All Saint's Greek Orthodox Church of Toronto

The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is the first Sacrament we participate in, and the one that makes us a member of Christ's Church. As Orthodox Christians we baptize with water and immerse the body of the new Christian three times in the Name of the Holy Trinity. Through Baptism, the person experiences a personal Easter as one dies to the old ways of sin and is born to a new life in Christ.

In the Orthodox Church, the Baptismal service combines the sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Chrismation together within the same service.

Orthodoxy encourages the Baptism (and Chrismation) of infants. The Church believes that the Sacrament is bearing witness to the action of God who chose a child to be an important member of His people. From the day of their Baptism, children are expected to mature in the life of the Spirit, through the guidance of their family, their Godparents and the Church.

The Baptism of adults is practiced when the person has not been previously baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. During the Baptism of an adult, Holy water will be poured over the candidates head. For those who have already been baptized in another Christian faith, only the Chrismation service needs to be performed.

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