Baptism
Baptism is one of the most significant obligatory
sacraments in the Christian religion. According to the Church, the baptized
person receives the grace of God and
is reborn, i.e. starts a new life absolved of any previous sins and of original
sin. Christ
himself
was
baptized
by
John
the
Baptist
in
the
River Jordan.
In the early years of Christianity people were
baptised in adulthood, once they had spent a trial period of catechism. Not
long afterwards, the high infant mortality rate led to the age of three being
established as the most suitable for baptism. A law passed later by Emperor Leo
the Wise ordered that infants should be baptized forty days after their birth, so
that their mother could also attend the sacrament. If a baby was in danger of dying
then it could be baptized sooner, by a deacon, a monk or even a layperson. This
kind of “air baptism” without the use of water was carried out by raising the
infant up into the air three times. There were also cases of individuals who
chose to be baptized at an advanced age, or before critical situations that
would put their lives at risk (e.g. war), in the belief that baptism would absolve
them of their sins.
Baptism initially took place out in the open country,
at natural water sources such as lakes, rivers or the sea. From the 3rd
century onwards, the sacrament was performed in a
purpose-built area of the church known as the baptistry . Later, from
the mid-Byzantine period onwards,
baptistries were replaced by marble
or metal fonts inside the church.
Initially, baptism could be celebrated in
churches and private homes or chapels, but the fear of sects led to the largest
churches in each town being designated “Catholic” or baptismal, i.e. the only
suitable places for the sacrament in question. Baptisms were performed by priests
the bishop had appointed, except in emergencies where someone was in danger of
dying unbaptised.
Sunday was regarded as the most suitable day for
christening. Those receiving catechism were led to receive divine enlightenment
in an area with a permanent font, known as the photistirion (“Light Room”). There they removed their old clothes
and were immersed three times in the baptistry water. Then they put on new
white garments and held a lighted candle in their hand. The whole process was rich
in symbolism: immersion of the body in water symbolizes the descent of Christ
into Hades; the emergence symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ. The tall
candles represent the “light of the Spirit”, and the white garment symbolizes
the innocence and purity of the soul. Baptism was accompanied by the sacrament
of chrismation or confirmation, during which the body of the baptized was
anointed with holy chrism. The newly baptized then entered the church together
and received communion for the first time.
The institution of sponsorship by a godfather or
godmother appears in the Orthodox East as early as the second century. The
godfather was required to be orthodox and pious, though under Ottoman rule Muslims
could become godparents as well. Sponsors were mostly men, though godmothers
were not unheard of. The sponsor became the spiritual parent of the child, and was
granted full rights and obligations towards the child under law, just like the natural
parent. On christening day it was customary for the godparent to offer the baby
gifts that reflected his or her socio-economic status. These gifts could even include
land, but were usually limited to dresses and money.
It was during the sacrament of baptism that the
sponsor gave the child its name. Initially, parents preferred to name their
children after their grandparents, great-grandparents or deceased relatives (as
is still the case), using distinctly Greek names derived from antiquity. Yet
this did not meet with the approval of John Chrysostom and other prelates, who
urged Christians to choose the names of saints, apostles or martyrs, or even
names related to celebrations (Epiphanius, Paschalios) or virtues. This
practice was firmly established from the 4th century onwards.
Similar traditions were observed at royal
christenings. No fixed day was set aside for such occasions, but the baptism was
usually performed by the Patriarch in the Church of Agia Sophia
(Church of the Holy Wisdom). The ceremony was followed by a procession from the
church to the royal apartments, when money was given to those thronging the
decorated streets to celebrate the event.
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