There are several sacraments in the Christian tradition. One of the most important is holy baptism. The Old Testament tradition of the same name served as a prototype for the performance of this sacrament.
The Holy Scripture of the New Testament tells about the Old Testament baptism. This action was performed by the prophet John the Baptist, also called the Baptist.
Saint John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. The Prophet prepared the people directly to accept the Savior, preached repentance and faith in the true God. Christ Himself calls John the greatest man who was born on earth.
John the Baptist performed the Old Testament baptism in the Jordan River. This action included confession of sins and testimony of faith in the true God. Anyone wishing to receive the Old Testament baptism entered the Jordan River and confessed his sins. That is why Old Testament baptism is called otherwise the baptism of repentance. Every devout Jew tried to be baptized by the prophet John. Among the first Old Testament people to be baptized were John's disciples.
Christ Himself received the baptism from John. At the same time, the prophet refused to baptize Christ, asking for baptism from the Savior himself. John understood that Christ did not need to confess his sins (Christ was sinless), nor did Jesus need to confess faith in the true God, that is, in Himself. However, Christ is baptized in order for the Jewish people to receive the Savior during the latter's public ministry. The Orthodox Church sees in the Old Testament baptism of Christ the fact of washing away the sins of all mankind in the Jordan River. Therefore, at present, there is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which is solemnly celebrated on January 19 in a new style.
The New Testament tells that many people first received John's Baptism. Only later were they baptized by the holy apostles in the name of the Holy Trinity, becoming members of the Christian Church.
