Four people were baptized in the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the Philippines. Photo:
Orthodox churches across the world welcomed new members this past weekend as mass Baptisms were held, timed to the feast of Theophany, commemorating Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River.
The newly illumined include children and adults.
United States
On Saturday, January 18, the eve of the feast of the Theophany, nine people were baptized at the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’s Monastery of the Glorious Ascension in Resaca, Georgia. They communed of the Holy Mysteries of Christ for the first time on the feast itself.
Their names are: John, Marina, Olga, Longinus, Nicholas, Constantine, Gabriel, Marcus, and Luke.
England
On the same day, six adults received Holy Illumination during a Baptismal Liturgy at the Church of the Grand Duchess St. Elizabeth in Wallasey in northern England.
The group included three from the St. Elizabeth Church and three who traveled from the London Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Royal Martyrs. The Sacrament was celebrated by Archpriest Paul Elliot and Fr. Justin Venn, who were able to make use of the parish’s newly constructed adult baptismal font.
Following the festal Liturgy the next day, the waters of the Mersey Estuary were blessed.
Philippines
Four catechumens from the Church of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao, Philippines, were also baptized on the feast of Theophany itself.
Following the feast-day Liturgy, Hieromonk Kornily (Molev) and the parishioners went to the coast to bless the waters of the Pacific Ocean. There, the rector celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism for four locals.
To all the new converts,
WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY!!!!
Thanking God as His body grows.
Why does the Orthodox Church recognize Catholic baptisms? My son who was baptized in the Catholic Church as a baby, recently became Orthodox and the priest said that he would not have to be re-baptized. Is this correct?
The method of reception into the Church depends on the bishop and his exercise of economia. That is, some require those with heterodox baptisms to be received by Chrismation, others require an Orthodox Baptism, which is the standard method of initiation into the Church. Either way, you are made a full member of the Orthodox Church, so my advice is do what your canonical bishop requires.