New calendar Greek baptism

[joasia]

A Greek friend of mine invited me to her fiance's baptism, this passed Sunday.

First, it lasted 20 minutes, from the cathechumen prayers to the time he got dressed and came back.

Second, the cathechumen prayer was said in front of the Royal Doors instead of the back ones.

Third, many many parts were skipped.

Fourth, the method of baptism required him to kneel down near the baby fount and the priest pour the water on his head. He rose and knelt 3 times, each time the priest poured. Actually, the second time, he was still standing.

This was devestating to watch, because it was SUCH an incompetant conduct for a Holy Mystery, by a priest(that I've seen - and I haven't seen much since I'm with the old calendar). But, I've heard of plenty.

My friend's family didn't know any better and one of them actually said: 'Well, that wasn't so bad".

That wasn't so bad???! Holy Baptism is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me(of course Holy Communion is a given). And they consider it a bother.

Is this how the new calendarists do adult baptisms???

The priest obviously couldn't care less.

This certainly is the end of times.

Joanna

[Aristokles]

Sounds like a lazy priest to me. It happens, I guess, but I've never seen this.

[joasia]

Orthodox6 wrote:

One may hope that the man was sponsored by a pious, knowledgeable ( of the faith) Orthodox man who will teach/guide him.

Not really. There will be no spiritual guidance from his god-father. He has a god-mother too. It's my friend's brother and sister-in-law.

Plus, he didn't convert for the faith, only to get married. After the "performance", he was going around saying: Praise Allah. He likes to make jokes that are shocking.

I won't even tell you what he said, as a joke, about the Holy Trinity. :ohvey:

Anyways, he's not baptised, so I still see him in the same spiritual darkness as usual.

And one of my friend's brothers(not the koubaro) asked me what I thought. I shook my head and said: This isn't right. This isn't a true baptism. There must be triple immersion. My friend asked me too and I was honest. But, they seemed to blow it off. I guess they don't want to deal with it...even my friend. And she knows I'm not a slacker about these things.

Joanna

[Jean-Serge]

Read the Didache man... You will see that if there is no mean to do triple immersion we pour water three times... The problem is that after years of life some parishes do not have large trough. The same in my parish... They never thought about buying one. Nonetheless, those baptized by three pouring are really baptized

[joasia]

The problem is that after years of life some parishes do not have large trough. The same in my parish...

You would never hear that in an old calendar church. They make sure it's done right. I was baptised in an oil barrel(you know - the metal kind). It was a tight fit, but not impossible. I have the pictures to prove it.

Nonetheless, those baptized by three pouring are really baptized

No they're not. They can buy a simple container. There's no excuse. Baptism is immersion, not pouring.

Joanna

[Jean-Serge]

No they're not. They can buy a simple container. There's no excuse. Baptism is immersion, not pouring.

Entirely wrong, if you lack the means you can even baptized with sand... Read the Didache...

Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. 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 no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times 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 whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... berts.html

I can assure you that even before new calendarism and ecumenism in Orthodox countries there were no longer immersion

[joasia]

In this case, there is no lack of means. What you're referring to is extreme means and emergency circumstances. Nowadays, the major exceptions, have become the regular rules.

If it's possible to do, then it's expected to be done. Wal-Mart carries plenty of big containers. The priest just didn't want to bother.

I still don't believe that he's baptised.

Joanna