Holy Saturday is a traditional time for Baptism, which is our identification with the death and Resurrection of Christ.
This Holy Saturday we baptized three young men. The priest first blessed the water, identifying it with the River Jordan in which Our Lord was baptized.
Those to be Baptized were first anointed with olive oil; this is the anointing for burial, for so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death (Romans 6:3).
They were immersed three times with the words, The servant of God (name) is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Then white garments were put on them as they have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Col. 3:9-10).
Then they were Chrismated, anointed with special oil blessed by the Bishop, as the Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as Our Lord was anointed as Messiah (anointed one) by the Holy Spirit at His Baptism (cf St. Luke 4:18).
They were then given candles and crosses, and led in a procession three times around the font as we sang, As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
The service continued with the reading of 15 Old Testament passages foreshadowing Resurrection and Baptism. Just before the first reading of the Resurrection Gospel, the vestments and coverings were changed to a bright color and all the bells rung joyously. It is a Holy Resurrection custom to open the shutters, which are usually closed, in our Temple at this time to flood it with light.
Then we continued with the Divine Liturgy and the newly-baptized received Holy Communion for the first time.
Read more about Holy Saturday.
Read more about Baptism.
