Baptism
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 Death and victorious Resurrection. Following the custom of the early Church, Orthodoxy encourages the baptism of infants. The Church believes that the Sacrament is bearing witness to the action of God who chooses a child to be an important member of His people. From the day of their baptism, children are expected to mature in the life of the Spirit, through their family and the Church. The Baptism of adults is practiced when there was no previous baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Baptismal Guidelines
Baptisms: Baptisms are normally scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays after the Divine Liturgy, and the parents will need to meet with the priest to plan the baptism. The God-parent must be a pledged and practicing Orthodox Christian in good standing with his or her parish, and a letter of good standing will need to be obtained if they are not a member at St. George. An infant's first or middle name should be a Saint's name. There is a Baptismal Guidelines and Checklist available from the priest or secretary. This needs to be reviewed by the parents before meeting with the priest to schedule the baptism.
Non-pledged: members pay a facilities fee of $700.00 for parish use, and all people pay $100.00 for a chanter, organist. etc
Pledged member: who are in good standing and with a pledge card on file pay no fee for use of the church for sacrament.
Chrismation
The Sacrament of Chrismation (Confirmation) immediately follows baptism and is never delayed until a later age. As the ministry of Christ was enlivened by the Spirit, and the preaching of the Apostles strengthened by the Spirit, so is the life of each Orthodox Christian sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Chrismation, which is often referred to as one's personal Pentecost, is the Sacrament which imparts the Spirit in a special way.
In the Sacrament of Chrismation, the priest anoints the various parts of the body of the newly-baptized with Holy Oil saying: "The seal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Oil, which is blessed by the bishop, is a sign of consecration and strength. The Sacrament emphasizes the truths that not only is each person a valuable member of the Church, but also each one is blessed by the Spirit with certain gifts and talents. The anointing also reminds us that our bodies are valuable and are involved in the process of salvation.
The Sacraments of initiation always are concluded with the distribution of Holy Communion to the newly-baptized. This practice reveals that Orthodoxy views children from their infancy as important members of the Church. There is never time when the young are not part of God's people.
Chrismation is also the entry point into the Church for adults who have been baptized in a different denomination that believes and baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (The Holy Trinity). It is not typical for those who have been previously baptized in the Trinity to be baptized again, but instead are received in the Sacrament of Chrismation.
Chrismation Guidelines
Those adults wishing to become Orthodox Christians must receive catechism from an Orthodox priest, either one-on-one or through a class offered in the parish. After receiving instruction in the Faith, the candidate is accepted into the Church by one of three ways prescribed by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Canon 95) as appropriate:
Sacramental Documents: Pledged members and non-members who have lost original sacramental documents pay a reproduction fee of $100.00 for Greek and $100.00 for English.
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 Death and victorious Resurrection. Following the custom of the early Church, Orthodoxy encourages the baptism of infants. The Church believes that the Sacrament is bearing witness to the action of God who chooses a child to be an important member of His people. From the day of their baptism, children are expected to mature in the life of the Spirit, through their family and the Church. The Baptism of adults is practiced when there was no previous baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Baptismal Guidelines
- The sponsor (godfather or godmother) must be a devout and practicing Orthodox Christian. If the sponsor is married, his or her marriage must have been blessed in the Orthodox Church.
- The role of the sponsor is directly related to infant baptism. Since the infant is unable to make the necessary confession of faith, the sponsor stands in the child’s place and speaks on his behalf.
- The sponsor should be ready to recite the Nicene Creed either in Greek or English. For three consecutive Sundays after the baptism, the sponsor should carry the neophyte to the Holy Altar to receive Holy Communion.
- According to the Tradition of the Orthodox Church, it is absolutely imperative that one name of Orthodox Christian origin should be given to the child at the time of baptism.
- The day, time, and other arrangements of the baptism must be made with the priest well ahead of time. Please call the church office to discuss these arrangements at least one month before the baptism. It is also advisable for the parents and godparent to meet with the priest once to discuss details of the sacrament as well as to be instructed in the theological importance of the sacrament in specific and the living of the Christian life following baptism in general.
- The sponsor should be aware that he or she must provide the following items:
- A complete change of clothes for the child (i.e. white baptismal gown, with inner shirt or onesie)
- A gold cross
- Three white candles (baptismal candle should be larger or at least more ornate)
- One bottle of olive oil
- One bar of soap
- One small white hand towel
- One large white bath towel
- One twin sheet
- In the event that an unbaptized infant is near death, an Orthodox priest may be called to perform a clinical baptism. In the absence of an Orthodox clergyman, a layman or any other Christian may baptize the infant by sprinkling water on the child while repeating the following three times: “The servant of God (name), is baptized in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Baptisms: Baptisms are normally scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays after the Divine Liturgy, and the parents will need to meet with the priest to plan the baptism. The God-parent must be a pledged and practicing Orthodox Christian in good standing with his or her parish, and a letter of good standing will need to be obtained if they are not a member at St. George. An infant's first or middle name should be a Saint's name. There is a Baptismal Guidelines and Checklist available from the priest or secretary. This needs to be reviewed by the parents before meeting with the priest to schedule the baptism.
Non-pledged: members pay a facilities fee of $700.00 for parish use, and all people pay $100.00 for a chanter, organist. etc
Pledged member: who are in good standing and with a pledge card on file pay no fee for use of the church for sacrament.
Chrismation
The Sacrament of Chrismation (Confirmation) immediately follows baptism and is never delayed until a later age. As the ministry of Christ was enlivened by the Spirit, and the preaching of the Apostles strengthened by the Spirit, so is the life of each Orthodox Christian sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Chrismation, which is often referred to as one's personal Pentecost, is the Sacrament which imparts the Spirit in a special way.
In the Sacrament of Chrismation, the priest anoints the various parts of the body of the newly-baptized with Holy Oil saying: "The seal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Oil, which is blessed by the bishop, is a sign of consecration and strength. The Sacrament emphasizes the truths that not only is each person a valuable member of the Church, but also each one is blessed by the Spirit with certain gifts and talents. The anointing also reminds us that our bodies are valuable and are involved in the process of salvation.
The Sacraments of initiation always are concluded with the distribution of Holy Communion to the newly-baptized. This practice reveals that Orthodoxy views children from their infancy as important members of the Church. There is never time when the young are not part of God's people.
Chrismation is also the entry point into the Church for adults who have been baptized in a different denomination that believes and baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (The Holy Trinity). It is not typical for those who have been previously baptized in the Trinity to be baptized again, but instead are received in the Sacrament of Chrismation.
Chrismation Guidelines
Those adults wishing to become Orthodox Christians must receive catechism from an Orthodox priest, either one-on-one or through a class offered in the parish. After receiving instruction in the Faith, the candidate is accepted into the Church by one of three ways prescribed by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Canon 95) as appropriate:
- Baptism in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and Holy Spirit by triple immersion (if one has never before been baptized in any church)
- Chrismation (if one has been baptized a Christian in another church but never confirmed in the Orthodox Christian Faith)
- Confession of Faith (in rare occasions, as with non-Chalcedonian Orthodox)
Sacramental Documents: Pledged members and non-members who have lost original sacramental documents pay a reproduction fee of $100.00 for Greek and $100.00 for English.
