Statute 40

1Statute 40. Concerning the ordinance of the apostolic gift, according to the orthodox word.

2We have written about gifts of grace as far as God our Lord has granted us according to his own counsel. Formerly he gave grace to humanity, bringing near what had gone astray in a type; and now he has given the beloved Son, who is in all the saints. Having come to the source of the proper tradition in the churches, we have reached the point that people should learn thoroughly what has been received until now. They handed these things on and kept them as our ordinances. Yet, although they knew that they were entirely secure concerning what had been found for them, they have now unknowingly slipped away. To those who did not know, the Holy Spirit is indeed giving the perfection of grace. How fitting it is for those who believe rightly, according to what they know, to hand on and keep the things established in the Church.

3Concerning the ordinance of baptism.

4Those who are to be baptized shall do as follows. They shall come into the baptistery and give their names. First, their lives shall be examined to determine whether they are fit for baptism, whether they read the Scriptures, and whether they have learned the psalm. There shall likewise be sponsors for the one who is to be baptized, and the sponsor shall know that he will give an account for this on the day of judgment. After the examination they shall therefore have the following prayer said.

5The prayer concerning those who gave their names.

6Lover of humanity and merciful author of blessing, merciful One whose custom is goodness, fountain of every blessing, you made what did not exist into what exists, and you gave each created thing its size and place. You are able to remove it and take it away. Now, Lord, take this servant of yours away from wickedness and bring him into goodness. Grant that he may inherit the blessed sonship that is in heaven, so that he may no longer be one born of flesh but may truly remain in obedience to you; through your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory and might belong to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.

7The prayer for those who gave their names.

8Again we beseech God Almighty, the Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, on behalf of those who gave their names, that he may open the ears of their hearts, enlighten the eyes of their minds, and give them the light of knowledge—he who has authority over mercy, the Lord our God.

9The deacon shall say, “Pray for those who gave their names.”

10The bishop shall say, “God Almighty, you called your servants who gave their names out of darkness into light and out of ignorance into the knowledge of the truth. Blot out every trace of error from their thoughts. Place your law and your commandment within their hearts, and give them fitting knowledge. Impart to them, both men and women, the washing of regeneration for the forgiveness of sin. Make them the temple of the Holy Spirit, through our Lord Christ, through whom glory and might belong to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.”

11The prayer of consecration for those who bring bread, water, or oil to be blessed during the holy forty days, after the examination of those who are to be baptized.

12God, my Lord Jesus Christ, lover of humanity, who alone have made an offering: you know, and to those who are able you speak of the greatness of the Father’s honor and of your creation. You are the Mediator, the Chief Priest for every soul, and healing for those who suffer. You whose name is sanctified by the saints, may the power that enlightens your name come upon the oil, the water, and the bread, and make them safety, healing, and purification for those who offered them in faith. For your name is restoration, redemption, revelation, and sanctification for us. Glory belongs to you and to your holy Father, now, and so forth.

13The one who comes to baptism shall learn the commandment as he receives baptism: how fitting it is that he should live carefully, since the holy atonement of grace will be imparted to him through eating. Early in the morning the bread and water shall be blessed, and he shall be anointed with the oil until the time when the holy grace of baptism is imparted.

14When he comes to baptism, the one who baptizes shall take him and turn him toward the west, with his right hand or both hands outstretched, and with his face opposite, toward the east, without fear. If he is a fully grown man, he shall speak. But for children who cannot speak, for a weak person, or likewise for relatives, the believing father and believing mother—or believing male and female relatives—shall speak. The candidate, naked in the water and without fear, shall pronounce the anathema, saying as follows.

15The first prayer for baptism, over the water.

16God, my almighty Lord, you made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them. You made humanity in your own form and likeness. You mingled and united the immortal with the mortal, made living humanity a combination of the two, and gave the created body a soul, which you caused to dwell within it. Stir this water and fill it with your Holy Spirit, so that it may become water and Spirit for the regeneration of those who are to be baptized. Perform a holy work and make them sons and daughters of your holy name. Wash them with water and instruct them by the Holy Spirit, through the coming of our Lord Christ your Son, through whom glory and might belong to you with him, now and always, and with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

17The prayer for the consecration of the water.

18Eternal God, who know what is hidden, we pray and beseech you: send your Holy Spirit and his power upon this water. Change it, sanctify it, bless it, and set it against everything that opposes. Cause it to stand against every form of divination and every potion, whether drunk, sprinkled, or used in any other way. Cause it to bring healing and life to the one who receives it in faith, and to the glory of your only beloved Son; for glory and might belong to you with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.

19The prayer for the holy waters of the [Yurdanos], which are mingled with sweet fragrance.

20As the priest stands facing east in the proper vestment, while the clergy stand in their respective orders, he shall first finish the customary form of prayer and then say:

21God, my almighty Lord, you made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them. You made humanity in your form and likeness and placed him in the garden so that he might live an immortal life. But when he fell into error through Satan, the enemy of our race, he became the cause of death for us all. Yet your goodness did not therefore abandon us. You sent your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, into the world, not to judge the world but to save the world through him. When he came, he changed our birth into the new birth that comes through this water and the Spirit of regeneration.

22For this reason I call upon you, my Lord, maker of all, who mingled and united the mortal with the immortal, making living humanity a combination of the two, giving motion to the created body and giving it the soul that you caused to dwell within it. Stir this water and fill it with what belongs to the Holy Spirit, so that it may become both water and Spirit of regeneration for those who are baptized in it. Cause them, my Lord, to become little sons and daughters of the holy name. Purify and wash them with water, and instruct them with the Holy Spirit, through the coming of our Lord Christ with the Holy Spirit.

23May it be for everyone baptized in it a washing of regeneration that cleanses from every sin. Prepare those whom the Holy Spirit has chosen, so that he may come upon them. Clothed with an incorruptible garment, may they rise at the resurrection of the dead. May every evil spirit be removed from them, expelled according to the holy and ineffable promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory, might, and greatness belong to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, from before the age, now and always, through endless generations and from age to age. Amen.

24Then the priest shall go down into the water of the [Yurdanos], take hold of the head of the one who is to be baptized, and say to him, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” At each name of the Holy Trinity, the one being baptized shall also say, “Amen.”

25When he has come up from the water, those who made the promise for him shall receive him. The one who was baptized shall then find a clean linen cloth with which the water may be wiped away, and he shall be kept with great care.

26If the one who is to be baptized is weak, he shall stand naked early in the morning, as soon as there is enough light to see. The one who baptizes shall pour water over his head, saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” At each name of the Holy Trinity he shall pour once, and not afterward as with all.

27After they have clothed him in the baptismal robe, the Chief Priest shall offer the prayer for the men. If he is not present, the priest shall do so before the one who has been sanctified in this way is anointed with chrism.

28The prayer over the holy oil of chrism with which the catechumens are anointed, and for fully initiated Christians who are sick.

29God, my almighty Lord, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, stretch out your invisible hand over the fruit of this olive, with which you anointed the priests and prophets. You have given it power by your own hand so that, for those anointed with it, it may bring healing, safety, and benefit in every disease and sickness, and the destruction of every satanic adversary. By your own grace make it truly an anointing of the Holy Spirit for those to whom it is given, through the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory and might belong to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.

30He shall breathe upon his face three times.

31The prayer over the holy oil for anointing the one who is to be baptized.

32God, my almighty Lord, God of hosts, we call upon your great name, which is powerful in all things, and upon the Holy Spirit and your universal name. We pray and beseech you to send spirit and power upon this oil. Cause it to become a breastplate of faith against every work of Satan, and make it serve for the perfection of all piety and knowledge; through, and so forth.

33The prayer over the holy oil for anointing with chrism those who have been baptized.

34The bishop shall give thanks and say, “The Lord be with you all.”

35The people standing by shall say, “And with your spirit.”

36The bishop shall say, “Lift up your hearts.”

37Those standing by shall say, “We have them with the Lord our God.”

38The bishop shall say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”

39They shall say, “It is right and just; it is fitting.”

40Then the Chief Priest, to whom alone it belongs to consecrate the chrism, shall take it and stand properly. He shall offer the prayer, complete the invocation for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and say:

41It is right and just. We praise you, glorify you, confess you, worship you, and give thanks to you for all the mercy you have shown us and for all your benefits. When the world had gone astray, you saved it by sending your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, not to judge the world but to save the world and gather together our scattered people, so that we might assemble and confess you, the one true God who sent our Lord Jesus Christ.

42Through him we offer this chrism, which you have given us for healing and for use in other necessities. Be pleased to send the Holy Spirit upon it through our Lord Jesus Christ, so that it may become an anointing of holiness and a seal of the Holy Spirit upon every person who receives the washing of regeneration and forgiveness, according to what you have given them. May it be for them redemption, sure grace, a holy seal of anointing, and communion of their nature with the Holy Spirit. Cause them to be called his temple, through the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom glory and might belong to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, from before the age and to the age, now, and so forth.

43The prayer over the holy oil with which the baptized person is to be anointed at the place of anointing.

44My almighty Lord, who were God to the prophets and God to the apostles, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, from the beginning you proclaimed through the prophets the coming of our Lord Christ, and you sent John the Prophet before his coming. Give power to this holy oil and bless it for baptism. May it sanctify your servants and handmaids and prepare them for you as they call upon you. Cause it to destroy every poison and expel every evil and unclean spirit. May every unclean desire be driven away through this anointing, through the name of your only Son. May it be sanctified by your own grace and be, for all who are baptized, oil of healing, safety, and power for planting the good olive tree and bearing fruit toward you and toward Christ, through the Holy Spirit, by faith in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom glory belongs to you with him and with, and so forth.

45He shall breathe into the oil three times.

46With it he shall anoint the one being baptized on his breast, shoulders, and entire body, saying, “May the oil of holy anointing act against every adversary, work to graft you into his own good olive tree, the Church, and bring blessing.”

47The one being anointed shall answer, “Amen.”

48If the candidate is a man, this shall be done by the minister or by the priest who is there. If the candidate is a woman, it shall be done by a believing woman who is perpetually a virgin.

49Further, the prayer for laying a hand upon the catechumens.

50God Almighty, Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, your servants the catechumens have humbled their heads before you and subdued before you the hardness of heart and flesh. Look down from your worthy dwelling place and bless them, male and female. May your ear attend to them and hear their prayer. Grant them knowledge of the power of the word in which they are instructed as a sure utterance. In due time impart to them, male and female, the washing of regeneration for the forgiveness of sin. Make them the temple of the Holy Spirit through Christ; for glory, power, and might belong to you, now, and so forth.

51Concerning the oil of chrism for those who are baptized.

52The bishop shall give thanks in the following manner after the several bishops, presbyters, and deacons are ready. With the Chief Priest present, he shall celebrate, saying, “The Lord be with you all.”

53Those standing by shall say, “And with your spirit.”

54The bishop shall say, “Lift up your hearts.”

55Those present shall say, “We have them with the Lord our God.”

56The bishop shall say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”

57Those present shall say, “It is right and just; it is fitting.”

58Then the Chief Priest, to whom alone it belongs to consecrate the chrism, shall take it and stand carefully in front. He shall offer the prayer and say the invocation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The bishop shall say:

59It is right and just. We praise you, glorify you, confess you, and give thanks to you for everything you have done for us, for your blessings and all your benefits. You saved the lost world. You sent your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, not to judge the world but to save the world through him, and he gathered together our scattered people. We know that you alone are the true Lord who sent Jesus Christ our Lord.

60Through him we offer you this chrism, which you have given us for healing and for use in other necessities. Be pleased to send your Holy Spirit upon it through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May it become an anointing of holiness and a seal of the Holy Spirit for those who receive it, and the washing of regeneration for those to whom redemption and sure grace have been given. May it seal them with the seal of anointing and the washing of their nature. Cause them to be called the temple of the Holy Spirit, through the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom, and so forth.

61He shall breathe three times into his face and then anoint him with the holy chrism on his forehead and breast, saying to each one, “I give you the holy anointing and the seal of the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

62The one being sealed shall say, “Amen.”

63If a presbyter performs the baptism, he shall receive the chrism from the bishop and anoint them after they have put on the baptismal robe. He then proceeds to pray. When he has finished the prayer over the holy oil, they shall bring three little children near him, together with their elders. After turning them toward the west, they shall first anathematize Satan, saying:

64I anathematize you, Satan, and all your wicked angels, all your works, all your errors, and all your orders.

65Then, turning again toward the east and stretching out his hands, he shall confess God, saying:

66I believe in one God, the Father above all, Almighty; and in the only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and in the Holy Spirit; and in the resurrection of the body; and in the holy assembly, the one Catholic Church.

67Then he shall say three times, “Amen.”

68He shall stretch out his hands, bow his head in fear, and repeat after the one baptizing him this faith in the Trinity:

69I believe in you, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and in your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; and in the Holy Spirit; and in the resurrection of the body; and in the holy, one, Catholic, Apostolic Church.

70They shall ask him three times, “Do you believe?” Three times he shall answer, “I believe, I believe, I believe.”

71If the candidate is a fully grown man, he shall speak. For children who cannot speak, a person unable to speak, or a sick person, the believing father and believing mother, or relatives who know them and are likewise believers, shall speak in place of the child, the one who cannot speak, or the sick person, stating each person’s name.

72After the confession of faith he shall say the following prayer for the laying on of a hand.

73My almighty Lord, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, before whom your servants and handmaids have humbled themselves and subdued the hardness of heart and flesh, look down from heaven, your sanctuary, and stretch out your invisible hand upon them. Lord of heaven and earth, through your only Son you have made knowledge of yourself known upon the earth, and you have prepared them with a heavenly calling. Confirm these persons so that they may obtain your power, and confirm their faith so that nothing may ever separate them from it. Let them be united in your only Word, through whom glory and might belong to you with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.

74He shall breathe three times.

75They shall then be anointed with the holy oil at the place of anointing. He shall anoint the area of the heart, the breast, the back, and the whole body, saying, “May the anointing with holy oil act against every adversary, firmly plant the faith in the good olive tree, the Catholic Church, and do good.”

76The one being anointed shall say, “Amen.”

77The prayer after the anointing.

78Father of your only Son Jesus Christ, the root that is not cut off, Redeemer of the sold, do not allow any trace of the former condition to remain in those who have turned to your faith and obey you. Cause them to possess purity of soul and to be children of regeneration who share in your grace. Impress upon them the living mark, through your only Son, through whom, and so forth.

79Then the priest shall take him, go down into the [Yurdanos], and baptize him. As he baptizes him he shall face east and wear the proper vestment, while the clergy stand in their orders. The presbyter shall baptize the children first. Then the Chief Priest, standing in the [Yurdanos], shall baptize, laying his hand upon the one he baptizes and saying, “I baptize you, N. or M., in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

80The one being baptized shall say, “Amen.”

81After the baptism, he shall go out to the Table as for the Eucharist. When they have prepared the Table for each person, with the bishops, presbyters, and deacons present, the Chief Priest shall sanctify with the chrism, saying as follows.

82The prayer of blessing and of laying a hand upon those who have been baptized, before anointing them with the consecrated chrism. The bishop or the presbyter who performed the baptism shall say:

83Eternal and almighty God, Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, you have regenerated us, your servants and handmaids, through water and the Holy Spirit in the washing of regeneration, which you granted to them for the forgiveness of sin. Now send upon them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, so that he may grant them entry into your heavenly kingdom, according to your holy and infallible promise, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom glory, honor, and might belong to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.

84He shall breathe three times and then anoint them with the holy chrism on the forehead and breast, saying to each, “The holy anointing and the seal of the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

85The one being sealed shall say, “Amen.”

86If a presbyter performs the baptism, he shall receive the chrism from the bishop and anoint them after they have been clothed in the baptismal robe.

87Then follows the order of the offering.

88The prayer over the oil of anointing that the Chief Priest consecrates for those who receive the washing and for sick believers.

89God, my almighty Lord, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, stretch out your invisible hand over the fruit of this olive, with which you anointed the priests and prophets. You have given it power by your hand so that it may bring healing and benefit to those who are anointed with it, in every disease and every sickness. Destroy every adversary, and make it the anointing of your grace for the forgiveness of sin for those to whom the Holy Spirit has been given, through the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory and might belong to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, from before the age, now, and so forth.

90He shall therefore breathe three times.

91Before the offering, and after the catechumens have departed, there shall be three kinds of prayer: one for peace, one for the congregation, and one for the Patriarch.

92Then the deacon shall say in a loud voice, “Let those who are not admitted to communion depart. Let none of the catechumens remain standing here within.”

93The subdeacon shall then open the doors and say, “Let those who are not admitted to communion depart.”

94The deacon shall then say to the people, “Kiss one another with a holy kiss.”

95When they have each exchanged the greeting, the chief deacon shall say, “Shut the doors, O subdeacons.” This is as was said at the prayer of the congregation.

96If the bishop administers the baptism, or another ordained person does so, he shall not say, “There is no catechumen here who is not one of the congregation, nor is any adversary present here.”

97Only on the day when they receive baptism, after the offering, he shall present the cup and the milk and honey, together with the bread and the cup of wine. They shall bless them together, and only those receiving for the first time shall partake of them.

98Then the bishop shall say the thanksgiving over the milk:

99We give thanks to you, God Almighty, Father of our spirit, who have begotten us again through water and the Spirit, through Christ Jesus our Lord, whom you gave. He instituted the holy washing of baptism for the forgiveness of sin for our race. For we are your flock that is in secret, born of the Word, and we are nourished with the sustaining milk of your grace in the bosom of our holy mother, through the voice of the consolations of the Holy Spirit.

100You, O Lord, have always given us the food and nourishment of your sons, drawing forth the milk of life. According to the form and command of creation, we offer you this milk and honey that flows from the holy Church, our mother, who caused us to grow through her breasts, which were sanctified by you. O Lord, bless it with blessing and sanctify it with sanctification, so that for those who partake of it, it may become incorruptible communion, nourishment, and washing. Let it serve for instruction in fear of you, for sobriety, and for the measure of stature, because your all-honorable name has been glorified forever and ever. Amen.

101You shall give him of Christ’s Body and say, “This is the Body of Christ.”

102The one receiving shall say, “Amen.”

103You shall give the cup and say, “This is the Blood of Christ.”

104The one receiving shall say, “Amen and amen.”

105Afterward, laying your hand upon their head, you shall pray as follows:

106I bless you, O Lord, because you have imparted to your servants and handmaids the washing of regeneration for the forgiveness of sin, the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the Body and Blood of Christ. We pray and beseech you: surround your servants and handmaids with the power of your angels, protect them by your divinity, and cause them to obtain the heavenly mystery, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom, and so forth.

107The ordinance of baptism is finished.