Baptism Guide

Baptism Preparation Guide

Congratulations on preparing to join the Orthodox Christian faith. Baptism is the beginning of your life in Christ and your entrance into the life of His Church. This guide explains what to prepare before the baptism and what to expect on the day of the service.

The Day Before Your Baptism

What to Bring

Please prepare the clothing you will need before arriving at church:

1. The clothes you will arrive in.
2. A swimsuit to wear under the provided tunic during the baptism. This is optional for men, but highly recommended for women.
3. White clothes to wear after the baptism. Shoes do not have to be white. You will also need a change of undergarments if you do not wear a swimsuit during the baptism. Wearing white symbolizes being born again and united with Christ.

Please note: The undergarments worn during the baptism, as well as the white clothes worn after the baptism, should not be worn again after the baptism, though they may be kept. After the baptism, these garments should be hand-washed, not machine-washed. The water used for hand-washing should be discarded in the grass, not poured into a sink or drain.

Fasting, Clothing, and Guests

• Abstain from all food and drink starting at midnight before your baptism.
• Dress modestly for the baptism and the Divine Liturgy. Please avoid tight-fitting clothing, shorts, and sleeveless tops. It is preferable that skirts and dresses be at least knee length.
• You are welcome to invite family and friends to attend the baptism.

The Day of Your Baptism

Before the Baptism

1. The priest will pray over the baptismal water and then over you.
2. During the prayers, the priest may ask you to select a baptismal name, if applicable, instead of your birth name. This may be a name from the Bible or one of the saints of the Church.
3. You will be anointed with the oil of catechumens and will take the baptismal vow.
4. The priest will anoint you with the oil of joy and provide the white tunic that you will wear during the baptism.
5. The priest and attendees will leave the room so you can privately remove your outer clothing, or change into your swimsuit if you brought one, and put on the tunic. The tunic should be worn over your undergarments or swimsuit.
6. You will sit in the baptismal font with your back facing the priest and attendees.
7. When you are ready, everyone will return to continue the baptismal prayers.

Baptism and Chrismation

1. The priest will submerge your head in the water three times in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At this point, the baptism portion of the prayers is complete.
2. Everyone will again leave the room so you can privately change out of your wet clothes and into your white change of clothes.
3. When you are ready, the priest and attendees will return for additional prayers.
4. The priest will anoint you with the holy Myron oil and tie a red ribbon around you. The red ribbon symbolizes being saved through the blood of Christ.

Divine Liturgy and Communion

1. You will then attend the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion at the end.
2. When Communion begins, kindly make your way to the front of the line, as you will be the first to receive both the Body and the Blood.
3. Please remove your shoes before coming forward for Communion. Women should also have their heads covered. Head coverings are available on the table outside the sanctuary door.
4. During standard times of the year, there will be a procession in your honor immediately after the Divine Liturgy. During the Holy Fifty Days following the Feast of the Resurrection, the procession will take place during the Liturgy.
5. You will join the procession with the deacons and carry a candle as you walk around the church.
6. At the end of the Liturgy, or immediately after the procession during standard times of the year, please remain in the front of the church and stand facing the altar. The priest will stand before you, pray a concluding prayer over you, and remove the red ribbon.

After the Service

Congratulations again. We are thankful that you have joined our Orthodox family, and we look forward to seeing what God will do through you for His kingdom. If you have any questions as you prepare, please reach out to Fr. Matthias.

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:3-4