Guidelines for Baptism in the Orthodox Church
Dear Parent(s), We feel blessed that you have chosen to baptize your child in the Orthodox Faith and we look forward to this blessed event. Baptisms are celebrated in the Orthodox Church if the father or mother is of the Orthodox Faith and the parents intend to raise the child in the Church. You must schedule the baptism directly with our Priest and preferably, with an appropriate amount of notice. In addition to scheduling the baptism, the Orthodox parent(s) should schedule a time for Holy Confession. The Parent(s) must be stewards and have a signed pledge card on file. The Godparent(s) must be a regular and active participant in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Orthodox Church. This must be confirmed by the parish priest where the Godparent is a member by means of a letter. Items Needed
- Cross to be placed on the child as a witness of his/her faith
- One large bath towel and two small hand towels (both white and new)
- One full size white new sheet
- A new white “onesie” for infants or t-shirt for adults
- Small container of olive oil
- 1 bar hand soap
- Two white candles
The Sacrament of Baptism incorporates us into the Church, the Body of Christ, and is our introduction to the life of the Holy Trinity. Water is a natural symbol of cleansing and newness of life. Through the three – fold immersion in the waters of Baptism in the Name of the Holy Trinity, one dies to the old ways of sin and is born to a new life in Christ. Baptism is one’s public identification with Christ ’s Death and victorious Resurrection . For truly,
“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. ”
– Galatians 3:27
From the day of our baptism, we are expected to mature in the li fe of t he Spirit, through our family and the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism includes the Sacrament of Chrismation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
For more information or to get answers to your questions, please call the church at 541 – 683 – 3519, or b y email at frgerasimos@sntgrg.org
