My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE THEOPHANY AND BAPTISM
ACCORDING TO THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH.
Saint Kosmas, Bishop of Maiuma, tells us that "our Lord, Who clothed material flesh with the immaterial fire of His Divinity, formed Adam anew, who fell into corruption, IN THE STREAMS OF THE RIVER JORDAN." David prophesied, "Come unto Him, and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his tribulations" [Psalm 33:5-6). Saint Kosmas the Melodist chants, "Fallen Adam, the poor man, cried and the Lord heard him: He has come and in the streams of Jordan He has made new again, who was sunk in corruption."
Speaking eloquently upon Christian Baptism, Saint Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.) says, "As for this rite, we have learned from the Apostles this reason. Since at our birth we were born without our own knowledge or choice, by our parents coming together, and were brought up in bad habits and wicked training, in order that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance, but may become the children OF CHOICE AND KNOWLEDGE, AND OBTAIN IN THE WATER THE REMISSION OF SINS FORMERLY COMMITTED, THERE IS PRONOUNCED OVER HIM WHO CHOOSES TO BE BORN AGAIN, AND HAS REPENTED OF HIS SINS, THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER AND LORD OF THE UNIVERSE… AND THIS WASHING IS CALLED ILLUMINATION, BECAUSE THEY… ARE ILLUMINATED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDINGS. AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, AND IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO THROUGH THE PROPHETS FORETOLD ALL THINGS ABOUT JESUS, HE WHO IS ILLUMINATED IS WASHED."
Holy Bishop Hippolytus of Rome asks, "Do you see, beloved, how the Prophet Isaiah [Isaiah 1:16, 18] spoke before time of the purifying power of Baptism? For he who comes down in faith TO THE LAVER OF REGENERATION, RENOUNCES THE DEVIL, JOINS HIMSELF TO CHRIST, DENIES THE ENEMY, MAKES THE CONFESSION THAT CHRIST IS GOD, AND PUTS OFF THE BONDAGE AND PUTS ON THE ADOPTION, COMES UP FROM THE BAPTISM BRILLIANT AS THE SUN. Such a one, flashing forth the beams of righteousness, most importantly of all, RETURNS A SON OF GOD AND JOINT-HEIR WITH CHRIST."
Saint John Chrysostomos tells of the prodigious RENEWAL IN THE BAPTISMAL FONT: "All the fabric of our nature is framed above, of the Holy Spirit and water. The water is employed, being made the birth to him who is born. What is the womb is to the embryo, the water is to the believer, FOR IN THE WATER HE IS FASHIONED AND FORMED."
Thus, the fruits of Baptism are manifold, according to both the Prophets and the Holy Fathers. Saint Kyril of Jerusalem writes: "Great is the prize set before you in Baptism: RANSOM FOR CAPTIVES, REMISSION OF SINS, DEATH OF SIN, A NEW SPIRITUAL BIRTH, A SHINING GARMENT, A HOLY SEAL INVIOLABLE, A HEAVEN-BOUND CHARIOT, DELIGHTS OF PARADISE, A PASSPORT TO THE KINGDOM, THE GRACE OF THE ADOPTION OF SONS."
INFANT BAPTISM
Saint Kyril of Alexandria comments on the Gospel of Saint Luke, writing: "The mothers, desiring His blessing, brought the babies, begging for their infants the touch of His Holy hand [cf. Luke 18:15-17]. I do not think that anyone will dispute that the passage means that parents desired Christ to bless their little children or infants. Now, here, although the infants plainly could neither bring themselves to Christ or confess faith in His ability to sanctify them with His blessing, yet Christ not only blessed and sanctified them, but HE EVEN FORBADE ANYONE TO HINDER INFANTS FROM BEING BROUGHT TO BE BLESSED AND SANCTIFIED. If Christ considered the state of an infant no impediment to receiving His sanctifying blessing, why would He consider the infantile state a hindrance to Baptism."
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (130-200 A.D.) concurs and writes: "The Son of God came TO SAVE ALL PERSONS BY MEANS OF HIMSELF–ALL, I SAY, WHO THROUGH HIM ARE BORN AGAIN TO GOD–INFANTS, CHILDREN, BOYS, YOUTHS, AND OLD MEN." Saint Hippolytios of Rome also says, "Baptize FIRST THE CHILDREN; AND IF THEY CAN SPEAK FORMSELVES, LET THEM DO SO. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them."
Saint Gregory the Theologian (388 A.D.) urges parents and guardians to baptize their children, saying, "Give your child the Trinity, that Great and Noble Protector… Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood. From his most tender age let him be consecrated by the Spirit. DO NOT FEAR THE SEAL OF BAPTISM BECAUSE OF THE WEAKNESS OF NATURE? O, what a pusillanimous mother and of how little faith! But some will say, ‘What do you have to say about those, being children, who are unaware of what it taking place and the grace inherent in the sacrament? Shall we baptize them too? Certainly, especially if there is any pressing danger. Better that they be SANCTIFIED UNAWARE, THAN THAT THEY DEPART UNSEALED AND UNINITIATED."
IS THERE HOLY BAPTISM OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH?
Prophet Jeremias wrote: "Why do they that grieve me prevail against me? My wound is severe; whence shall I be healed? It is indeed become to me as deceitful water, that has no faithfulness (as to healing) [Jeremiah 15:18]. Saint Cyprian (258 A.D.) asks, "What is this DECEITFUL AND FAITHLESS WATER? Certainly that which falsely assumes the resemblance of Baptism, and frustrates the grace of faith by a shadowy pretense. But if, according to a pervereted faith, one could be baptized without (outside of Orthodoxy) and obtain remission of sins, according t the same faith he could also attain the Holy Spirit; and there is no need that hands should be laid on him when he comes, that he might obtain the Holy Spirit and be sealed. Either he could obtain both privileges without by his faith, or he who has been without has received neither." In an Epistle to the bishops, Saint Cyprian states, "For certain no one can be baptized abroad outside the Church, SINCE THERE IS ONE BAPTISM APPOINTED IN THE HOLY CHURCH. And it is written: ‘They have hewn out for themselves broken cisterns, which will not be able to hold water [Jeremiah 2:130.
Saint Athanasios warns, "There are many other heresies too, which use the words only, but not in a right sense, …nor with sound Faith, and in consequence the water which they administer is unprofitable, as deficient in piety; so that he who is sprinkled by them is rather polluted by the irreligious than redeemed." Saint Ambrose concurs, "The baptism of unbelievers does not heal, does not cleanse, but pollutes."
Baptism must also BE PERFORMED IN THE PROPET MANNER BY THE PRIEST Canon 50 of the Holy Apostles REQUIRE TRIPLE IMMERSION AS THE PROPER FORM OF BAPTISM. THIS IS THE TRADITION THAT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US. SAINT BASIL THE GREAT SAYS, "WHETHER A MAN HAS DEPARTED THIS LIFE WITHOUT BAPTISM, OR HAS RECEIVED A BAPTISM LACKING IN SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TRADITION, HIS LOSS IS EQUAL."
Canon 46 of the Holy Apostles clearly states: "We order any bishop, or presbyter, that has accepted AMY HERETICS' BAPTISM OR SACRIFICE, TO BE DEPOSED; FOR 'WHAT CONSONANCE HATH CHRIST WITH BELIAL? OR WAHT PORTION HATH A BELIEVER WITH AN UNBELIEVER?'" The early document of The Didache cautions, "Let no one eat and drink of your Eucharist, but those baptized in the name fo the Lord." {Resources: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 