Baptism is the first sacrament that accompanies a person who wishes to become a Christian and become a member of the Church of Christ. Baptism is performed at the behest of Jesus Christ. The Lord Himself told the apostles to baptize nations in the name of the Holy Trinity.
The sacrament of baptism in modern times is most often performed in the temple (there are some rare cases of mass acceptance of the sacrament in the river). In Orthodox churches there are special baptisms or baptisteries (in baptisteries, baptism is performed by full immersion).
Baptism begins with a prayer for the naming of a name. Sometimes children are called non-Orthodox names, therefore, during the sacrament, the child is given the name that is available in the calendar. Next, the priest reads a special prayer over mothers (if baptism is performed on babies). This prayer is supposed to be read by a priest on the 40th day after the birth of the child.
A special place at the beginning of baptism is occupied by prayers for the catechumens - those people who have not yet received the sacrament directly, but wish to become Orthodox. Then the priest says prayers for the catechumens, in which he forbids evil spirits (demons) to influence those who have come to faith. After these forbidding prayers comes the important part. Those who wish to receive the sacrament, as well as the godparents of babies, pronounce the words of renunciation of Satan. By this, a person shows his will and disposition to leave evil deeds. After renouncing all evil, the participants in the sacrament pronounce the words about the combination of Christ and faith in Him, as in "the king and God" (the required follow-up of the sacrament of baptism). Following is the Symbol of Faith - the Orthodox confession of Christian doctrine.
Baptism is performed in water, so the priest reads prayers for the consecration of the water and adds holy oil (oil) to it. Those who wish to receive the sacrament are anointed with this holy oil, and then baptism takes place directly in the font or baptistery. Orthodox Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, while water is poured on the head of the baptized person (if the sacrament takes place in the font). From that moment on, a person becomes a Christian and the cross is placed on him.
Following baptism, the sacrament of chrismation is performed, when a person is anointed with holy myrrh with the words "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." In this sacrament, the novice Christian receives divine grace, which strengthens his spiritual strength on the path of striving for holiness.
At the end of baptism and chrismation, tonsure is performed. A small part of the hair is cut crosswise from the head of the newly baptized in the zak of dedication of a person to God.
The end of baptism is churching. New Christians approach the iconostasis, apply the sign of the cross and kiss the images of the Savior and the Mother of God. Sometimes at churching, men are led along the altar of the temple.
After accepting the sacrament, the believer must necessarily receive communion. This is sometimes done immediately after baptism. In other churches, it is blessed to begin communion on the following days, when the Divine Liturgy is celebrated.
The sacrament of baptism can be performed by a priest and at home. This applies to sick or dying people. Depending on the situation, the follow-up can be significantly reduced. The main thing is that the sacramental formula should be pronounced and the Christian should accept chrismation.
