The Office of Holy Baptism

The Prayers At The Reception Of Catechumens

The Priest loose the girdle of the Person who desireth Illumination, and removeth it, and putteth it ojffrojn him ; and placeth him with his face towards the east, clothed in one garment only, unshod, and with head uncovered, and •with his arms hanging by his sides ; and he breatheth thrice in his face ; and signeth his brow and his breast thrice with the sign of the cross ; and layeth his hand upon his head, saying :

Let US pray to the Lord, (i)

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

In thy Name, O Lord God of truth, and in the Name of thine Onlybegotten Son, and of thy Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon thy servant, N., who hath been found worthy to flee unto thy holy Name, and to take refuge under the shelter of thy wings. Remove far from him her his (Jier) former delusion, and fill him (her) with the faith, hope and love which are in thee ; that he (she) may know that thou art the only true God, with thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and thy Holy Spirit. Enable him (her) to walk in all thy commandments, and to fulfil those things which are well-pleasing unto thee ; for if a man do those things, he shall find life in them. Inscribe him (her) in thy Book of Life, and unite him (her) to the flock of thine inheritance. And may thy holy Name be glorified in him (her), together with that of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of thy life-giving Spirit. Let thine eyes ever regard him (her) with mercy, and let thine ears attend unto the voice of his supplication. Make him (her) to rejoice in the works of his (her) hands, and in all his (her) generation ; that he (she) may render praise unto thee, may sing, worship and glorify thy great and exalted Name always, all the days of his (her) life.

Exclamation.

For all the Powers of Heaven sing praises unto thee, and thine is the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The First Exorcism.

Let us pray to the Lord.

The Lord layeth thee under ban, O Devil : He who came into the world, and made his abode among men, that he might overthrow thy tyranny and deliver men ; who also upon the Tree did triumph over the adverse powers, when the sun was darkened, and the earth did quake, and the graves were opened, and the bodies of the Saints arose ; who also by

death annihilated Death, and overthrew him who exercised the dominion of Death, that is thee, the Devil. I adjure thee by God, who hath revealed the Tree of Life, and hath arrayed in ranks the Cherubim and the flaming sword which turneth all ways to guard it : Be thou under ban. For I adjure thee by him who walketh upon the surface of the sea as it were dry land, and layeth under his ban the tempests of the winds ; whose glance drieth up the deep, and whose interdict maketh the mountains to melt away. The same now, through us, doth lay thee under ban. Fear, begone and depart from this creature, and return not agajn, neither hide thyself in him lier), neither seek thou to meet him (Iter), nor to influence him either by night or by day; either in the morning, or at noonday : but depart hence to thine own Tartarus, until the great Day of Judgment which is ordained. Fear thou God who sitteth upon the Cherubim and looketh upon the deeps ; before whom tremble Angels and Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim; before whom, likewise, heaven and earth do quake, the sea and all that therein is. Begone, and depart from this sealed, newly-enlisted warrior of Christ our God. For I adjure thee by him who rideth upon the wings of the wind, and maketh his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire : Begone, and depart from this creature, with all thy powers and thine angels.

Exclamation.

For glorified is the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Second Exorcism.

Let us pray to the Lord.

God, holy, terrible and glorious, who is unsearchable and inscrutable in all his works and might, hath foreordained for thee the penalty of eternal punishment, O Devil : the same, through us, his unworthy servants, doth command thee, with all thy confederate hosts, to depart hence, from him (her) who hath been newly sealed in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our true God. Wherefore I adjure thee, O most crafty, impure, vile, loathsome and alien spirit, by the might of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath all power, both in heaven and on earth, and who said unto the deaf and dumb demon, Come out of the man, and in nowise enter thou a second time into him : Depart ! Acknowledge the vainness of thy might, which hath not power even over swine. Call to mind him who, at thy request, commanded thee to enter into the herd of swine. Fear God, by whose decree the earth is established upon the waters ; who hath made the heavens, and hath set the mountains with a line, and the valleys with a measure; and hath fixed bounds to the sands of the sea, and a firm path upon the stormy waters; who toucheth the mountains and they smoke ; who clotheth himself with light as with a

garment ; who spreadeth out the heavens as it were a curtain ; who covereth his exceeding high places with the waters ; who hath made fast the earth upon its foundations, so that it shall not be removed unto ages of ao-es ; who collecteth the water of the sea and poureth it out upon the face of the whole earth : Begone, and depart from him hei') who hath made himself (Jiersdf) ready for holy Illumination. I adjure thee by the redeeming Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by his precious Body and Blood, and by his terrible Coming-again ; for he shall come, and shall not tarry, to judge the whole earth ; and he shall chastise thee and thy confederate host with burning Gehenna, committing thee to outer darkness, where the worm ceaseth not, and the fire is not quenched. For of Christ our God is the dominion, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Third Exorcism.

Let US pray to the Lord.

O Lord of Sabaoth, the God of Israel, who healest every malady and every infirmity : Look upon thy servant ; prove him (Jier') and search him (Jier), and root out of him Qier) every operation of the Devil. Rebuke the unclean spirits and expel them, and purify the works of thy hands ; and exerting thy trenchant might, speedily crush down Satan under his (Jier') feet ; and give him (Jier) victory over the same, and over his foul spirits ; that, having obtained mercy from thee, he (she) may be made worthy to partake of thy heavenly Mysteries ; and may ascribe unto thee glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A Fourth Prayer.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Thou who in verity existest, O Lord the Master ; who hast created man in thine own likeness, and hast bestowed upon him the power of life eternal ; who also despisest not those who have fallen away through sin, but hast provided salvation for the world through the incarnation of thy Christ : Do thou, the same Lord, delivering also this thy creature from the bondage of the enemy, receive him (Jier) into thy heavenly kingdom. Open the eyes of his (Jier) understanding, that the light of thy Gospel may shine brightly in him (Jier). Yoke unto his (Iter') life a radiant Angel, who shall deliver him (her) from every snare of the adversary, from encounter with evil, from the demon of the noonday, and from evil visions.

Then the Priest brealheth upon his mouth., his brow, and his breast, saying :

Expel from him (her) every evil and impure spirit which hideth and maketh its lair in his (her) heart. (And this he saith thrice.')

The spirit of error, the spirit of guile, the spirit of idolatry and of every concupiscence ; the spirit of deceit and of every uncleanness

which operateth through the prompting of the Devil. And make him (her) a reason-endowed sheep in the holy iiock of thy Christ, an honourable member of thy Church, a consecrated vessel, a child of the light, and an heir of thy kingdom ; that having lived in accordance with thy commandments, and preserved inviolate the seal, and kept his (Jier) garment undefiled, he (she) may receive the blessedness of the Saints in thy kingdom.

In a loud voice.

Through the grace, and bounties, and love towards mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Priest turneth the person who is come to Baptism to face the west, unclad, unshod, and having his hands uplifted. And he saith :

Dost thou renounce Satan, and all his Angels, and all his works, and all his service, and all his pride.'

And the Catechumen maketh answer, or his Sponsor for him, and saith : I do. (And this question and answer are thrice repeated.)

Again the Priest questioneth the Catechumen. Hast thou renounced Satan.'

And the Catechumen, or his Sponsor for him, maketh answer: I have. (And this question and answer, likewise, are thrice repeated.)

Then saith the Priest :

Breathe and spit upon him.

And when he hath done this, the Priest turneth him to the east, with his

hands lowered, and saith : Dost thou unite thyself unto Christ ?

And the Catechumen, or his Sponsor for him, maketh answer: I do. (And this question and answer are thrice repeated)

Then the Priest saith to him ; Hast thou united thyself unto Christ

And he replieth : I have.

Dost thou believe in him ? I believe in him as King and as God.

And he reciteth The Holy Symbol of the Faith.

I believe in one God the 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 his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Biing of one Essence with the Father; By whom all things were made ; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified. Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead. And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

And when he hath finished the Holy Symbol of the Faith the Priest inquireth of him :

Hast thou united thyself unto Christ ?

I have. (T/iis question and answer are thrice repeated.

Bow down also before him.

And the Catechutnen boweth himself, saying :

I bow down before the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.

Priest: Blessed is God, who willeth that all men should be saved, and should come to the knowledge of the truth, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then he reciteth this Prayer :

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Master, Lord our God, call thy servant, N., to holy Illumination, and grant unto him (/ler) that great grace of thy holy Baptism. Put off from him (/ler) the old man, and renew him (/ler) unto life everlasting; and fill him with the power of thy Holy Spirit, in the unity of thy Christ : that he (s//e) may be no more a child of the body, but a child of thy kingdom. Through the good will and grace of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest eniereth the Sancticary a>id putteth on white vestments, and his gauntlets. And when he hath lighted all the tapers, he taketh the censer, and goeth to the Font, and censeth round about it ; and having given the censer to be held, he maketh a reverence.

Bless, Master.

Then the Deacon saith .

And the Priest saith, aloud :

Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen !

And straightway the Deacon saith the Litany.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

That this water may be sanctified with the power, and effectual operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit : IJ

That there may be sent down into it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan :

That there may come upon this water the purifying operation of the supersubstantial Trinity :

Thatwe may be illumined by the light of understanding and piety, and by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit :

That this water may prove effectual unto the averting of every snare of enemies, both visible and invisible :

That he (she) who is baptized therein may be made worthy of the kingdom incorruptible :

For him (Jier) who is now come unto holy Baptism, and for his (Jier') salvation :

That he ishe) may prove

And the Priest prayeth, secretly.

O compassionate and merciful God, who triest the heart and the reins, and who alone knowest the secret thoughts of men (for no deeds are hidden before thee, but all things are naked and manifest before thine eyes); Thou who knowest all things concerning me, regard me not with loathing, neither turn thou thy face from me ; but consider not mine iniquities at this present hour, O thou who disregardest man's sins unto his repentance. And wash away the vileness of my body, and the pollution of my soul. And sanctify me wholly by thine all-perfect, invisible might, and by thy spiritual right hand ; lest, while I proclaim liberty unto others, and administer this rite with perfect faith in thine unutterable love toward mankind, I myself may become the base slave of sin. Yea, O Master, who alone art good and full of love toward mankind, let not thy humble servant be led astray ; but send thou down upon me power

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himself (herself) a child of the light, and an heir of eternal good things: IJ

That he (she) may be a member and partaker of the death and resurrection of Christ our God:

That he (she) may preserve his baptismal garment and the earnest of the Spirit pure and undefiled unto the dread Day of Christ our God : IJ

That this water may be to him (her) a laver of regeneration, unto the remission of sins, and a garment of incorruption :

That the Lord God will hearken unto the voice of our petition :

That he will deliver him (her) and us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity :

from on high, and strengthen thou me in the administration of thine impending Mystery, which is both great and most heavenly : and create the image of thy Christ in him (her) who now desireth to be born again through my unworthy ministry. And build him (her) up upon the foundation of thine Apostles and Prophets, that he (she) may not be overthrown ; but implant him (her) firmly as a plant of truth, in thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, that he (she) be not plucked out. That, as he (she) increaseth in godliness, through him (her) may be glorified thine all-holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest saith also the following Prayer, but aloud :

Great art thou, O Lord, and marvellous are thy works, and there is no word which sufficeth to hymn thy wonders. Thrice.

For thou, of thine own good will, hast brought into being all things which before were not, and by thy might thou upholdest creation, and by thy providence thou orderest the world. When thou hadst joined together the universe out of four elements, thou didst crown the circle of the year with four seasons. Before thee tremble all the Powers endowed with intelligence. The sun singeth unto thee. The moon glorifieth thee. The stars meet together before thy presence. The light obeyeth thee. The deeps tremble before thee. The water-springs are subject unto thee. Thou hast spread out the heavens as it were a curtain. Thou hast established the earth upon the waters. Thou hast set round about the sea barriers of sand. Thou hast shed abroad the air

for breathing. The Angelic Powers serve thee. The Choirs of the Archangels fall down in adoration before thee. The many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, as they stand and fly, do veil their faces in awe before thine ineffable glory. For thou, who art God inexpressible, existing uncreated before the ages, and ineffable, didst descend upon earth, and didst take on the semblance of a servant, and wast made in the likeness of man : for, because of the tender compassion of thy mercy, O Master, thou couldest not endure to behold mankind oppressed by the Devil ; but thou didst come, and didst save us. We confess thy grace. We proclaim thy mercy. We conceal not thy gracious acts. Thou hast delivered the generation of our mortal nature. By thy birth thou didst sanctify a Virgin's womb. All creation magnifieth thee, who hast manifested thyself. For thou, O our God hast revealed thyself upon earth, and hast dwelt among men. Thou didst hallow the streams of Jordan, sending down upon them from heaven thy Holy Spirit, and didst crush the heads of the dragons who lurked there.

Wherefore, O King who lovest mankind, come thou now and sanctify this water, by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit. (Thrice.)

And grant unto it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it the fountain of incorruption, the gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, the remedy of infirmities; the final destruction of demons, unassailable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might. Let those who would ensnare thy creature flee far from it. For we have called upon thy Name, O Lord, and it is wonderful, and glorious, and terrible unto adversaries.

Then he signeth the water thrice with the sign of the cross, dipping his fingers therein. And breathing upon it, he saith :

Let all adverse powers be crushed beneath the sign of the image of thy cross. (Thrice!)

We pray thee, O God, that every aerial and obscure phantom may withdraw itself from us ; and that no demon of darkness may conceal himself in this water ; and that no evil spirit which instilleth darkening of intentions and rebelliousness of thought may descend into it with him (her) who is about to be baptized.

But .do thou, O Master of all, show this water to be the water of redemption, the water of sanctification, the purification of flesh and spirit, the loosing of bonds, the remission of sins, the illumination of the soul, the laver of regeneration, the renewal of the Spirit, the gift of adoption to sonship, the garment of incorruption, the fountain of life. For thou hast said, O Lord : Wash ye, be ye clean ; put away evil things from your souls. Thou hast bestowed upon us from on high a new birth through water and the Spirit. Wherefore, O Lord, manifest thyself in this water, and grant that he (she) who is baptized therein may be transformed ; that he (she) may put away from him (her) the old man, which is corrupt through the lusts of the flesh, and that

28o THE OFFICE OF HOLY BAPTISM

he (she) may be clothed upon with the new man, and renewed after the image of him who created him (her) : that being buried, after the pattern of thy death, in baptism, he (she) may, in like manner, be a partaker of thy Resurrection ; and having preserved the gift of thy Holy Spirit, and increased the measure of grace committed unto him (her), he (she) may receive the prize of his (her) high calling, and be numbered with the first-born whose names are written in heaven, in thee, our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. For unto thee are due glory, dominion, honour and worship, together with thy Father, who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen.

Peace be with you all.

Bow your heads unto the Lord.

And he breatheth thrice upon the vessel containing the oil, and maketh thrice over it the sign of the cross, as it is held by the Deacon. And when the Deacon hath said:

Let us pray to the Lord.

The Priest saith the following Prayer :

O Lord and Master, the God of our fatheus, who didst send unto them that were in the ark of Noah thy dove, bearing in its beak a twig of olive, the token of reconciliation and of salvation from the flood, the foreshadowing of the mystery of grace ; and didst provide the fruit of the olive for the fulfilling of thy Holy Mysteries ; who thereby fillest them that were under the Law with thy Holy Spirit, and perfectest them that are under grace : Bless also this holy oil with the power, and operation and indwelling of thy Holy Spirit, that it may be an anointing unto incorruption, an armour of righteousness, to the renewing of soul and body, to the averting of every assault of the devil, to deliverance from all evil of those who shall be anointed therewith in faith, or who are partakers thereof ; unto thy glory and the glory of thine Onlybegotten Son, and of thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Let us attend.

Then the Priest, singijig Alleluia (thrice), with the People, maketh three signs of the cross in the water with the oil. And he saith :

Blessed is God, who illumineth and sanctifieth every man that cometh into the world, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.

Then the Person who hath been baptized is presented. The Priest taketh of the oil with two fingers, and maketh the sign of the cross upon his brow, his breast, and between his shoulders, saying :

The servant of God, N., is anointed with the oil of gladness; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And he anointeth his breast and shoulders. On the breast, saying : Unto the healing of soul and body.

On the ears. Unto the hearing of faith.

On the hands. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.

On the feet. That he may walk in the way of thy commandments.

And when his -whole body is thus anointed, the Priest baptizeth him, holding him upright, and looking toward the east, as he saith :

The servant of God, N., is baptized, in the name of the Father, Amen. And of the Son, Amen. And of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

At each invocation he immerseth him, and raiseth him again. And after the Baptism the Priest washeth his hands, singing with the People Psalm xxxii.

Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile. For whilst I held my tongue, my bones consumed away through my daily complaining. For hand is heavy upon me day and night, and my moisture is like the drought in summer. I will acknowledge my sin unto thee; and mine unrighteousness have I not hid. I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord ; and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found ; but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him. Thou art a place to hide me in ; thou shalt preserve me from trouble ; thou shall compass me about with songs of deliverance. I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go; and I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding ; whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, lest they fall upon thee. Great plagues remain for the ungodly; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.

Then, as he putteth his garment upon him, the Priest saith :

The servant of God, N., is clothed with the robe of righteousness; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then shall be sung the following Hymn (Tropdr). in Tone VIII.

Vouchsafe unto me the robe of light, O thou who clothest thyself ■with light as with a garment, O Christ our God, plenteous in mercy.