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THE DIDACHE, or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles - The most ancient written account of the history and teaching of the Ancient Church after the Holy Scriptures.


CHAPTER 7
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;

7:2 but if thou hast not running water, baptize in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water;

7:3 but if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Friends, my question is this: when did the Roman Catholic church start baptizing infants like this, or did they always (in the undivided Church) do it that way in the 'Latin Rite'?

From this, it seems to me, that the Roman Catholic method of baptism may be more correct than the Orthodox full immersion...

Ofcourse, I theorize that, since infants were so prone to death throughout history, that the West baptized them as quickly as possible. An infant would never be able to be immersed as the (much older) Orthodox babies are, for fear of catching 'his or her death'...especially in those drafty churches without heat.

Does anyone know if my theory is correct?

I must admit that the christening of infants the 'Latin' way does appeal to my reason much more than the Orthodox way. The average age that an Orthodox baby is baptized is at about six or seven months. I don't think that it is really prudent to wait that long.

Comments? (from my knowledgeable brethren)

Your Sister in Christ,
Alice

I'm definitely not knowledgeable; in fact, I am just going to remark that I had no idea that the age and manner of Orthodox baptism for infants was any different than Roman Catholics, though I knew it was by immersion for adults. So, this is news to me!
Ok, now someone who knows something about this can comment ....!

Dear Friends,

It is clear, however, that the pouring of water is a form of baptism to be done when the full practice cannot, due to circumstances, be done.

The Greek Orthodox also have a form of baptism called "aerobaptism" - am I correct?

When a child is in danger of death, the parent or anyone is to lift the child three times into the air, repeating "The servant of God ___ is being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church made the practice of baptism by pouring commonplace.

The Russian Church didn't agree with it - and when Ukies went to live in Russia, they often had to undergo baptism again by immersion.

Alex

Alice,

Your comment on the "average age" for an infant baptism is most surely a Greek custom, rather than an Orthodox norm. Most of the babies in our parish are baptized as close to 40 days as possible, by immersion, which is, as you know, what the word "baptizo" implies. The majority of priests I know would also insist on this, as much as it is up to us (each of my three daughters were baptized very close to 40 days). Ultimately, the parents have the final say so, because they bring them when they bring them.

In Orthodoxy, baptism by pouring would only be done in emergency or extreme circumstance. Note that even in the Didache, immersion is listed as the first (normative) method.

This Greek Orthodox aerobaptism seems to be very interesting but must be very difficult when a Japanese Sumo wrestler wishes to convert.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

The sumo wrestler would probably be dunked in the nearest river . . .

Aerobaptism would only be for children in extremely critical situations.

Before my wedding, I was kidding my wife (yes, I do that to people sometimes ) that part of the now Easternized Crowning rite involved the priests picking up the bride and waving her in the air as above . . .

She still didn't know if that was a joke or not until after the ceremonies and so was a bit apprehensive . . .

Alex

That is just wrong and highly offensive that I do not even know where to begin.

Dear IrishJohan,

The Ukies didn't think very highly of it either!

God bless our Irish friends!

Alex

Slava Isusu Christu!

Oh, I simply MUST remember that if and when I get married. That's hilarious, Alex!

In Christ,
mikey.

Dear Mikey:

It's hilarious getting married, or the aero thing . . .?

Okay, I must have had a long week-work?!

AmdG

Dear Mikey,

I've pulled a few more fast ones on "she who must be obeyed" since . . .

She just never knows when I'm serious or not . . .

Of course, it wouldn't occur to her to fool me with things involving her special interests

You and Amado have a great weekend! I go to the shopping mall to meet my better half!

Alex

Dear Father Thomas,

Your blessing!

I was curious on comments about the Didache, because immersion baptism is supposed to be in running water.

I suppose the older age of babies, from what you have offered, is indeed only a Greek custom.

However, on the other hand, I wonder, in days past, when heated water and heated churches were NOT available, (especially in -0 temperatures of parts of Russia), were Orthodox babies still baptized this young? For reasons of extreme fragility of the newborn's health, I can only theorize that they weren't...

That gets me to my original question and theory...
Is THIS the reason that the RC church doesn not fully immerse infants?

**To all my knowledgeable Latin brethren: can you please enlighten me to the origins of this?

Thank you all, and thank you Father Thomas.

In Christ our Lord,
Alice

Dear Alex,

Yes, the Greek Orthodox Church does have aero-baptism in situations of near death. My mom once did it at the impending death of a relative's baby.

All blessings to you!

Your Sister in Christ,
Alice

May the Lord God bless you, Alice!

I think that sometimes our modern sensitivities to such extremes would not have fazed our foremothers in the faith a bit. I also think that at least partially heated water may not have been that impossible to achieve, whether in the coldest parts of Russia, or in the, say 13th century. Heat through fires and stoves was quite readily available, even in churches (hence, in Russia, Summer and Winter churches were often two different buildings).

When I visited Mount Athos, in the middle of January, I was amazed at the warmth in every part of the buildings and churches at the ancient Prodromu monastery. Even each cell had it's own stove, and an ample supply of firewood was available to everyone.

It is certainly possible, however, that babies were not baptized in the coldest parts of Russia during the coldest months of the year. Maybe this information exists somewhere... I don't think it's of any consequence to our modern practice however.

From McKees Rocks, where we have plenty of warm water...

Priest Thomas

Dear Father Thomas,

Thank you for your response and your holy blessing.

Do you also do the forty day blessing for infants?

In former years of the GOA, this was a private blessing after Sunday Liturgy for the family.

These days, it has become more common practice for the priest to greet the couple with the infant in the Narthex right after the Divine Liturgy, with the whole congregation still present.

He then chants the prayers, holding the infant, as he proceeds down the aisle, with the congregation responding the 'Amen' after each phrase of the blessing. In the end the infant is lifted up and signed in a cross at the icons of Christ and the Blessed Theotokos. Finally, the priest kisses the infant's head and hands it over to the couple...with hardly a dry eye in the congregation.

In Christ,
Alice

P.S. Father, I must tell you that I went to a pan-Orthodox vesper service for the U.N. at the GO Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in NYC. Met. Herman was presiding, the entire service was in English, and the choir was from both St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminary. I truly did not know if I was 'in heaven or on earth'...it was absolutely beautiful! Even my priest, who was, I believe the only GO priest in the altar, commented after the service to me and my husband, that it was 'AWESOME'...