Hello everyone!  As promised, here is my blog chronicling our baby boy’s Baptism! 

In the Orthodox Church, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism really starts Saturday night with the blessing of the Priest on Justin – these are the same prayers of blessing used to induct adults as catechumens.  As part of this blessing, the Priest blows his breath on the faithful’s head in the sign of a cross three times.  I wish we’d had our camera handy, because Justin leaned out toward Fr. Mel and LOVED it when he blew on his head.  His eyes got really big and was making gestures as if to say, “Do it again!!”.  It was ADORABLE!

I have TONS of pictures, even video of the whole Baptism (it’s about 20 minutes long and will soon be in two parts on YouTube – yes, I’ll link it here when I’ve got it up there). 

All in all, Justin did awesome.  After Saturday night, I think he knew something was up (why do we have company staying over night, Momma?) and so didn’t sleep well.  Sunday morning he woke up a fair bit earlier than usual, but enjoyed playing with his soon-to-be Nouna, Stella; and Niko’s mom, Manda.  I worried that he’d be too tired at church, and I was right… he fussed until after his dunking when I just took him and rocked him to sleep (I held him while he was sleeping for a good 25 minutes between his Baptism and Communion).  He was much better after his little cat-nap. 

If you don’t know much about how an Orthodox Baptism goes, check this out.  It’s the full text and outline of the entire Baptismal Service that happens within a normal Sunday Liturgy.  In short, there are several parts:

1.  The Catechism – Saturday night.

2.  The prayers of Exorcism – It sounds scary, but is really neat.  It makes so much sense that you would openly renounce Satan and all his works before being washed clean in Baptism.  Here, Justin is clothed in just his diaper and the beautiful white blanket his godparents got him:

3.  The Blessing of the Waters – Obviously, this is where the Priest blesses the water that Justin would be Baptized in. 

4.  The Blessing of the Oil – This special oil is poured into the water in the shape of the cross, then wiped in the shape of a cross on various significant parts of the baby’s body (forehead, eyelids, ears, mouth, chest, back, hands, and feet), and then poured into the Godparents’ cupped hands:

The Godparents then rub the oil all over the baby’s body.  This symbolizes so many things, not the least of which is the Godparents role in the child’s spiritual development.  Niko seemed to look forward especially to this part, as he recently studied the history and significance of this part of the sacrament at Seminary. 

Justin enjoyed this part more than it appears in the picture, I assure you. 

5.  Then comes the dunking- Three times, of course!

No, I’ll admit, he didn’t like the actual dunking part.  Mostly I think because he was tired and was like, “What?! You know I’m tired and you’re doing what to me now?! Can’t we just cuddle?!”  He was happy to be wrapped up in fluffy white towels on Stella:

As soon as Fr. Mel blessed Justin’s little Baptismal outfit, Stella and I took Justin to get him dressed and then brought him back in for the next thing:

6.  Holy Chrismation  – this Sacrament is both Confirmation and the bestowing of the gift of the Holy Spirit by the anointing of an oil called “Chrism”.  After this, Fr. Mel puts Justin’s cross on him for the first time. 

7.  The Procession around the Baptismal font – your first steps as a Christian, the start of your journey in Christ, there are many meanings for it, and we sing, “As many as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ!  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!”

8.  Communion – unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of Justin taking his first Communion, but I can tell you this: at the time he had been asleep in my arms for a good 20 minutes and when Niko and Stella presented him for Communion he barely woke up.  Fr. Mel had to sort of stuff the Host into his sleeping mouth afterwhich Justin made a face and went back to sleep.  He might have been tired.  :)  

9.  Ablution – Here, Fr. Mel takes a sponge soaked with clean water and goes over Justin in the places he was crossed with the Chrism.  This removes the Chrism, symbolizing that now, Justin has become the sacrament. 

   

10.  The Tonsure – For whatever reason, this is just about my favorite part of a Baptism, and I’m proud of Justin’s first haircut.  :)   After this, Justin is presented to the Church as a new, full member of the Orthodox Church. 

So there it is.  The only thing missing from this blog are a few HUGE thank you’s:

To Justin’s new Godparents: Niko and Stella.  We’re so glad to have chosen them, and they did such a wonderful job in helping put Justin’s Baptism together.  Thank you for taking the time and care to pick out an outfit for our little boy to wear, a blanket, his Icon of St. Justin, and spending every available minute with Justin!

To our family: Mom, Dad – thank you first for coming up from Edmonds to be here with Justin at this big event, and also for taking all those pictures and the video too.  We love you!

To our friends:

Kate and Chris - you guys are awesome.  It means so much to us that you would drive from southern Idaho just to be with us for Justin’s Baptism.  I only wish you could have stayed longer!

Erin, Phil, and Eddie – you are such wonderful friends.  Thank you for everything it took for you to be there and share in our joy!  

Sean – we were so happy to have you there.  Thank you, always.

Manda – Justin couldn’t have a better Grand-Nouna!

Patty – We’re so grateful to have you in our lives.  We’re so glad you came!

Those who wanted to come but couldn’t – Thank you for encouraging us and keeping us three in your prayers! 

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