The Sacrament of Baptism/Chrismation in the Orthodox Church

The sacrament of Baptism is the initial sacrament which bring us entry into the Church. It is as fundamental to entering the Church, as is birth to life. Through baptism, we become full and precious member of the Orthodox Church. These are not mere symbolic actions, at least as we tend to interpret symbolism. However, the Greek understanding of the word “Symbolo” would be accurate. The symbolic act includes a merging together, and being completely immersed in and part of the symbol. This is a baptism of power and fire! As John the Baptist says in Luke: “I indeed baptize you in water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”  Christ Himself says: “I came to send fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled.”

The newly Baptised and Chrismated are the first in line to receive communion at Divine Liturgy. Feeding on the body and blood of Christ is essential to our health and spiritual growth. Re-birth through baptism and life sustaining communion, are mysteries far beyond the limiting boundaries of reason and our human intellect. Communion is the “medicine of immortality” and draws us from our earthly created realm to the eternal Kingdom of God. We can never be worthy to receive, only grateful for Christ’s great love and acceptance of us, in granting us life and salvation! Nourishment from communion is as essential to our spiritual life as is nursing from our mothers’ breast once we have been physically born.

As we stand as witnesses, let us renew our own commitment to work with the grace given us in our baptism, and pray that we may re-new the beauty and protection of our baptismal garment. We all come out of the baptismal waters completely cleansed and clothed in a robe of light which always remains with us. However, living in this sinful and fallen world, it is inevitable that our wonderful robe of light, shining with the glory of Christ Himself, will start to collect some stains as we travel through life. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So we all, to varying degrees, have through our carelessness and lack of understanding, stained our most precious treasure, the robe of salvation, that we were clothed in at our baptism. Each of these stains block a little of the ineffable light, radiating from our baptismal robe. If we allow these stains to accumulate, and never stop to have them washed off – through the cleansing action of our tears of repentance and confession, and the grace of God’s forgiveness – it can sometimes almost seem as if the gentle glowing illumination of our baptismal gown has been extinguished by the layers of stains we have allowed to accumulate.

I have good news! The robe is still in place, glowing with the indistinguishable light of Christ. We simply need to come to Christ, who clothed us at our baptism, and allow Him to wash away the stains. Then once again the wonderful splendour and light from our garment of salvation will be able to shine forth. By coming and regularly receiving communion, through prayer, repentance and confession, forgiveness, reading the scriptures and the Saints, and all of the many ways the Lord has given to us to draw near to Him, we slowly and steadily run the race.

So, as we join with the newly baptised Katherine, and see her shining forth in her brand-new robe of light, let us entreat our Saviour and Creator, the most merciful Christ our God, that we too may have our baptismal gowns cleansed and renewed. Let us ask Him to renew in us, our desire to follow Him in all things, and to keep unspotted that precious robe of light we were given, when we first put on Christ at our baptism. Glory to Jesus Christ!