [[priest]] introduces some unauthorized variation in the ceremony, the baptism is still valid so long as certain key criteria are still met, even though the priest has violated the church's law and thus sinned, and so have the other participants if they know the priest's behaviour is illict.
==Baptism in the Gospels==
===St. John the Forerunner===
A preliminary understanding of baptism starts with St. John the Forerunner, the cousin of [[Jesus]]. John spoke of a baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
In regards to his relationship to the coming Messiah, John also spoke of another kind of baptism.
:"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable." ([http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Luke%203:16-17;&version=9; Luke 3:16-17 KJV], also see [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Matthew%203:7-12;&version=9; Matthew 3:7-12], [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Mark%201:6-8;&version=9; Mark 1:6-8])
===Baptism of Christ===
[[Image:Baptism of Christ.jpg|thumb|150px|Baptism of Christ ([[Theophany]])]]
During John's earthly ministry Jesus came to receive baptism from John:
:"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." ([http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=John%201:32-34;&version=9; John 1:32-34 KJV], also see [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Matthew%203:13-17;&version=9; Matthew 3:13-17], [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Mark%201:9-11;&version=9; Mark 1:9-11])
The commandment of the Lord to baptize "in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" was the practice of the early Church and is still the Orthodox method for baptizing today. (see [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Acts%202:38;%208:16;%2010:48;%2019:5;&version=9; Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5]). =The Great Commission=[[Church Fathers]] on Baptism == <blockquote>"...Concerning the water, indeed, it is written, in reference to the Israelites, that they should not receive that baptism which leads to the remission of sins, but should procure another for themselves..." (The [[Epistle of Barnabas]], [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/barnabas-roberts.html Chapter 11], Roberts-Donaldson)</blockquote>
<blockquote>"...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: He was born andbaptized, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of that by His passion He might purify the world. Amenwater." (The [[http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:18-20;&version=9; Matthew 28:18-20Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians]], also see [http://biblewww.gospelcomearlychristianwritings.netcom/passagetext/?search=Mark%2016:14ignatius-20;&version=9; Mark 16:14ephesians-20roberts.html Chapter 18], [http://bible.gospelcom.net/passageRoberts-Donaldson)</?search=Acts%202:38;&version=9; Acts 2:38])blockquote>
[[Martin Luther ]] placed a great importance on baptism. Luther states in ''The Large Catechism '' of 1529 AD,
<blockquote>"To put it most simply, the power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save. No one is baptized in order to become a prince, but as the words say, to 'be saved.' To be saved, we know, is nothing else than to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil and to enter into the kingdom of Christ and live with him forever."</blockquote>
==External LinksSee also==* [[Infant baptism]]* [[Chrismation]]* [[Churching]]* [[Godparent]]
==External links==*[http://bible.gospelcom.net/quicksearch/?quicksearch=baptize&qs_version=9 Bible search on baptize]* [https://www.goarch.org/-/the-service-of-holy-bapti-1 The Service of Holy Baptism] ([[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]])* [http://oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=51 Baptism] ''The Orthodox Faith'' by Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]] * [http://www.tenthousandfilms.com/ The Baptism of Christ - Uncovering Bethany beyond the Jordan - 47 min Documentary; includes interviews with various Eastern Orthodox representatives, incl. Greek Orthodox Bishop Vindictus of Jordan]
===Baptism and Ecumenism===
*[http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/faverg.html Becoming a Christian: The Ecumenical Implications of Our Common Baptism]
* Archimandrite Ambrosius (Pogodin). [http://www.holy-trinity.org/ecclesiology/pogodin-reception/reception-ch4.html On the Question of the Order of Reception of Persons into the Orthodox Church, Coming to Her from Other Christian Churches]. Transl. from the Russian by Alvian N. Smirensky. '''Vestnik Russkogo Khristianskogo Dvizheniya (Messenger of the Russian Christian Movement).''' Paris-New York-Moscow, Nos. 173 (I-1996) and 174 (II-1996/I-1997).
[[Category:Sacraments]]
==Further reading==
* Richard E. DeMaris. ''"Corinthian Religion and Baptism for the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:29): Insights from Archaeology and Anthropology."'' '''Journal of Biblical Literature.''' Vol. 114, No. 4 (Winter, 1995), pp.661-682.
[[el:Βάπτισμα]]
[[es:Bautismo]]
[[fr:Baptême]]
[[it:Battesimo]]
[[pt:Batismo]]
[[ro:Botez]]