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Our Faith
Souvlaki & Mezes Takeout |
GETTING BAPTIZED? HOLY BAPTISM The
entire Church, triumphant and militant, rejoices when a child is
grafted on to Christ through Holy Baptism. Your decision to
baptize your child in the Orthodox Church is an indication of your love
for the Church and for her sacramental life. Holy Baptism is the
cleansing of one's soul from the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also
the initiation, if you will, of the child into the Church which has
been instituted by Christ Himself, when He was baptized in the Jordan
River by John the Baptist. This sacrament actually has within it
three sacraments, Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation, and Holy
Communion. Holy Chrismation is the imparting of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit to the child, and thus fills the void which is created when
we wash away the sins of Adam and Eve and our own individual
sins. Holy Communion is offered to the child as a sign that he or
she is now a full member of the Orthodox Church. Holy Communion is the
ultimate sign that an individual is in communion with the Church, and
only those who are Orthodox can receive the Sacred Mysteries, the Body
and Blood of Christ. Thus, for the child to receive it on this
day is the expression that he or she is part of the Body of Christ. COORDINATING YOUR BAPTISM Please
contact Fr. Kosta to arrange for a meeting pertaining to the needs
and requirements of your baptism. He will prepare all
necessary Church documents, along with the collection of any Church
fees. Please feel free to ask him any questions you may have concerning
your baptismal service here at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
in Thunder Bay. SETTING THE DATE An individual or a family
desiring to baptize their child should first contact Fr. Kosta for
an appointment. It is preferable to schedule your baptismal date with
the parish priest at least three months prior to the desired date so
that scheduling conflicts can be avoided. According to the
official policies of our Metropolis, baptisms should not be celebrated
during Great Lent along with several large feast days of the
Church. However, please speak with Fr. Kosta if you are
choosing such a date. BAPTISM: SPIRITUAL PRESUPPOSITIONS
Due
to the fact that Baptism is a sacrament, it cannot be celebrated in a
spiritual vacuum. This, therefore, presupposes that: The person
to be baptized has never been baptized before in the Orthodox Church. If someone has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in another Church - and wish to join the Orthodox Church, they need to be baptized again. However, for Roman Catholics and Oriental Orthodox Christians, re-baptism is not required, only Holy Chrismation is sufficient to 'make whole anything that is lacking', and to join the individual to the Orthodox Church. GODPARENTS The
“koumbaro” or “koumbara” - the sponsor who will participate
sacramentally in the service by speaking on behalf of the child, or
standing with the adult, as they accept Christ and renounce the devil,
along with placing oil on the individual and receiving them as they
come out of the Baptismal font, must be an Orthodox Christian "In Good
Standing" and a steward/member of his/her parish. "In Good Standing"
means that they may not have gotten married outside the church or
participated in any foreign sacraments, as this would excommunicate
them from the Orthodox Church. They are charged with being the
spiritual parents of those baptized, to raise them in the Orthodox
Church. If one is not Orthodox, then this role cannot be
fulfilled. If the “koumbaro” or koumbara”, is from another Orthodox parish, they must provide proof from his/her parish priest certifying his/her active stewardship/membership in the Church. VISITING CLERGY Guest
clergy, in Communion with the Orthodox Church, may participate in a
baptism at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Canonically, it is the
responsibility of the priest where the baptism is taking place to
extend an invitation to any and all visiting clergy. Orthodox Christian
clergymen in communion with the Metropolis are welcome to participate
in the celebration of sacraments at Holy Trinity with the blessings of
our priest. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOTAPING Photographs of your
baptism are permitted but should not in any way impede or distract from
the celebration of the sacrament. Photographers should be quiet
and respectful; the use of a flash is allowed. If you are
planning on professional photography and videography, please ask that
your photographer arrive early at the Church so that guidelines can be
laid out. Also, please ask guests to be respectful of the
professional’s space, for your benefit. ITEMS NEEDED Among the items necessary to celebrate one’s baptism in the Church are the following:
WASHING OF THE CLOTHES & BABY/ ADULT AFTER THE SERVICE Due
to the fact that Holy Oil has been spread upon the child/adult and is
seeped into the clothing and towels, care must be taken when washing
everything. When bathing yourself or your child for the first
time after the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, please do so in a tub which
does not empty into the sewer system. Rather, when you are
finished, you can empty the water, together with the Holy Oil around
the foundations of your house, in the flower gardens or any place
outside where people do not step. The same holds true for washing the
towels and clothing. |
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