Holy Saturday 2008
Initiation of New Members
On Holy Saturday we baptized three children and received into the Orthodox Church by chrismation two children and two adults who had been previously baptized in other Christian communities. Fr. Paul blessed the water for baptism and poured blessed oil into it. Those baptized descended into it three times in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They were then clothed in white garments and were anointed with oil as the "seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." They share in the anointing by the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) that Our Lord received at His Baptism (cf St. Luke 3:22, 4:16-21). Then the priest carrying the Cross led them in procession as we sang As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27). The service included 15 Old Testemant readings related to Baptism and Resurrection, and the Divine Liturgy. The new members' initiation was completed by their receiving the Lord's Body and Blood.