The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-15
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Infant Baptism in Greece.


One Of the ministers of the Synod of Virginia,
wrote short time since, requesting information
as to the mode of infant baptism now practised in
the Greek Church also if adults were baptised, if
&c. in what manner2 Thinking perhaps others
might feel interested to know, l propose answer
ing through your columns, as briefly as possible,
simply giving what is to be seen, and not going into
an explanation of the whole.
These inquiries could not have been made at a
more appropriate time as in company with a
friend we had just visited the beautiful Island Of
Tinos which is noted for being the place where the
Virgin yearly performs miracles at several great
feasts to which thousands of pilgrims co. some to
be healed and some to witness the wonders There
is perhaps no place in the world where greater su-
perstiton and deception is practsed believe, than
in Tinos, by the Greek Church and priests. There,
in this island, in the beautiful church erected to
the Virgin, it is considered specially beneficial to
baptize children, so hundreds of infants are yearly
taken to these feasts to receive baptism there
Down underneath this church, in place consid-
cred sacred, stood priest near font of water
in which babies were baptised sll day the priest
expedited matters in quite business like way, as
for each child there was some remuneration, so he
lost no time. We stopped and carefully noted two.
The priest began by reading the baptismal SERVICE
parts of which were sung by man standing near,
then ouet of olive oil was handed him, into which
the priest blew to drive out the Devil, not forget
ting to blow also into the water for the same pur.
pose, blowing in the form of cross that is up and
down and then across, three times; this being done,
he poured from the cruet the oil into the water,
that also in the form of cross and three times,
then pouring a considerable quantity of oil unto
the hands of the godfather, the priest turned and
took the little baby, which had during this time,
been prepared by having all its clothes taken off
he held it up in his hands, while the god. father
oiled its whole body.
The priest then taking hold of the child, with
his thumbs under its arms, so that his hands came
up under the back of its head put it backwards into
the water, until the water reached up to the neck
of the Child and vita his fingers he threw the
water up over the top and back of the head of the
Child not over its face.
This dipping was done three times, the priest
saying as we d. "a, Oaptize you in the name Of
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost The first baby
was calm and submitted quietly, SO that its body,
except its head, was immersed: the second, how
ever, was very refractory, SO that it was almost im
possible to get it bent Backwards besides the sup
ply of water, which is always warm, was rather
scarce, and the priest had no time to wait for more
so that not more than two thirds of its body went
under the water and the priest was barely able to
get little splashed up over its head. In the bot.
tom Of the font was fosset and the water was
drawn off, after each baptism, aud fresh oil and
water used for each child.
When the priest takes the child up from the
water he lays it in CLOTH in the arms of the god.
father, and then with little brush dipped in spe.
cially holy oil, he makes the form of the cross on
the eyes, nose, mouth, and all parts of the body.
This oil is said to be made from many perfumed
flowers, and is obtained for this purpose only
through the Patriarch at Constantinople. After
the crossing with the oil, the priest with pair Of
scissors cuts five locks of hair from the head Of the
child, in doing this he also makes the form of the
cross. He then washes his hands, for which pur.
pose there is always soap, towel and fresh water
prepared The child is given into the hands Of
some female, perhaps the mother, who takes it,
rubs it dry, and brings it again to the godfather,
and to the priest she gives little shirt and cap
which he puts upon the child, saying, " As you
have been baptized in Christ, SO be ye also clothed
Then the female again takes the child, completes
its toilet while the priest and singer continue the
service, until the child is brought back, dressed in
its baptsms robes, always with a little bonnet on
its head, when the godfather takes it in his arms
and he, the priest, and deacon, shaking censor
of burning incense, walk round and round the font
singing. This finishes the whole. And now as to
the question, Are adults bsptizedP They are oc.
casonally, and in the same manner essentially, as
infants. A Greek friend who had witnessed one,
gave me the following particulars: The font gene
rally used for infants, not being large enough they
use large barrel or hogshead, cut off at one end
into that warm water was put, and the candidate
standing me puriS naturahbus In chair, was as
sisted by the priest over into the water, and then
the priest dipped his head down three times, face
foremost, into the water; after which he was
crossed with the holy oil, clothed and walked
around just as in the case of infants, except that
the rubbing Of the body with oil beforehand is dis
pensed with, and the candidate himself makes some
promises as we'll as the godfather.
Much of the Greek baptismal service, as read
from their Synopsis " is not, from Protestant
standpoint, Objectionable, except that it contains
several prayers addressed to the Virgin. In the
baptsmals at limos, We heard frequent mention
made of the "Panagia."
The communion is generally administered to the
candidate Immediately after the baptismal, wheth.
er an adult or infant. l. NJ. L.