The Saint Euphrosynos Cafe

It appears the Didache allows for baptism by sprinkling as it states here:

"And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have not living water, baptize into other water; and if you can not in cold, in warm. But if you have not either, pour out water thrice upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whatever others can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before. "

What does the Orthodox church think about this?

It is okay to pour water over the head of those in the hospital
or in a place where there is urgency due to approaching death
and where there is no living water in which to baptize a catechumen.

During emergencies following the birth of very ill newborn babies,
these infants may be baptized in the air because the air contains
water vapor. These babies are baptized by picking them up, and
then holding them in the air while making the Sign of the Cross:
Up, down, to the left, and then to the right, while saying,
"The servant of God [name] is baptized in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
After the child recovers, and this miracle happens quite frequently,
then the babe is brought to the Church where he is immediately
chrismated and then communed by the Priest.
He is not baptized in water anew.

Maria wrote:

It is okay to pour water over the head of those in the hospital
or in a place where there is urgency due to approaching death
and where there is no living water in which to baptize a catechumen.

During emergencies following the birth of very ill newborn babies,
these infants may be baptized in the air because the air contains
water vapor. These babies are baptized by picking them up, and
then holding them in the air while making the Sign of the Cross:
Up, down, to the left, and then to the right, while saying,
"The servant of God [name] is baptized in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
After the child recovers, and this miracle happens quite frequently,
then the babe is brought to the Church where he is immediately
chrismated and then communed by the Priest.
He is not baptized in water anew.

Thank you. When was it decided that babies could be baptized in the air?

Yes, notice how far down the list you have to go before pouring is allowed! The existence of the exceptions in no way diminshes the rule. Nor does it make it proper to go to pouring when immersion can be accomplished.

Bishop_Irineos wrote:

Yes, notice how far down the list you have to go before pouring is allowed! The existence of the exceptions in no way diminshes the rule. Nor does it make it proper to go to pouring when immersion can be accomplished.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

A child in his terrible twos was brought to the church to be baptized. The mother of the young boy was an Orthodox Christian, and both were in a very unfortunate situation. Her husband of three years had recently converted to Islam, and said that he did not want his son baptized because he was to be raised as a Muslim.

Her child had been previously very ill with the flu and it was considered a miracle that he had recovered. Still ill, the child was now at church on the fake pretense that his wife and his child were merely visiting his Orthodox inlaws for the Spring holidays.

It was Holy Saturday morning and her entire family was gathered at the Church for his baptism and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil that followed.

The baptistry was ready with warm water so as not to chill the child. However, the child started to become hysterical and cry at the sight of the water as he was deathly afraid of water and would not allow his mom to undress him. Thus, the priest quoted from the Didache, lovingly calmed the child by telling him that he would not need to be immersed, and then poured water over the child's head three times. He was then chrismated and communed.

In this case, would this baptism by pouring be considered to be a reasonable and valid exception (economia)?