A Baptism is a privilege that requires a commitment on
behalf of the parents to raise the child in the Orthodox
Church. If parents are not active members of the Church, you
must demonstrate a desire to become active for the sacrament
to be approved. Parents are the primary role models for
their children in living a committed life to Christ.
Commitment to Christ is expressed in regularly attending
Sunday liturgy, participating in the sacramental life of the
Church and being a current Steward of the Church.
Note: If parents themselves are not regularly attending an
Orthodox Church, an appointment should be made with the
priest in order to discuss the situation.
2. “Good Standing” Requirements for an Orthodox Christian
Married in the Orthodox Church. If you were not married in
the Orthodox Church, your marriage needs to be blessed in
the Church in order to be in good standing. This is not
required prior to baptizing a child but arrangements ought
to be made to have the marriage blessed in the Church. A
Pledged Steward of an Orthodox Church for the current year.
Actively attending the divine services on Sundays.
3. Choosing a Sponsor or Godparent:
In the Baptismal service, the Church requires a
Sponsor/Godparent (Kum - male, Kuma - female). The Godparent
is the one who vouches for the child and the family as to
the sincerity of the reasons why they are seeking baptism.
In addition, the godparents serve to guide, teach, and
counsel their godchildren in the Orthodox faith. The Church
requires that the Godparent be an Orthodox Christian in good
standing; there are no exceptions to this rule. The priest
can help couples in the selection of godparents if needed.
4. Requirements to Serve as a Godparent
The following requirements must be met if you wish to serve
as the child's godparent:
• Must be an Orthodox Christian.
• A registered Steward of an Orthodox Parish.
• If married, must be in an Orthodox Church.
• If married in the Orthodox Church and are now divorced,
they need to obtain an Ecclesiastical Divorce Decree.
• A parishioner may serve as a sponsor in another Parish by
presenting a letter of good standing from his or her home
Parish Priest.
By participating in the sacrament in this manner, the
Godparent is making a pledge to guide and support their
Godchild.
5. Godparent Customs
Note: It is customary for the Godparent to bring their
Godchild to Holy Communion for three consecutive Sundays
after the Baptism. This is done in order to form the habit
of frequent communion for the child.
6. Scheduling Your Baptism
To schedule a baptism you must contact the Church office.
The printing of invitations should not be done until the
date and time for the baptism has been confirmed with the
Priest. To rent one of our halls, contact our Hall Manager.
FAQs
Naming the Child: If the child was not given a Christian name
(a saint's name) one must be selected. The giving of a Christian name
establishes a life long relationship between the child and their saint.
Length of the Baptism: The Baptism service is approximately 45
minutes long.
Fees: There are no fees required for a Baptism. Donations to the
church and/or priest are accepted.
BAPTISM CHECKLIST
The following items are either provided by the parents or the
Godparents. For infants/toddlers, please remove all clothing and
diapers prior to the immersion.