Baptismal Information & Guidelines
The Church baptizes infants on the basis of the commitment made by the parents and godparents that the child will be raised and nurtured in the life of faith in Christ Jesus, our savior and redeemer. The Apostle Peter, preaching to the crowds in Jerusalem on the feast of Pentecost and calling on them to be baptized, declared that the promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ was for them and their children (Acts 2:39). In this sense, baptism replaces circumcision as the mark of the covenant (Colossians 2:11-12).
Baptism brings about the birth of new life in Christ, as St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans:
"Or are you ignorant that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by the baptism into the death, that even as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, thus also we should walk in newness of life. [Rom. 6]."
The Orthodox Church practices infant baptism because historically it never required "understanding" as a pre-condition. To know God is the fruit of baptism. Baptism makes a person a participant in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and a member of His body the Church. This is the first step in becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. The Church does have a responsibility to administer the sacrament only to those who have shown that this is the primary purpose for the baptism.
Requirements Prior to the Baptism for Parents
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A Baptism is a privilege that requires a commitment on behalf of the parents to raise the child in the Orthodox Church. If parents are not active members of the Church, then they must demonstrate a desire to become active for the sacrament to be approved. Parents are the primary role models for their children in living a committed life to Christ. Commitment to Christ is expressed in regularly attending Sunday liturgy, participating in the sacramental life of the Church and being a current Steward of the Church.
• If you have previously baptized a child at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension and the child has not been attending services, a request to have another child baptized requires a discussion with the priest.
• If parents are not regularly attending an Orthodox Church and want to schedule a baptism, an appointment should be made with the priest in order to discuss the situation.
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• Married in the Orthodox Church If you were not married in the Orthodox Church, your marriage needs to be blessed in the Church in order to be in good standing. This is not required prior to baptizing a child but arrangements ought to be made to have the marriage blessed in the Church.
• Actively attending the divine services on Sundays.
• Regular participation in the Sacramental Life of the Church.
• Participatory in the ministry of the church.
• A Stewardship Form needs to be completed for the current year.
• If Ascension is not your home parish, then a letter of good standing from your parish priest is required.
• If you were raised at Ascension but now live out of the region, and do not actively attend Ascension, then by-rights, you should establish a relationship with your local parish.
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In the Baptismal service, the Church requires a Sponsor/Godparent. The Godparent is the one who vouches for the child and the family as to the sincerity of the reasons why they are seeking baptism. In addition, godparents serve to guide, teach, and counsel their godchildren in the Orthodox faith. The Church requires that the Godparent be an Orthodox Christian in good standing; there are no exceptions to this rule. The priest can help couples in the selection of godparents if needed.
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• Must be an Orthodox Christian
• A registered Steward of an Orthodox Parish.
• If married, must be in an Orthodox Church.
• If married in the Orthodox Church and are now divorced, they need to obtain an Ecclesiastical Divorce Decree.
• By-rights a godparent should be someone not be a family member. By choosing a godparent, one grows their family, as that new relationship becomes blessed by the Church.
• A parishioner may serve as a sponsor in another Parish by presenting a letter of good standing from his or her home Parish Priest. The Godparent anoints the child with blessed oil during the ceremony. By participating in the sacrament in this manner, the Godparent is making a pledge to guide and support to their Godchild. Godparent Customs
• It is customary for the Godparent to bring their Godchild to Holy Communion for three consecutive Sundays after the Baptism. This is done in order to form the habit of frequent communion for the child.
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The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension has been blessed to have deep and abiding connections with our neighboring Eritrean Orthodox Churches. Many Eritreans now call Ascension Cathedral their spiritual home.
Unfortunately, the Greek Orthodox Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches are not in communion with Non-Chalcedonian Oriental Orthodox Churches (Coptic, Armenian, Eritrean, Ethiopian and Malankara Churches). This can cause some confusion amongst the Faithful when scheduling sacraments. Please note that godparents must be Eastern Orthodox in order to serve as sponsors for a baptism.
Scheduling the Baptism
“What does it mean that ‘we were baptized into His death?’ That it is with a view to our dying as He did. For the Baptism is the Cross. What the Cross then, and the burial, is to Christ, that the Baptism has become to us, even if not in the same respects. For in the flesh He died and was buried, but we have done both to sin.”
If you would like to schedule a baptism for your child, parents need to schedule an appointment with Fr. Nick. By-rights baptismal arrangements should only conducted between the priest and the child's parents. In order to provide parents with every opportunity to understand the significance of baptizing one's child, an appointment with the parents and the priest is necessary. Parents are responsible for the Christian formation of their children. Once a date for the baptism is scheduled with Fr. Nick, please complete the online Baptismal Form.
If you are planning to have a reception for your baptism, and wish to have the Priest attend the reception, please notify the Priest advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
“When your children are young speak to them about God. When they are old speak to them about God.”
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If the child was not given a Christian name (a saint's name) one must be selected. The giving of a Christian name establishes a life-long relationship between the child and their saint. Fr. Nick can assist in selecting a name.
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The Baptism service is approximately 45 minutes long.
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Do not schedule your baptism or reception without first speaking with Fr. Nick.
Out of respect for the liturgical season and life the Church there are seasons when some sacrament are not permitted.
Baptisms may not be performed from Christmas Day through the Feast of Theophany (December 25 - January 6), during Holy Week, or on any of the Great Feast Days of the Lord:
September 8 - The Nativity of the Theotokos
September 14th - The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
November 21st - The Entrance of the Theotokos
December 24th - The Nativity of Christ
January 6 - Theophany
February 2nd - The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
March, 25th - The Annunciation
The Ascension of Our Lord and Savior (Moveable Date fixed on celebration of Pascha)
Sunday of Pentecost (Moveable Date fixed on celebration of Pascha)
August 6 - The Transfiguration
August 15th - The Dormition
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Baptismal Cross
Complete Change of Clothes (white)
Bottle of Olive Oil
Bar of Soap
1 White Hand Towel
1 Large Bath Towel
1 Large Candle
1 White Twin Sheet (Unfitted)
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In some cases parents request a "non-Orthodox" person serve as an "honorary godparent" for their children. The Church does not permit honorary godparents. Perhaps, close friends may be considered as "aunts" or "uncles" or "Theo" and "Thea" this identifies them as being a part of one's family.
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The Church has always received adult converts following a period of spiritual formation and education (catechism). In the early Church this process could take years. Those who wish to be received into the Church should regularly attend liturgical services, have a personal practice of prayer and participate in catechism which is offered twice a year. One may be received into the Church through Chrismation, if they were baptized previously. This is a topic which should be discussed with the priest.
The Baptism of Lydia and her family (Acts 16:11-15) from the Baptistry in Philippi.
“It behooves those to be baptized...so that they are prepared, in the lawful and true and only baptism of the Holy Church, by divine regeneration, for the kingdom of God...because it is written, ‘Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the king of God.’””