GOAA BAPTISM English

HOLY BAPTISM
TO AGION BAPTISMA
St Andrew’s Orthodox Press

SYDNEY
2008
First published 2008 by
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
242 Cleveland Street
Redfern, NSW 2016
Copyright © 2008 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
This work is subject to copyright. Apart from any use permitted

under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may in any form or by
any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system of
transmitted without prior written permission from the
publisher. Enquiries should be addressed to the publisher.
National Library of Australia

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Holy Baptism = To Agion Baptisma.
ISBN 9780977597420 (hbk.)
1. Orthodox Eastern Church - Liturgy. 2. Orthodox Eastern

Church - Prayers and devotions. 3. Baptism - Orthodox
Eastern Church. 4. Sacraments - Orthodox Eastern Church. I.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. II. Title: Agion
Baptisma.
265.1
Typeset in 12 point Garamond and 11 point SymbolGreek II

(Linguist’s Software). Icon drawing by Fr Nicholas Brown.
CONTENTS
Preface vii
Making of a Catechumen 3
Eij~ to; Poih`sai Kathcouvmenon
Service of Holy Baptism 33

ÆAkolouqiva tou` ïAgivou Baptivsmato~
Katavasias 93
Katabasivai
Service of Holy Chrismation 105
Baptism in an Emergency 117
v
PREFACE
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop

Stylianos of Australia, the Committee on the
Translation of Liturgical Texts has worked for
some years on the present translation of the
Baptism Service. It has been a challenging task
because of the unusual nature of some of the
language and the complexity of the service
itself. Other translations have been carefully
compared, but this is intended to be a more
accurate version, the need for which became
evident. His Grace Bishop Seraphim of
Apollonias was adviser to the Committee and
gave his time to assist with the resolution of
many difficult questions. The Committee,
chaired by Dr John Lee, is grateful to him and a
number of parish priests who gave their
reactions. The Greek text is basically that in the
Mikron Efchologion, with adjustments in the order
to match actual practice, with His Grace’s
advice. Included in the book are not only the
usual parts but a Service of Chrismation for
already baptised persons entering the Orthodox
Church.
vii
HOLY BAPTISM
TO AGION BAPTISMA
1
THE SERVICE
FOR THE MAKING OF A
CATECHUMEN
The priest, wearing his epitrahelion and standing in the
narthex, blows on the face of the person about to be
enlightened and makes the sign of the Cross with his
hand on the forehead and breast of the person three
times, saying each time:
In the name of the Father and the Son and the

Holy Spirit. Amen. (3)
He then chants:
Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and

to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
During the Easter period: Christ is risen...
And placing his hand on the head of the person, he says

the following prayer.
3
Making of a Catechumen
Prayer
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: In your name, Lord God of truth, and in

the name of your only-begotten Son and your
Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon your servant
(name) who has been found worthy to take
refuge in your holy name and to seek protection
under the shelter of your wings. Remove from
him (her) that old deception, and fill him (her)
with faith, hope and love towards you, that he
(she) may know that you alone are God, the true
God, you and your only-begotten Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ, and your Holy Spirit. Grant that he
(she) may walk in the way of all your command-
ments and keep those things which are pleasing
to you; for anyone who does them will find life
in them. Write him (her) in your book of life and
unite him (her) with the flock of your in-
heritance. May your holy name and that of your
beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and your
life-giving Spirit be glorified in him (her). May
your eyes continually look upon him (her) with
mercy, and may your ears always hear the voice
5
of his (her) prayer. Give him (her) joy in the

works of his (her) hands and in all his (her)
family, that he (she) may confess you, worship-
ping and glorifying your great and exalted name,
and may praise you continually all the days of
his (her) life. For all the powers of heaven praise
you, and yours is the glory, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of
ages.
People: Amen.
First Exorcism
Priest: The Lord rebukes you, O Devil, he who

came into the world and dwelt among us in
order to destroy your tyranny and set us free;
who on the wood of the Cross triumphed over
the opposing powers, when the sun was
darkened, the earth shook, tombs were opened
and the bodies of Saints arose; he destroyed
death by death and made powerless the one
who has power over death, that is, you the
7
Devil. I command you in the name of God,

who showed the tree of life and positioned the
Cherubim and the flaming sword turning back
and forth to guard it: be rebuked and withdraw;
for I command you in the name of him who
walked on the surface of the sea as upon dry
land, who rebuked the stormy winds, whose
glance dries up the depths, at whose threat the
mountains melt. For he himself now commands
you through us: be afraid, come out and with-
draw from this person he created, and do not
return, do not hide in him (her), do not confront
him (her) or work in him (her) or intrude upon
him (her), by night or by day, at any hour or at
noon; but go away to your own hell, until the
great day of judgement that has been prepared.
Fear God, who is seated upon the Cherubim,
and who looks upon the depths; before whom
tremble Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Domi-
nions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, the
many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Sera-
phim; before whom tremble heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them. Come out and
withdraw from this sealed and newly enlisted
soldier of Christ our God; for I command you
in the name of the one who walks on the wings
of the wind, who makes his angels spirits, and
9
his ministers a flaming fire. Come out and

withdraw from this person he created, with all
your power and your angels. For glorified is the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Second Exorcism
Priest: God the Holy one, fearful and glorious,

who in all his works and his might is beyond
understanding and beyond searching, pre-
ordained for you, O Devil, the penalty of
eternal punishment; through us his unworthy
servants he orders you, and all the powers that
work with you, to depart from this person
newly sealed in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, our true God. I command you therefore,
you thoroughly evil, unclean, foul, loathsome
and alien spirit, by the power of Jesus Christ,
who has all authority in heaven and on earth,
and who said to the deaf and dumb demon,
11
‘Come out of this person and never enter him

again.’ Withdraw, know the emptiness of your
power, which had no authority even over pigs.
Remember the one who ordered you, at your
own request, to enter the herd of swine. Fear
God, at whose command the earth was estab-
lished upon the waters, who created the heaven,
and who weighed the mountains in a balance
and the valleys in a scale; who set the sand as
the boundary of the sea and made a safe path
through the raging water; who touches the
mountains and they smoke; who clothes himself
with light as with a garment; who stretches out
the heavens like a curtain; who covers his upper
rooms with the waters; who establishes the
earth on its sure foundation; it will not be
moved for ever and ever; who calls up the water
of the sea and pours it out as rain upon the face
of all the earth. Come out and withdraw from
this person who is being prepared for holy
enlightenment. I command you by the saving
passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, by his pre-
cious Body and Blood, and by his fearful
coming again. For he will come without delay,
he will judge all the earth, he will punish you in
the fire of hell, you and the power that works
with you, he will deliver you into the outer
13
darkness, where the worm never rests and the

fire is never quenched. For the power belongs
to Christ our God, together with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of
ages.
People: Amen.
Third Exorcism
Priest: Lord of Sabaoth, God of Israel, healer of

every illness and sickness, look upon this your
servant; seek out, search out and drive out from
him (her) all the workings of the Devil. Rebuke
the unclean spirits and drive them away, cleanse
the work of your hands, and by your sharp
action swiftly crush Satan under his (her) feet,
and give him (her) victory over the Devil and his
unclean spirits; so that having received your
mercy he (she) may be made worthy of your
immortal and heavenly mysteries, and may offer
you glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
ever and to the ages of ages.
15
People: Amen.
Prayer
Priest: Master, Lord, the One Who Is, who made

human beings in your image and likeness, and
gave them the power to attain eternal life, and
did not ignore them when they went astray
through sin, but provided for the salvation of
the world through the incarnation of your
Christ; redeem this person you created from
enslavement by the enemy, and receive him (her)
into your heavenly kingdom. Open the eyes of
his (her) mind, so that the illumination of your
Gospel may shine within him (her). Join to him
(her) throughout his (her) life an Angel of light,
delivering him (her) from every design of the
enemy, from any encounter with evil, from the
noonday demon, from evil apparitions.
The priest blows on him/her three times, and makes the

sign of the Cross on his/her forehead, mouth and breast,
saying:
17
Drive out from him (her) every evil and unclean

spirit, hiding and lurking in his (her) heart (this is
said three times); the spirit of error, the spirit of
evil, the spirit of idolatry and every form of
greed, the spirit of deceit and all uncleanness,
working in him (her) under the direction of the
Devil. And make him (her) a reason-endowed
sheep of the holy flock of your Christ, a pre-
cious member of your Church, a sanctified
vessel, a son (daughter) of light and an inheritor
of your kingdom; so that having conducted his
(her) life according to your commandments,
having preserved the seal unbroken, and having
kept his (her) garment undefiled, he (she) may
attain the blessedness of the Saints in your
kingdom.
He chants the conclusion:

Through the grace and compassion and loving
kindness of your only-begotten Son, with
whom you are blessed, together with your all-
holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever
and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
19
The priest turns the catechumen (if he/she is of age,

unclothed and barefooted) towards the west with hands
extended in front of him/her, and asks the following
three times:
Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and

all his worship, and all his angels, and all his
pomp? (3)
The catechumen or the Godparent answers each time:
I renounce him. (3)
Then this question and answer three times:
Priest: Have you renounced Satan? (3)
Answer: I have renounced him. (3)
When this has been said three times, the priest says:
Then blow on him and spit on him.
The catechumen or the Godparent does so. Then the

priest turns the catechumen towards the east, with hands
lowered. Then this question and answer three times:
21
Priest: Do you join the side of Christ? (3)
Answer: I join his side. (3)
Then this question and answer three times:
Priest: Have you joined the side of Christ? (3)
Answer: I have joined his side. (3)
The priest then says:
And do you believe in him?
Answer:
I believe in him, as King and God.
The catechumen or the Godparent then recites:
The Symbol of Faith
I believe in one God, Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
23
the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of the Father before all ages,
light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made,
of one essence with the Father;
through him all things were made.
Who for us and for our salvation

came down from heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary,
and became human,
and was crucified for us under Pontius
Pilate,
and suffered and was buried,
and rose on the third day according to the
Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the
Father,
and will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
25
who together with the Father and the Son

is worshipped and glorified,
and who spoke through the Prophets.
In one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins.
I expect the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
Then again this question and answer three times:
Priest: Have you joined the side of Christ? (3)
Answer: I have joined his side. (3)
Then the priest says:
Then bow down and worship him.
The catechumen or the Godparent makes a reverence,

and says:
I bow down and worship Father, Son and

Holy Spirit, Trinity of one essence and
inseparable.
27
Priest: Blessed is God, who desires that all

human beings be saved and come to the
knowledge of the truth, now and ever and to
the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Prayer
Priest: Master, Lord our God, call your servant

(name) to your holy enlightenment, and make
him (her) worthy of this great grace of your holy
Baptism. Take off his (her) old life and renew
him (her) for eternal life, and fill him (her) with
the power of your Holy Spirit, to unite him (her)
with your Christ, so that he (she) may no longer
be a child of the mortal body but a child of your
kingdom. Through the good pleasure and grace
of your only-begotten Son, with whom you are
blessed, together with your all-holy, good and
life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages
of ages.
29
People: Amen.
Dismissal
Priest: Glory to you, O God our hope, glory to

you.
May Christ our true God, through the

intercessions of his all-pure and blameless holy
Mother; through the power of the precious and
life-giving Cross; through the protection of the
honoured bodiless Powers of heaven; through
the supplications of the honoured, glorious Pro-
phet and Forerunner John the Baptist; of the
holy, glorious and praiseworthy Apostles; of the
holy, glorious and triumphant Martyrs; of our
holy and God-bearing Fathers and Mothers; of
the holy and righteous Ancestors of God Jo-
achim and Anna, and of all the Saints, have
mercy on us and save us, as a good and loving
God.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord

Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and
save us.
People: Amen.
31
THE SERVICE
OF HOLY BAPTISM
The priest goes into the sanctuary and changes into white
vestments, namely epitrahelion and felonion. When all
the candles at the font have been lit, he takes the Gospel
book and incense, goes to the font and censes all around,
and after giving back the censer, makes a reverence.
Deacon: Bless, master.
Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and

the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and
to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
During the Easter period: Christ is risen...
Litany for Peace
Deacon, or the priest if there is no deacon:
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
People, after each petition: Lord, have mercy.
33
Holy Baptism
For the peace from above and the salvation of

our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, the stability

of the holy Churches of God and the union of
all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house and those who enter it with

faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to
the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), the honourable

priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the
clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may be sanctified by the visi-

tation, power and energy of the Holy Spirit, let
us pray to the Lord.
That the grace of redemption and the blessing

of the Jordan may be sent down upon it, let us
pray to the Lord.
That the purifying energy of the Trinity that is

beyond all being may come down upon these
waters, let us pray to the Lord.
35
Holy Baptism
That we may be enlightened with the light of

knowledge and piety through the visitation of
the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may prove to be a defence

against every plot from enemies seen and
unseen, let us pray to the Lord.
That the person to be baptised in it may be

made worthy of the incorruptible kingdom, let
us pray to the Lord.
For the person who is now approaching holy

enlightenment and for his (her) salvation, let us
pray to the Lord.
That he (she) may prove to be a son (daughter) of

light and an inheritor of eternal blessings, let us
pray to the Lord.
That he (she) may share and join in the death

and resurrection of Christ our God, let us pray
to the Lord.
37
Holy Baptism
That he (she) may preserve the garment of

baptism, and the pledge of the Spirit, spotless
and undefiled on the fearful day of Christ our
God, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may be for him (her) a washing

of rebirth, for forgiveness of sins, and a gar-
ment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may hear the voice of our

prayer, let us pray to the Lord.
For his (her) and our deliverance from all

affliction, anger, danger and distress, let us pray
to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect

us, O God, by your grace.
Deacon: Commemorating our all-holy, pure,

most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and
ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us com-
mend ourselves and one another and our whole
life to Christ our God.
People: To you, O Lord.
39
Holy Baptism
While the litany is being said, the priest says the fol-
lowing prayer in a low voice (including the conclusion
and Amen).
Prayer
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have

mercy.
Compassionate and merciful God, who exa-

mine hearts and minds, and who alone know
the secrets of all, for nothing is hidden from
you, but everything is naked and laid bare
before your eyes, and you know all about me;
do not despise me or turn your face away from
me, but overlook my transgressions at this time,
you who overlook the sins of human beings and
lead them to repentance; wash away the defile-
ment of my body and the stain of my soul, and
sanctify the whole of me by your invisible
power and your spiritual right hand; so that
while I offer and provide freedom to others,
trusting in your inexpressible love for human
beings, I may not myself be rejected as a slave
of sin. No, Master, who alone are good and
loving, may I not be turned away humbled and
ashamed, but send me power from on high and
41
Holy Baptism
give me strength to administer the great and

heavenly mystery before us. Form the image of
your Christ in the one who is about to be
reborn through me your humble servant; build
him (her) on the foundation of your Apostles
and Prophets, and do not cast him (her) down,
but plant him (her) as a true plant in your holy,
catholic and apostolic Church, and do not
uproot him (her); so that also through him (her),
as he (she) progresses in piety, your all-holy
name may be glorified, Father, Son and Holy
Amen.
On completion of the litany, the priest says the following

prayer aloud with fear of God, with all his soul and a
humble heart.
Great are you, Lord, and wondrous are your

works, and no word will suffice to praise your
wonders. (3)
People: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you. (3)
For by your will you brought all things from

non-being into being; by your power you sus-
tain all creation, and by your providence you
43
Holy Baptism
direct the world. You brought all creation to-

gether out of four elements and you crowned
the cycle of the year with four seasons. All the
spiritual powers tremble before you; the sun
praises you, the moon glorifies you, the stars
converse with you, the light obeys you, the
depths shudder before you, the wellsprings
serve you. You stretched out the heavens like a
curtain; you established the earth upon the
waters; you surrounded the sea with sand; you
poured out the air for breathing. The angelic
powers minister to you; the choirs of Arch-
angels worship you; the many-eyed Cherubim
and the six-winged Seraphim, hovering about
you on their wings, cover themselves in awe
before your unapproachable glory. For you,
though God without beginning, inexpressible
and boundless, came to earth, taking the form
of a servant, being born in human likeness. For
in your merciful compassion, Master, you could
not bear to see the human race under the
tyranny of the Devil, but came and saved us.
We acknowledge your grace, we proclaim your
mercy, we make no secret of your kindness.
You have set free all human generations; by
your birth you sanctified a Virgin’s womb; all
creation praised your epiphany. For you, our
45
Holy Baptism
God, appeared on earth and lived among us;

you sanctified the waters of the Jordan, sending
down from heaven your Holy Spirit upon them,
and crushing the heads of the evil creatures
lurking there.
Therefore, loving King, be present now

through the visitation of your Holy Spirit, and
sanctify this water. (3)
He makes the sign of the Cross in the water.
People: Amen. (3)
And grant to it the grace of redemption and the

blessing of the Jordan. Make it a fountain of
incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a release
from sins, a protection against infirmities; des-
tructive to demons, unapproachable by hostile
powers, filled with angelic might. Let all who
plot against this person you created flee from
him (her); for I have called upon your name,
Lord, which is wonderful and glorious and
fearful to your enemies.
He blows on the water three times, and makes the sign

of the Cross three times with his right hand in the water,
and each time prays, saying:
47
Holy Baptism
Let all adverse powers be crushed by the

making of the sign of your precious Cross. (3)
People: Amen. (3)
Let all invisible phantoms of the air withdraw

from us; let no demon of darkness hide in this
water, and we ask you, Lord, let no evil spirit
that darkens the thoughts and disturbs the mind
descend with the one being baptised. But
Master of all, make this water: water of redem-
ption, water of sanctification, a purification of
flesh and spirit, a release from bonds, forgive-
ness of transgressions, enlightenment of soul, a
washing of rebirth, renewal of spirit, the gift of
adoption, a garment of incorruption and the
fountain of life. For it was you, Lord, who said,
Wash yourselves and become clean; remove all
evil from your souls. You granted us rebirth
from above through water and the Spirit.
Manifest yourself, Lord, in this water, and grant
that he (she) who is baptised in it may be trans-
formed, so as to put away the old self that is
corrupted by deceitful desires, and put on the
new that is made in the image of God who
created him (her); so that, united in the likeness
of your death through baptism, he (she) may also
49
Holy Baptism
share in your resurrection; and having preserved

the gift of your Holy Spirit and increased the
grace entrusted to him (her), he (she) may receive
the prize of being called on high, and may be
numbered among the first-born who have been
recorded in heaven, with you, our God and
Lord Jesus Christ.
For to you belong glory, power, honour and

worship, together with your eternal Father and
your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now
and ever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
People: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
The priest blows on the flask of olive oil held by the

Godparent, and makes the sign of the Cross over it three
times with his hand, as he says the following prayer:
51
Holy Baptism
Prayer of the Oil
Priest: Master, Lord God of our Fathers, who

sent to those in Noah’s ark a dove holding a
twig of olive in its beak, as a symbol of recon-
ciliation and deliverance from the flood, and
who prefigured the mystery of grace through
these signs; who supplied the fruit of the olive
for the fulfilment of your holy mysteries, and
through it filled with the Holy Spirit those who
were under the Law, and make perfect those
under grace; bless this oil through the power
and energy and visitation of your Holy Spirit, so
that it may become an anointing of incor-
ruption, a weapon of righteousness, a renewal
of soul and body, a defence against every ac-
tivity of the Devil, and a deliverance from evil,
for all those who are anointed with it in faith, or
partake of it.
To your glory, and that of your only-begotten

Son and your all-holy, good and life-giving
53
Holy Baptism
People: Amen.
The priest takes the flask of olive oil and pours from it
into the font, making three Crosses, and at each Cross is
chanted:
Deacon: Let us attend. (3)
People: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. (3)
The priest then chants:
Blessed is God, who enlightens and sanctifies

everyone who comes into the world, now and
People: Amen.
The person to be baptised is brought to the priest. The

priest takes some of the holy oil with the three fingers of
his right hand and makes the sign of the Cross on the
forehead of the person, saying:
The servant of God (name) is anointed with the

oil of gladness, in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
55
Holy Baptism
Making the sign of the Cross on the breast, he says: For

the healing of soul and body.
On the nose: For a sweet-smelling fragrance.
On the mouth: My mouth will speak wisdom.
On the ears: For the hearing of faith.
On the hands: Your hands made me and formed

me.
On the legs: That your steps may walk in every

good deed.
Under the feet: To tread on snakes and scorpions

and all the power of the enemy.
On the back: Whoever wishes to come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his Cross and
follow me.
The Baptism
When the whole body of the person has been anointed

with oil by the Godparent, the priest baptises the person,
holding him/her upright facing east and saying:
57
Holy Baptism
The servant of God (name) is baptised in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, Amen.
He lowers and raises him/her at each phrase.
The priest covers the whole body of the person thoroughly

with water.
The Godparent then receives him/her out of the holy font

from the hands of the priest into his/her outstretched
hands, a white cloth having been previously spread out
across his/her hands.
The choir sings:
Psalm 31
Blessed are those whose iniquities are for-
given, and whose sins are covered. (3)
[Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
reckons no sin, and in whose mouth there is no
guile.
Because I kept silent, my bones grew old
through my crying all the day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon
me, I was reduced to misery when the thorn
stuck fast in me.
59
Holy Baptism
My iniquity have I acknowledged, and my sin

have I not hidden. I said: I will confess my ini-
quities before the Lord against myself. And you
forgave the ungodliness of my heart.
For this every one who is holy will pray to
you at a proper time. But in a flood of many
waters they will not come near him.
You are my refuge from the affliction that
surrounds me; you are my rejoicing, redeem me
from those who have encircled me.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way
you are to go; I will fix my eyes upon you.
Do not be like the horse and the mule that
have no understanding; whose jaws you must
hold with bit and bridle, when they will not
come to you.
Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mer-
cy will encircle the one who hopes in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you right-
eous ones; glory in him, all who are upright of
heart.]
Chrismation
The priest anoints the baptised person with the holy

Chrism, making the sign of the Cross on the forehead,
breast, nose, mouth, ears, hands, legs, feet and back,
saying each time:
61
Holy Baptism
The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Cutting of the Hair
The priest cuts the hair of the child’s head in a Cross

shape, saying:
The hair of the servant of God (name) is cut, in

the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Robing
He then dresses the person in his/her undergarment,

saying:
The servant of God (name) is clothed with a

garment of righteousness, in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
It is customary also for a small Cross to be given to the

newly baptised person at this point.
This troparion is sung:
63
Holy Baptism
Grant me a robe full of light, you who clothe

yourself with light as with a garment, merci-
ful Christ our God. (3)
The priest washes his hands, then reads the prayer of the
Chrism and the remaining prayers in a low voice, while
the choir sings the Katavasias ( p. 93).
_________
Prayer of the Chrism

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty, the

source of good, the sun of righteousness, who
shone the light of salvation on those in dark-
ness through the manifestation of your only-
begotten Son and our God, and bestowed on us
unworthy ones blessed purification through
holy baptism, and divine sanctification through
life-giving anointing; who now have been
pleased to regenerate your newly enlightened
servant by water and the Spirit, granting him
(her) forgiveness of sins both voluntary and
involuntary. Grant to him (her) also, compas-
sionate Master, King of all, the seal of the gift
65
Holy Baptism
of your holy and all-powerful and worshipped

Spirit, and the partaking of the holy Body and
precious Blood of your Christ. Protect him (her)
in your sanctification; keep him (her) firm in the
Orthodox faith; deliver him (her) from the Evil
One and all his schemes, and through your sa-
ving fear keep his (her) soul in purity and right-
eousness; so that pleasing you in every word
and deed, he (she) may become a son (daughter)
and inheritor of your heavenly kingdom. For
you are our God, a God of mercy and salvation,
and to you we offer glory, Father, Son and Holy
People: Amen.
Prayers after the Washing of Baptism

Prayer 1

67
Holy Baptism
Priest: You who through holy baptism have

granted to your servant redemption from sins
and have bestowed on him (her) birth to a new
life, be pleased, Master and Lord, to shine the
illumination of your countenance in his (her)
heart always; keep the shield of his (her) faith
safe against the plots of enemies; preserve the
garment of incorruption which he (she) has put
on pure and unpolluted; keep the spiritual seal
unbroken in him (her) by your grace, and be
merciful to him (her) and to us according to the
abundance of your compassion. For blessed and
glorified is your all-honoured and majestic
name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
People: Amen.
Prayer 2

Priest: Master, Lord our God, who through the

font bestow heavenly enlightenment on those
who are baptised; who have regenerated your
newly enlightened servant by water and the
Spirit, and have granted to him (her) forgiveness
69
Holy Baptism
of sins both voluntary and involuntary; lay your

mighty hand upon him (her) and protect him
(her) by the power of your goodness; keep safe
the pledge he (she) has received, and make him
(her) worthy of eternal life and your good fa-
vour. For you are our sanctification, and to you
we offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.

Prayer 3

Priest: He (she) who has put on you, Christ our

God, has bowed his (her) head to you with us;
keep him (her) an invincible warrior, to endure
against those who attack him (her) and us in
vain, and with your incorruptible crown pro-
claim us all victors to the end. For you are the
71
Holy Baptism
one who has mercy and saves us, and to you we

offer glory, with your eternal Father and your
all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and
People: Amen.
Prayer at Cutting of the Hair

Priest: Master, Lord our God, who have hon-

oured human beings with your image, making
them with a rational soul and beautiful body, so
that the body might serve the rational soul; who
have placed the head above all and established
in it most of the senses, each independent of
the other; who have crowned the head with hair
to protect it from the elements; who have
fittingly arranged all our members, so that with
them all we might give thanks to you, the
excellent craftsman; who through your chosen
vessel, Paul the Apostle, have instructed us to
do all things for your glory; bless, Master, your
servant (name) who has come to make a first
offering by the cutting of the hair of his (her)
head, and bless also his (her) Godparent; and
73
Holy Baptism
grant that they may meditate on your Law, and

do everything that is pleasing to you. For you
are a merciful and loving God, and to you we
offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now
People: Amen.
_________
After reading the prayers, the priest censes the font,

circling it with the Godparent, who faces the priest and
holds the newly enlightened child and a lighted candle, as
the following is sung by the priest and then the people:
You who have been baptised into Christ,

Christ have you put on. Alleluia. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the

Holy Spirit;
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.
Christ have you put on. Alleluia.
[Deacon: Dinamis.]
75
Holy Baptism
You who have been baptised into Christ,

Christ have you put on. Alleluia.
Apostle
The prokimenon is read by the reader:
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Deacon: Let us attend.
Verse. The Lord is the protector of my life.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the

Romans. (6.3–11)
Reader: Brethren, all of us who have been bap-

tised into Christ were baptised into his death.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism
into death, so that as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
walk in newness of life. For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we shall
certainly be united with him in a resurrection
77
Holy Baptism
like his. We know that our old self was crucified

with him so that the sinful body might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved
to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin.
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that
we shall also live with him. For we know that
Christ being raised from the dead will never die
again; death no longer has dominion over him.
The death he died he died to sin, once for all,
but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also
must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive
to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Priest: Peace be with you, the reader.
People: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Then from the Royal Doors is read:
Holy Gospel
Deacon: Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the holy

Gospel.
79
Holy Baptism
Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel

according to Matthew. (28.16–20)
People: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you.
Priest: At that time, the eleven Disciples went to

Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had
directed them. And when they saw him they
worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus
came and said to them, All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Go there-
fore and make disciples of all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
that I have commanded you; and behold, I am
with you always, to the close of the age. Amen.
People: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you.
Litany
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to

your great mercy, we ask you, hear us and have
mercy.
81
Holy Baptism
People: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Again, we pray for mercy, life, peace,

health, and salvation of your servants, the newly
enlightened one (name), the Godparent (name),
and all the people here present.
People: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Priest: For you are a merciful and loving God,

People: Amen.
Prayer
83
Holy Baptism
The priest, placing his right hand on the head of the

baptised person, says:
Lord our God, who in your goodness sanctify,

through the fulfilment of the font, those who
believe in you; bless this child (if an adult: this
person) here present, and may your blessing
come down upon his (her) head. And as you
blessed David the King through your Prophet
Samuel, bless also the head of your servant
(name) through the hand of me, a sinner, and
continually visit him (her) with your Holy Spirit,
so that as he (she) advances in years and reaches
ripe old age, he (she) may offer you glory, and
may behold the blessings of Jerusalem all the
days of his (her) life.
For to you belong all glory, honour and

worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
People: Amen.
85
Holy Baptism
The priest dips a cloth in clean water and wipes the face
of the child, saying:
You have been baptised, you have been

enlightened, you have been anointed with holy
Chrism, you have been sanctified, you have
been washed clean, in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dismissal

you.
People: Glory to the Father and the Son and

the Holy Spirit;

Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,

have mercy. Holy father, bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, who accepted

baptism by John in the Jordan for our salvation,
through the intercessions of his all-pure and
blameless holy Mother; through the suppli-
87
Holy Baptism
cations of the honoured, glorious Prophet and

Forerunner John the Baptist; of the holy, glor-
ious and praiseworthy Apostles; of Saint...*; and
of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us,
as a good and loving God.
*The Saint whose name the newly baptised person has
received.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord

Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and
save us.
People: Amen.
_________
Then the newly baptised person and the Godparent go

away to the person’s house, all carrying lights and
singing on the way:
You who have been baptised into Christ... or

The universal glory...
89
Holy Baptism
Note
If the Service of Baptism is held on the day of

Theophany, the priest omits the prayers for the blessing
of water. Instead he uses water from the Great Blessing
of Water, and pouring it in a Cross shape into the font
he chants When in the Jordan... three times, and at
once begins the prayer of the oil (Peace be with you
all, p. 51) and continues with the remainder as usual.
INSTRUCTION
The priest is to take care to instruct the midwife and the

mother of the newly baptised person not to bath him/her
or wash his/her face for seven days. On the eighth day
they are to wash him/her, and tip the water used for
washing in a place where no one walks or into a stream
or at the church.
91
KATAVASIAS
`
Of the Elevation of the Cross
Outside the Easter period.
Ode 1
A cross Moses engraved, with his rod he made
an upright stroke and parted the Red Sea for
Israel, who went across on foot. Then with a
transverse stroke he struck the waters and uni-
ted them over Pharaoh’s chariots, thus portray-
ing on the sea the invincible weapon. For this
let us sing praise to Christ our God, for he has
been glorified.
Ode 3
The rod is taken as a model of the mystery, for
by its flowering it foretold who the priest would
be. And the wood of the Cross has now burst
forth into bloom in the Church, which once
was barren, as its strength and support.
Ode 4
I have heard, Lord, the mystery of your divine
purpose, I have recognised your works and
glorified your Divinity.
93
Katavasias
Ode 5
O thrice-blessed wood! on which Christ was
stretched out, the King and Lord; through
whom fell the one who deceived by a tree,
caught in a trap set by God, who was nailed to
you in the flesh, granting peace to our souls.
Ode 6
In the sea-creature’s belly, Jonah stretched out
his hands like a cross, clearly prefiguring the
saving passion. And on the third day coming
forth, he portrayed the resurrection beyond this
world, of Christ our God who was nailed in the
flesh, and rising on the third day, brought light
to the world.
Ode 7
The senseless decree of the pagan tyrant shook
the people, breathing threats and wicked blas-
phemy. But the three Children were not fright-
ened by the beastlike rage nor the roaring fire;
and in the refreshing breeze that answered, they
stood in the fire and sang: O highly praised
God of our fathers and our God, blessed are
you.
95
Katavasias
Ode 8
We praise and we bless and we worship the
Lord.
O Children, three in number like the Trinity,

bless God the Father, the creator; praise also
the Word who descended to earth and trans-
formed the fire into dew; and exalt the giver of
life to all, the Spirit most holy to the ages.
Ode 9
O Theotokos, you are a mystical garden, and
though untilled you brought forth the Christ, by
whom the life-giving tree of the Cross is plan-
ted in the earth; at its exaltation now, we
worship him and magnify you.
97
Katavasias
Of Pascha
From the Sunday of Pascha until the Return of the

Feast, that is, the Wednesday before the Ascension.
Ode 1
It is the day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O
you peoples; Pascha of the Lord, Pascha. For
from death into life, and from earth to heaven,
Christ our God has brought us, as we sing the
victory hymn.
Ode 3
Come let us drink a new drink, not one from a
barren rock, worked by a miracle, but the spring
of incorruption, the flowing forth of Christ
from the tomb, by whom we are strengthened.
Ode 4
Keeping the divine watch, may the prophet
Abbakum stand with us and show the light-
bearing Angel, who declares with piercing voice:
Today is come salvation to the world, for Christ
has risen, he who is almighty.
99
Katavasias
Ode 5
Let us rise in the deep of early morning, and let
us offer not myrrh but the hymn of praise to
the Master, and we shall see Christ, the sun of
righteousness dawning, bringing life to all.
Ode 6
You descended to the depths of the earth, and
you shattered the eternal bars, O Christ, holding
fast those who had been bound, and on the
third day, like Jonah from the whale, you arose
from the tomb.
Ode 7
He who delivered the Children from the
furnace, becomes human and suffers as a mor-
tal, and through his suffering, he clothes the
mortal in the beauty of incorruption, the only
blessed one of our fathers, God who surpasses
all in glory.
Ode 8
We praise and we bless and we worship the
Lord.
This is the chosen and holy day, the first of the

week, the queen and lady, the feast of feasts, the
festival of festivals, on which we bless Christ to
the ages.
101
Katavasias
Ode 9
The Angel cried out to the favoured one: Holy
Virgin, hail, and again I say, hail; your Son has
risen on the third day from the tomb.
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem; for the glory of

the Lord has dawned upon you. Dance now and
rejoice, O Sion; and you, holy Theotokos, take
delight in the rising of your child.
103
THE SERVICE OF HOLY
CHRISMATION
Or
Service of Reception into the Orthodox
Church of a Person Already Baptised
The Orthodox Church does not actively attempt to

convert non-Orthodox Christians. A non-Orthodox
Christian who freely and of his/her own volition wishes
to enter the Orthodox Church may do so as follows.
He/she is first admitted as a Catechumen and
given instruction by the priest of the parish in the faith
and teachings of the Orthodox Church. He/she is then
received into the communion of the Orthodox Church in
one of these ways:
1) A person who has not been baptised in the name
of the Holy Trinity is received by the celebration of the
full Service of Holy Baptism and Chrismation as con-
ducted for unbaptised persons;
2) A person who has previously been baptised in the
name of the Holy Trinity, in a manner recognised by the
Orthodox Church, is received by the celebration of the
Service of Holy Chrismation, as set out below.
105
Holy Chrismation
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,

have mercy on us.
have mercy on us.
have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit;
Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be

merciful to our sins. Master, forgive our
transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal
our infirmities, for your name’s sake. Lord
have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have
mercy.

Holy Spirit;
Amen.
107
Holy Chrismation
Confession on Entering Orthodoxy
By God’s grace, as I enter Orthodoxy, the one

holy, catholic and apostolic Church, I confess
that I agree with all decisions of the seven holy
Ecumenical Councils and the local Councils,
and I reject all non-Orthodox beliefs and prac-
tices concerning the teaching, the mysteries, the
tradition and the life of the Church. Thus I
confess, and with my whole heart and of my
own free will I embrace Orthodoxy, of which I
promise, with God’s help, to be a faithful
member.
The Symbol of Faith
I believe in one God, Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made,
of one essence with the Father;
109
Holy Chrismation
I expect the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the age to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Chrism
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty, the

source of good, the sun of righteousness, who
shone the light of salvation on those in dark-
ness through the manifestation of your only-
begotten Son and our God, and bestowed on us
unworthy ones blessed purification through
holy baptism, and divine sanctification through
life-giving anointing; who now have been plea-
sed to regenerate your newly enlightened ser-
vant (name*) by water and the Spirit, granting
him (her) forgiveness of sins both voluntary and
involuntary. Grant to him (her) also, compas-
sionate Master, King of all, the seal of the gift
of your holy and all-powerful and worshipped
Spirit, and the partaking of the holy Body and
precious Blood of your Christ. Protect him (her)
in your sanctification; keep him (her) firm in the
Orthodox faith; deliver him (her) from the Evil
111
Holy Chrismation
Priest: Master, Lord our God, who have hon-

oured human beings with your image, making
them with a rational soul and beautiful body, so
that the body might serve the rational soul; who
have placed the head above all and established
in it most of the senses, each independent of
the other; who have crowned the head with hair
to protect it from the elements; who have
fittingly arranged all our members, so that with
them all we might give thanks to you, the
excellent craftsman; who through your chosen
vessel, Paul the Apostle, have instructed us to
do all things for your glory; bless, Master, your
servant (name) who has come to make a first
offering by the cutting of the hair of his (her)
head, and bless also his (her) Godparent; and
grant that they may meditate on your Law, and
do everything that is pleasing to you. For you
are a merciful and loving God, and to you we
offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now
People: Amen.
113
Holy Chrismation
Priest: For you are a merciful and loving God,

People: Amen.
Dismissal

you.
People: Glory to the Father and the Son and

the Holy Spirit;

Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,

have mercy. Holy father, bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the

intercessions of his all-pure and blameless holy
Mother; through the power of the precious and
life-giving Cross; through the protection of the
honoured bodiless Powers of heaven; through
the supplications of the honoured, glorious Pro-
phet and Forerunner John the Baptist; of the
115
BAPTISM IN
AN EMERGENCY
When an infant or adult is at the point of death
while still unbaptised into the Kingdom of God, an
emergency Baptism may be performed. If no priest is
available, the Baptism may be performed by any Ortho-
dox Christian.
If time is very short, the minimum necessary is the
sprinkling of the person with water (blessed, if available)
and recitation of the words of Baptism:
The servant of God (name) is baptised in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, Amen.
If more time is available and a priest is present, he

is to bless the water first, saying (part of) the prayer for
blessing of water (pp. 43-51).
If the person survives, he or she is to be brought in
due time to the Church for the full Service of Holy Bap-
tism and Chrismation, except the immersion in water
and the recitation of the words above, which are not
repeated.
117

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HOLY BAPTISM

St Andrew’s Orthodox Press

Copyright © 2008 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

This work is subject to copyright. Apart from any use permitted

National Library of Australia

Holy Baptism = To Agion Baptisma.

ISBN 9780977597420 (hbk.)

1. Orthodox Eastern Church - Liturgy. 2. Orthodox Eastern

Typeset in 12 point Garamond and 11 point SymbolGreek II

Service of Holy Baptism 33

Service of Holy Chrismation 105

Baptism in an Emergency 117

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop

In the name of the Father and the Son and the

Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and

During the Easter period: Christ is risen...

And placing his hand on the head of the person, he says

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: In your name, Lord God of truth, and in

of his (her) prayer. Give him (her) joy in the

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: The Lord rebukes you, O Devil, he who

Devil. I command you in the name of God,

his ministers a flaming fire. Come out and

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: God the Holy one, fearful and glorious,

‘Come out of this person and never enter him

darkness, where the worm never rests and the

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord of Sabaoth, God of Israel, healer of

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Master, Lord, the One Who Is, who made

The priest blows on him/her three times, and makes the

Drive out from him (her) every evil and unclean

He chants the conclusion:

The priest turns the catechumen (if he/she is of age,

Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and

The catechumen or the Godparent answers each time:

I renounce him. (3)

Then this question and answer three times:

Priest: Have you renounced Satan? (3)

Answer: I have renounced him. (3)

Then blow on him and spit on him.

The catechumen or the Godparent does so. Then the

Priest: Do you join the side of Christ? (3)

Answer: I join his side. (3)

Then this question and answer three times:

Priest: Have you joined the side of Christ? (3)

Answer: I have joined his side. (3)

The priest then says:

And do you believe in him?

I believe in him, as King and God.

The catechumen or the Godparent then recites:

The Symbol of Faith