Serbian History 101

with Baba Mim....

Orthodox Baptism

"A child is a gift from God"

The following information is from Fr. John Shimchick, in Jacob's Well, Spring/Summer 2002.

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3 Sacraments of Holy Baptism

"The Service of Baptism inaugurates the person’s reception of three Sacraments –
Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist – allowing that person to have the same
potential as any of the greatest saints.

"Nothing more can be added.

"Baptism is one's personal acceptance of the feast of Pascha. It celebrates one's unification and identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Holy Chrismation marks one's acceptance of the Feast of Pentecost, in which the Holy Spirit descended upon the gathered disciples. It celebrates the consecration and dedication of a person’s uniqueness and talents - all in the context that "God's Holy Name might be glorified" in the life of that person or child.

"The gifts of Baptism and Chrismation prepare one for the true possibilities of communion, life, and nourishment that God provides in Holy Communion, the Eucharist.

"These Sacraments of Entry mark the opening moments of Christian life: the beginning of
a life in Christ which leads from "glory to glory" and to continual re-discovery and joy."

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Usually we think of babies being baptized, but here we have two sisters, beautiful young ladies, who decided on their own, to be baptized into Christ. If you haven't been baptized yet, think about making the commitment to Christ. He welcomes all!

The girls, their Kumovi, and Fr. Milan Pajic of Midland, PA

To Learn More about the Symbols of Baptism, click here on this St. Sophia site, for which we are very grateful.

EXORCISMS

Fr. Rajko Kosic and Nicholas' Kum help prepare him for a life with Christ.

The first act of the baptismal service begins in the narthex (entrance) of the church. This is to show that the one being received is not yet a member of the Church. The purpose of baptism is to bring him into the Church. To enter into the temple of God is to be with Christ, to become a member of His body.
The priest then calls upon the sponsor to renounce the devil and all his works for the child: “Do you renounce Satan, and all his angels, and all his works, and all his services, and all his pride?”

The renouncing of Satan is done facing the west because the west is where the sun disappears and was regarded by the ancient Greeks as the place of the gates of Hades. Then the priest faces east whence the light of the sun rises and asks the godparent to accept for the child Him who is the Light of the World. “Do you unite yourself to Christ?” The renunciation of Satan and the
union with Christ express our faith that the newly-baptized child has been transferred from one master to another, from Satan to Christ.

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

The priest then makes the sign of the cross on the child’s body. This is repeated often during the service. Essentially the cross is the sign of victory which puts the devil to flight. In the old days,
slaves were branded, as are animals today, to show to what master they belong. Today, the sign of the cross brands us as belonging to Christ.

Following in the Footsteps of Christ: The Procession

The lighted candles, the censor and songs, typify that the newly enlightened, through Baptism, has entered into a union with Christ, the Light of the World. The Procession is a circle that has a beginning with no end, following the Priest around the baptismal font and the table upon which lay the Gospel and Cross, the center of Unity. This shows faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ and the willingness to accept the Cross, the center of Christian life, a life of future spiritual happiness.

Sarah's trip to the altar with V.Rev. Fr. Stepanov at St. Elijah

Parker Nicholas' first trip to the Altar with Fr. Rajko, Pgh.

Before the conclusion of the service, the priest takes the newly baptized and chrismated one to the altar. He/she is offered to God and the church, just as St. Simon offered Jesus to the temple. The priest then proclaims, "The servant of God is Churched in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy SPirit." The mother then receives the child at the Royal Doors at the altar just as Virgin Mary received Jesus at the temple.

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Thanks to our website Contributors George Vurgich and his sister, Dolores Vignovich, who collaborated to produce this wonderful Baptism leaflet for St. Nicholas' Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville to help people better understand the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation.

Baptism, as St. Paul writes, is death and resurrection with Christ. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Spirit cleanses the soul of sin so that all the human soul enters into a relationship with God through grace and is received into the fellowship of true believers. Those baptized receive forgiveness of original sin and are united with Christ in such a way as to receive full benefits of His redemption. They are mysteriously reborn into a spiritual Christian life.

The Orthodox Rite of Baptism begins in the vestibule of the church. The priest breathes three times into the face of the one being baptized, making the sign of the cross on his/her forehead and chest. By this he signifies that through Baptism the breath of life has been granted, just as God breathed into the nostrils of Adam, the first man. The three times indicate the life-giving Trinity.

The Priest makes the sign of the cross on the brow of the one being baptized three times to signify that by personal disgression he/she is separated from unbelievers. The brow is considered the center of disgression. The placing of the priest's hand on the head indicates that the newly baptized has taken refuge in the church. o be completely separated from Satan and to belong to God, the one being baptized and their sponsors (Kum and Kuma) are turned away from the altar, toward the west, and asked to reject Satan three times and to breathe and spit upon Satan. Then turning toward the east, to the altar, the sponsors are asked to confess three times on behalf of the infant, their acceptance of Christ--thus uniting the infant with Christ. The Nicene Creed is then read in its entirety.

Blessing the Water and Immersion

Turning to the baptismal font, the priest reads several prayers and blesses the baptismal water. The blessed water represents all of creation restored to its original condition---filled with the presence of God. The immersion into the water signifies burial with Christ to a new life. The triple immersion represents the Trinitarian dimension of the Christian life, the life of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and undivided.

“Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

After receiving Baptism, the newly baptized is then clothed in white (The Robe of Holiness) expressing the purity of the soul that has been washed from sin. It also recalls the shining robe in which Christ appeared at the Transfiguration. There is now a likeness between the one baptized and the transfigured Lord (II Corinthians 5:17).

The Holy Sacrament of Chrismation

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Chrismation is administered at the time of Baptism. Through Chrismation, the Holy Spirit fills the soul with strength and wisdom and other gifts to live a holy life. This Sacrament is considered to be the fulfillment of Baptism and gives strength for living the new life received through being baptized.

During this ceremony, the priest anoints certain parts of the body of the baptized infant (or adult) with a substance, containing olive oil and various perfumes, called Holy Chrism, which is prepared by the bishop only during Holy Week. The priest says, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” It is the Holy Spirit of God that we are all “sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

The body is anointed as follows: the nostrils: (For sweet fragrance); the ears: (To hear the words of faith); the mouth: (My mouth shall speak wisdom); the chest: (For healing of soul and body); the feet (to walk in your footsteps, O Lord); the hands (Your hands have made me and fashioned me, O Lord); the back: (Whosoever wishes to come after me, Let him deny himself and carry their Cross and follow me.).

By this sacrament, the one being baptized is made a Christian, now eligible to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

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Bringing the Whole Family together in the name of Christ!

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Baptized unto Christ....

Family and Friends gather....

The Midland, PA St. George Church altar is beautiful!

Top photo: Fr. Milan Pajic baptizing in the name of the Holy Spirit.

Bottom photo:Cutting the hair: First gift to God after baptism.

Next haircut! The first offering of the newly baptized to God.

This ritual cutting of the hair is a sign of dedication, commitment and obedience, as well as faithful service to God. The newly cut hair is preserved in candle wax and given to the mother for safekeeping.

THE CUTTING OF HAIR -more-
After confirming the child, the priest cuts three locks of hair from the child’s head. This is an
expression of gratitude from the child, who having received an abundance of blessings through the
Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and having nothing to give to God in return, offers part of its hair, which is symbolic of strength (see Samson in the Old Testament). The child, therefore, promises
to serve God with all its strength. In the words of Fr. Schmemann, the cutting of the hair “is a sign that
the life that now begins is a life of offering and sacrifice.”

Alayna gives her gift.

This ritual cutting of the hair is a sign of dedication, commitment and obedience, as well as faithful service to God. The newly cut hair is preserved in candle wax and given to the Mother for safekeeping.

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THE ANOINTING WITH OIL

Jocelyn welcoming the Holy Spirit and the "Oil of Gladness" from Fr. Tom Soroka, separating herself from unbelievers.

The Olive oil is blessed and then applied by the priest to the various members of the child’s/adult's body: hands, feet, ears, mouth, in order to dedicate them to the service of Christ. The oil is called "THE OIL OF GLADNESS," symbolic of future happiness.

THE CANDLES

However dark may be the night that surrounds us, baptism remains the sacrament of entrance
into light. It opens the eyes of the soul to see Christ, the light of the world (John 1:19). It makes us
sons of light (I Thess. 5:5).
In the early church, the baptismal candle was always kept by the one baptized. It was given to
the newly baptized with the scriptural admonition: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

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The Immersion....