The Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation

Except for emergencies (in danger of death, a child is sometimes baptized in hospital, and if a physician recommends it, a child may sometimes be baptized at home), Baptism and Chrismation are administered in the church, normally during the Sunday Divine Liturgy. One should be in touch with the priest as soon as a child is born; the priest will then come to the hospital to offer the prayers for the mother and the child on specified days.  We ask everyone to notify the priest at least three weeks in advance of the Sunday when the Baptism is expected. Also, it is best to avoid having Baptisms on the first Sunday of the month.
  At Baptism and Chrismation, the neophyte (the person to be baptized) receives a Christian name. This is normally the name of a recognized Saint. In some places, there is a custom of giving the child the Christian name of the Saint whom the Church remembers on the day of the child's birth, or on the day of the Baptism itself.   Although Baptism and Chrismation are two distinct Sacraments, they are normally administered together: first the Baptism and then the Chrismation. For Baptism, the parents invite at least two other adult practicing Christians to serve as god-parents. This is a serious responsibility, creating a spiritual relationship which lasts as long as the god-parent and god-child will live. At the beginning of the service, before the Divine Liturgy itself, the priest opens the Royal Doors and meets the candidate and the god-parents at the western doors of the church. The priest prays for the candidate and blesses him, commands the devil in the Name of Jesus Christ our God and Saviour to depart from the candidate, and asks the candidate a series of questions. If the candidate is an infant or a very young child, the god-parents answer the questions in the child's name (for this purpose, the god-parents should be prepared in advance). Turning to face the West, the child and god-parents renounce the devil; turning back to the East, towards the Altar, the child and god-parents profess the Nicene Creed (the god-parents should go over the Creed to be sure that they can recite it without hesitating). The priest then invites the candidate and the god-parents to come to the front of the church and take their places for the Divine Liturgy. After the Little Entrance, the priest comes to the Baptismal Font and blesses the water for the Baptism (in our tradition Baptism is done by triple immersion). The priest then blesses the Oil of Catechumens. This is pure olive oil; the oil which remains after the anointing of the candidate may be kept for other blessings or may be burned in a vigil light. After anointing the candidate on the forehead, the chest, the shoulders, the ears, the hands, and the feet, the priest takes the child and baptizes him three times in the water, saying "The Servant of God name is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". The god-father or god-mother holds a towel ready to receive and dry the child immediately after the immersion. The priest then blesses the white baptismal garments for the newly-baptized to wear and, in Ukrainian tradition, the priest presents the newly-baptized with a burning candle (in practice the god-father accepts this candle on behalf of the child). The priest continues at once with the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation. The Myron, or Holy Chrism, is a blend of pure olive oil with various aromatic herbs and essences. The Patriarch consecrates the Holy Chrism; when the priest needs a fresh supply, he must request it from the Bishop, who in turn obtains the Holy Chrism from the Patriarch and gives it to the priest. Except in cases of absolute necessity, Holy Chrism is never sent by post but is hand-delivered by the Bishop or by the Patriarch himself. After a prayer asking Almighty God to "confirm His servant in the Orthodox Faith, grant him the Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Communion of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Thy Christ". After the prayer, the Priest takes the Holy Chrism and anoints the newly-baptized on the forehead, the eyes, the nostrils, the lips, the ears, the breast-bone, the hands and the feet, saying each time "the Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit".   The Priest then leads the newly-baptized and chrismated Christian with the godparents in a triple procession around the Baptismal Font while the congregation sings "All ye who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!" The god-parents and the neophyte resume their places at the front of the nave; the Priest enters the Altar, kisses the Holy Table and goes at once to the High Place. The Divine Liturgy continues. In the ektene after the Gospel, there is a special petition for the neophyte, his parents, and his god-parents. In some places, there is a custom of the neophyte, his parents, and his god-parents walking in the Great Entrance procession, immediately behind the Processional Cross. In any event, the neophyte, parents, and god-parents are mentioned in the commemorations during the Great Entrance. When it is time for the faithful to receive Holy Communion, the neophyte is communicated first (followed usually by his parents and god-parents). After the Ambo Prayer, the Priest cuts four bits of hair from the neophyte's head – this is the first gift the new Christian makes to the Church. The Priest then gives a small Cross to the neophyte, known as the Baptismal Cross (this is normally offered by one of the god-parents) and the new Christian should keep it and wear it throughout his life. After the Dismissal, the Priest invites the congregation to sing the "Many Years" for the new Christian, his parents, and his god-parents. In some places, there is an additional blessing for the mother and the child. If the child is male, the Priest will carry him once around the Holy Table; if the child is female, the Priest will carry her up to the Royal Doors. The Priest will give this blessing on request.
The Priest needs the following information to record the Baptism properly:

• The full name of the candidate.
• The full name of the father.
• The full name (including the maiden name) of the mother.
• The candidate's date of birth.
• The candidate's place of birth.
• The full names of the god-parents
• The address and telephone number of the candidate's home (in Ireland).

These items of information should be printed or written, as clearly as possible, so that the Priest can record them in the register – this is important in later life.
[N. B. There is no set "fee" for the Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation. Those who wish to make an offering on this occasion should do so after the service is concluded; the size of the offering has nothing to do with the solemnity of the Sacraments.]