Preparing for a Baptism

Scheduling

The first thing is to set the date for baptism through the church office at least two months in advanced. It is encouraged that children should be baptized between 3 and 9 months old.

For adults, a catechism class is required prior to the baptism and/ or chrismation. Please consult the priest for details.

Parental Requirements and Responsibilities

Since Baptism and Chrismation are the entrance into the life of the Church, parents are expected to raise their child in the Orthodox Church as at least one of them must be an active member and steward of the Orthodox faith in good standing. A parent’s participation in the life of the church will be a great example to the child.

Godparent/Sponsor

Parents are responsible for selecting mature and faithful members of the Orthodox Church as a sponsor (anadochos/nona/nono) for their child. This person will assist the candidate as he/she grows in the Orthodox Church. The sponsor must be an active member in good standing of his/her respective Orthodox Church and must present a letter of good standing from home parish priest. If married, the sponsor must be married in an Orthodox service. If he/she is not a member, then must become a member at his/her church or at St. Nectarios Church, prior to the Sacrament.

Items Required for Baptism

· Completed, signed and submitted Baptism Form.

Please Download the form from here by clicking the link below.

Baptism Form

· One Pectoral Cross (gold or silver) to wear.

· One large bath towel (white)

· One large sheet (white)

· One hand towel (white)

· One bar of soap

· One small bottle of olive oil

· Three candles (one can be decorated) for three consecutive Sundays following the baptism, this candle accompanies the baby when receiving Holy Communion.

· For infants and children-white clothing to change into, including undershirt.

· For Adults- White Medical Scrubs made of a heavy material (top & bottom) along with an appropriate bathing suit to wear underneath, along with a change of clothes that is white with a white undershirt as well.

Showing here are baptismal font and immersion font.

· Baptismal Font – is intended for baptism immersion of infant. The font has wooden pedestal (about 1.5 meter tall) with a wooden holder for a marble top and silver basin for holding water. It has a golden lid.

· Immersion Font – is intended for baptism immersion of adult. The font is made of marble with three steps leading to the pool and three steps leading to the bottom.

Baptism is always by full immersion three times even in the case of infant baptism. During baptismal service, three candles will light on or around the baptismal font, in honor of the Holy Trinity. In many Orthodox churches, a very special kind of holy water called “Theophany Water” is consecrated on the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany). The consecration (literally, “Great Blessing”) is performed twice as follows:

· in a baptismal font on the Eve of the feast

· in a natural body of water on the Day of feast

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.