Spirituality of scarmental

I am delighted to have the blessing of presenting this important ritual encyclopedia to the beloved Coptic readers.

His grace the great Bishop Anba Mittaous is one of the prominent scholars of Ritual Theology in our contemporary era, and all his writings are useful, necessary references. As they include a scientific spirit, an elaborate research and spiritual gratification. The church meant the rite to be a living expression of enlightened thinking and a spirit sparkling by divine love.

The “Sacramental Rites” encyclopedia is an urgent need for our Coptic Orthodox Library, as there are no elaborate references now, about this enlivening topic. So here comes this encyclopedia, a gratification for the church’s children and an enrichment to the Coptic Library, at the right time, led by the Holy Spirit of God.

I do not need to elaborate about the gratifying, attractive style of Anba Mittaous who satisfied us in “Explanation of the Holy Liturgy” and “The Eminence of Monasticism” and other spiritual, theological and ritual topics.

We perceive a blessed, educational revival in the era of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, by books, cassettes and video films, shared by many bishops, priests, monks, servants, led by His Holiness, his direct shepherd hood and unique example.

May the Lord bless these efforts and gratify us with more writings by his grace Anba Mittaous, by the prayers of his Holiness Pope Shenouda III, and may the grace of the Lord bless us.

The General Bishop

The seven Sacraments of the Church are the channels by which we get the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit still exists in the church since the day of Pentecost, when He dwelt in it according to the Lord’s promise: “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth when the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him for He dwells with you, and will be in you”. John 14:16,17.

The Holy Spirit works in the church through the Sacraments, giving us His gifts, blessings and help, teaches and guides us to the way of truth” But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will Teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church are: -

The Lord Christ instituted all these Sacraments and the Holy Bible mentioned them in details.

1- Sacrament of Baptism- Instituted by Lord Jesus by His Baptism in River Jordan and by His words to Nicodemos saying: “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God... Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” John 3 and by saying to our fathers the Apostles “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Matt 28:19.

Instituted by Lord Jesus when He said: “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”. John 7:37-39. About the Sacrament of Confirmation, in the Book of Acts: “Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”. Act 8:14-17.

The Holy Spirit was received by laying hands and when the number of believers increased, the Apostles were unable to trace them to lay their hands and give them the Holy Spirit. So they made the Myron out of certain oils mixed with spices that was presented when the Lord was shrouded. It was approved for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, and allowed the priests to anoint the newly baptized by the Myron to get the gift of the Holy Spirit, to dwell in them, to become temples of the Holy Spirit.

Instituted by Lord Jesus when He said to His pure disciples: “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”. Matt: 18:18, and what He said after Resurrection “As the Father has sent me, I also send you and when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”.

Instituted by lord Jesus on the upper room in Zion, on the night of His passion when He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them and said “Take eat, this is My Body. Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it and He said to them “This is My Blood of the new covenant which is shed for many”. Mark 14: 22-24.

Instituted by Lord Jesus when He said to His disciples “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers” Matt 10:8, and whatever city you enter…. Heal the sick who are there” Luke 10:8, and was practiced by the Apostles “They anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” Mark 6:13. Our teacher St. James the Apostle advised believers to practice it, by saying “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over Him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” James 5:14-15.

Instituted by Lord Jesus who blessed the Sacrament of Matrimony by attending the wedding of Cana of Golilee, where “He manifested His glory and His disciples believed in Him” John 2: 1-11. And about which our teacher St. Paul said “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Churches” Ephesians 5:32. That means that the physical union between a man and his wife is a sign and symbol of a greater spiritual matter, that is the unity of heart and soul, resembling the unity of Christ and the Church.

Instituted by Lord Jesus when He chose His twelve disciples among many of His followers, and called them Apostles. That selection was accomplished after a whole night of prayer, when Lord Jesus went out to the mountain (Luke 6: 12-13), and sent them to preach saying “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” Matt: 10:7, and said to them: “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain”. John 15:16. He gave them the authority saying: “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth Will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”. Matt: 18:18. After the resurrection He “Breathed on them and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained” John 2:23. And to them only, He said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you”. Matt: 28:19-20. He gave the mystery of His Holy Body and Blood only to them saying: “Do this in remembrance of me”. Luke 22:19.

Definition of a Church Sacrament: -

The Church Sacrament is an invisible grace we receive by practicing a visible rite, and a visible sign or substance performed by a legal priest.

1- In the Baptism the substance is water by which we receive the second birth from Water and Spirit.

2- In the Confirmation the substance is oil of Myron, by which the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

3- the sign of the Sacrament of Confession is the confessing person, who accepts the prayer of absolution at the end of Confession to gain forgiveness of sins.

4- the substance of the Sacrament of Communion is the bread and wine, by which we eat the Holy Body and precious blood of Emmanuel our God.

5- the substance of the Sacrament of Uniction of sick is oil, by which we receive physical and psychological remedy.

6- the sign of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the bride and groom who receive the prayers, so the Holy Spirit dwells upon them and unites them in body and spirit.

7- The sign of the Sacrament of Priesthood is the ordained person, who accepts prayers of the Sacrament of Priesthood and laying of hands for a certain priestly rank, to gain the grace for starting church services - whether Sacraments or authority for various church matters and management.

Redemptive & Non-Redemptive Sacraments: -

There are four redemptive Sacraments out of the Seven Sacraments. They are necessary for eternal salvation, and every believer should practice them to get eternal salvation. These are: -

The other three Sacraments are non-redemptive and unnecessary for eternal salvation.

Practiced by the sick for the remedy of physical and psychological diseased only.

Practiced by those who want to marry for sharing and bearing children, while many of monks and unmarried get eternal life with merit.

Not accepted by anyone except those who are ordained as a deacon-priest or bishop, while the majority of the Congregation has no priestly ranks, and are called for redemption and eternal life.

Physical medicine has three classes of medicine: -

-A- Preventive Medicine: Like vaccination given to children against smallpox, paralysis and others, to protect them against these diseases.

-B- Curative Medicine: If a person falls sick, he hurries to the hospital, checks with a physician who diagnoses the disease and prescribes the adequate medicine.

-C- Supplementary Medicine: Various Vitamins, prescribed by the physician to strengthen the human body, giving energy and immunity against a disease once more.

The same applies to the soul that resembles the body, as it is liable to spiritual diseases like sin, satanic warfare’s and others.

Our great physician Lord Jesus made the church our spiritual hospital, and the priest as a spiritual physician, as St. John Chrysostom said, “Are you a sinner? Go to the Church which is a hospital not a court”. There you find the spiritual physician who is the priest. Tell him your sins, as he accurately examines everything and prescribes an adequate curative medicine.

Spiritual medicines are the Seven Sacraments of the Church, and they are preventive, curative and supplementary.

(1) Sacrament of Myron: by which the Holy Spirit dwells to fortify against sin and evil, helps to overcome sin and wins in spiritual struggle.

(1) Sacrament of Baptism: to cure from original sin for children and other actual sins for elders.

(2) Sacrament of Confession & Repentance: to cure sins and mistakes made by a person, who they confesses and repents to gain forgiveness and remedy from them and their awful outcomes.

(3) Sacrament of Unction of the Sick: to cure physical and psychological diseases caused by sin.

(1) Sacrament of Communion: - from the Holy Body and precious Blood of Lord Jesus, gives power to a person to win over.

(2) Sacrament of Priesthood: - Priesthood gives the priest grace and power in his struggle as he strives to be our example in attitude, not to stumble anyone, to keep himself pure from sin, dealing with the great rank of priesthood in reverence, as he remembers what our teacher St. Paul said: “We have become a spectacle to the world,Both to angels and to men”.

Certain Church Sacraments are performed with an unperishable feature, so must not be repeated at all.

(1) By Baptism we are made children of God our Father, and this is unperishable.

(3) Priesthood makes us servants and priests of the great High Priest, and this is unperishable.

For every Sacrament of the seven, there are three essential and necessary conditions to administer it: -

(1) An adequate substance for the Sacrament like water for Baptism, bread and wine for the Sacrament of Communion, oil for the Unction of the Sick, and so on.

(3) Invocation of the Holy Spirit by the priest, by praying certain statements for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit and sanctification of the Sacrament.

That is why the Sacraments must be administered in a correct official way according to the order given by God, as our Good Savior instituted and organized them, placing the adequate substance and specific prayers for every Sacrament, placed by the fathers guided by the Holy Spirit. The Sacrament is not true and effective on believers unless it is administered correctly according to God’s will, and the placement of the fathers guided by the Holy Spirit, and handed over by the Church and Holy Councils.

These pages, dear reader, are a detailed study in the rituals and prayers of the Seven Church Sacraments in our Coptic Orthodox Church according to the original situation as placed by our fathers the saints, and it is a humble trial to explain these rites and prayers, clarifying the wisdom of their organization, and also a trial to manifest the spirituality of these rituals and specific prayers of the Seven Sacraments.

We pray to God to make it a success and a blessing for every person studying these rites and every reader of this book, through the intercessions of our pure mother St. Mary and the prayers of our blessed father Pope Shenouda the III, Amen.

This book was issued in it’s first edition in 1991, in two parts, from the library of youth Bishopric in Egypt. It was out of stock after a short while and was requested repeatedly, so we thought of republishing it.

Now we present it to you dear reader, in a new edition, as we collected the two parts in one edition to facilitate its acquirement.

We hope the book satisfies you in its new edition, and may you help us by your prayers so the book becomes a blessing and benefit for whoever reads it.

Through the intercessions of our mother St. Mary and all the saints, and the prayers of our blessed father Pope Shenouda III and his partner in the Apostolic service our

Honored father Anba Mousa the general Youth Bishop. May the grace of the Lord bless, Amen?

Bishop of El-Syrian Monastery

Baptism is a Holy Sacrament by which we are born again by being immersed in water three times in the name of the Holy Trinity. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Sacrament of Baptism has the first rank among the Seven Holy Sacraments, as it is the door by which the believer enters the church and has the right to partake in the rest of the Sacraments.

Lord Christ instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by being baptized by John the Baptist in River Jordan, when the Holy Spirit came upon Him as a dove, anointed Him, then assured it after resurrection when He said to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Matt: 28:19 “He who is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:16. Baptism is a redemptive Sacrament, necessary for redemption and entry to eternal life according to what the Lord said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of Water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” John 3. It is one of the four redemptive Sacraments: Baptism, Myron, Confession and Communion of the Holy Body and precious Blood of the Lord. By Baptism the believer is born again a second spiritual birth

The best time for Baptism is Sunday before Mass, as the priest is fasting because Baptism is death and resurrection, and Sunday is the weekly memory of the Lord’s Resurrection. The wisdom of granting the Sacrament of Baptism right before the Mass, so that the baptized and his parents may attend the Mass, and receive the Holy Sacraments.

If the priest wanted to administer the Sacrament of Baptism at night due to the outnumber of baptized, as in the vesper of Baptism Sunday, he must be fasting for nine or seven hours at least, as Baptism is a Holy Sacrament which must not be performed by an unfasting priest. He must tell the parents of the baptized to bring him in the morning, to attend the Mass and receive Holy Communion.

We preferred to talk accurately about the actual Sacrament of Baptism by the priest, as Baptism is granted to the believer once in life, and cannot be repeated, so Baptism must be carefully regarded, to be performed correctly and perfectly.

We spoke first: about absolution of the Woman, who delivered a male or female child when presenting her child for Baptism.

· After 40 days of her delivery, she will have spent a puerperium, and recovered from tiredness, she comes to the church with her baby to ask the priest to baptize him.

The priest wears the service garment or at least the EPITRACHELION, the deacons wear service garments, then the priest and deacons, woman with her child and

· The Baptistery must be wide, furnished and clean, adequate for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, exactly like the altar.

· Taking out shoes is advisable. The olden rite mentions that the adult who accepted faith used to stand on the sheep fur before the Bishop and priest, reciting all what is required, with a loud voice. The fur is a reminder of the leather garments which the Lord made for Adam and Eve after their fall in sin.

· On the eastern wall of the Baptistery a large icon of the Baptism of Lord Christ by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit coming down like a dove, must be hanged.

· Near the Baptismal Font a small wardrobe must be placed, and three bottles containing oils used in the Baptism. These are the Apocalypses oil, the Ghaliloun, and the Chrism.

Every bottle is marked in clear handwriting. Also the ritual books and the cross specified for Baptism are placed, and a clean box containing the red waistbands that are placed around the baptized, plus special crown if possible.

In the Baptistery, a table must be placed, covered by a clean cover for the child to be placed when anointed by

The first procedure performed by the priest is the prayer of absolution of the woman, and it is equivalent to a permission of entry to the church and receiving the Holy Communion after the period of giving birth and puerperium, but it does not replace the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession. The woman has to sit down with her confession father, to confess her sins done during that period, then he gives her the adequate instructions and finally prays for her the absolution (for forgiveness of her sins). At the end of the Liturgy she receives the Holy Sacrament with her recently baptized son, as it is not correct for her not to receive Communion with her baptized son.

NOTES:-

1- The women enters the church and practices the Sacrament of Confession and receives the Holy Communion if she does not have a monthly period. We advise that the woman chooses the days when she does not have her period to request Baptism of her child, so as to be able to receive the Holy Sacraments with her child and accomplish her joy.

If she is menstruating, she is not allowed to receive Communion or any other ecclesiastical Sacrament, but

1- The priest says: Aleyson Emas (Have Mercy Upon Us O God the Father Almighty).

4- The priest performs the Pauline circuit of incense after he places five handful of incense in the censer, with the known signs and says the Pauline mystery:-

“O great and eternal God, with no beginning or end....etc.”. He raises incense on Baptismal font and blesses the attendants. One of the deacons read the Pauline: Hebrews 1: 8-12. Speaks about the only Son Jesus Christ “Whose throne is forever and ever, with a scepter of righteousness and justice, who have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness”, and who said in challenge “Which of you convicts me of sin” John 8:46.

The priest wishes that the baptized child resembles the image of Lord Christ in righteousness and truth, loving virtue and holiness and hating vice and evil.

5- The hymn of the Trisagion is recited then the priest prays the Prayer of the Gospel, and a deacon reads the Psalm 31: 1,2 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered......”

· By Baptism we get remission of original and actual sins and God forgets them, so we become as pure as Adam before the fall.Then the Gospel: Luke 2: 21-35. Where the circumcision of Jesus is narrated, it is exchanged by Baptism in the New Testament, as Baptism is a spiritual circumcision as our teacher St. Paul says: “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in Baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” Colossians 2: 11,12. In Baptism the old nature is completely removed, not only a small part of the body as in the Old Testament circumcision. As man is born by that old nature contaminated by Adam’s sin. Also the purification rite is mentioned, which was done for the woman after forty days of her delivery, and which was accomplished by Lord Jesus and His Mother the Virgin, despite that He does not need such purification as He is the Holy of Hollis and was born of the Virgin St. Mary by the Holy Spirit, unlike all humankind. He instituted the law and accurately accomplishes the law.

6- The Three Major Litanies are prayed: Litany of Peace, Litany of the Fathers and Litany of the Congregations, then the Orthodox Creed.

9- The priest anoints the woman by the simple oil (Note: It is mostly composed of olive oil, unlike the Myron oil which is composed of 30 kinds of fragrances. Simple oil means Apocalypses Oil).

· The woman is anointed to be healed from any disease as in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10. Then the woman becomes ready to enter the church and receive the Holy Communion after the Sacrament of Confession.

for a woman who aborted a child involuntarily due to an accident or else, but voluntary abortion is a murder and necessitates a law of repentance first.

1. The woman comes to the church with her baby daughter after eighty days of delivery, to baptize her. The eighty days for the female child, and forty days for the male child is identified in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter Twelve. Even if we do not know an explanation for this difference in the New Testament, but we must obey this commandment without argument or complaint, as the Christian Church obeyed this divine order through all eras, and let us remember the obedience of the Virgin St. Mary to this divine order. Despite her conceiving Christ by the Holy Spirit in all purity, and she delivered Him by a miraculous Virgin birth, still she did not come to the temple before completing the days of her purification according to the law of Moses, and that is forty days for the male child. Luke 2: 22-24.

Notice:- The parents must be committed to the period of forty days for the male child, and eighty days for the female child, and must not surpass them for any reason, so they do not sin against their children. This means the nullity of the idea of making a vow for Baptism in certain remote places, at certain feasts which are months away.The child must be baptized at the specific time, and if a vow is made, they fulfill it at the right time, without relating to the Baptism.

Forty days period for the male child and eighty days for the female child, exists in normal circumstances but if the new - born got sick and his parents are afraid he dies, they must request from the priest to baptize him and anoint him/her by Myron, even if the child is one day old, under any condition (as the priest may not be fasting or unable to baptize him by immersion) and quickly, so that the child does not die without Baptism and is deprived from entry or sight of the Kingdom according to our Savior’s speech John 3. The method to be followed is that someone, except the mother, should take the child to the church to be baptized. If the baby lives, the Baptism is correct and should not be repeated.

3. If his parents neglected the Baptism, and the child dies without Baptism, it is the right of the church to impose a punishment law for a period of one year of prayers and fasting with bowing of repentance, with an excommunication from sharing the Holy Eucharist during this whole year.

2. The priest prays Aleyson Emas, Thanksgiving prayer, places five handful of incense into the censer with the known signs, then prays the Pauline mystery (O Great and eternal God), then raises the Pauline incense on the Baptismal font and blesses the attendants.

3. The deacon prays the Pauline 1 Cor. 7:12-14 that speaks about the believing woman which is a blessing for her husband.

4. The hymn of the Trisagon is recited, then the Prayer of the Gospel and the Psalm 44:12 “The queen shall be brought to the king” as the borne is a female child.

5. The Gospel from Luke 10: 38-43, speaks about Mary and Martha who are exemplary in their love of God, hearing His commandments practicing them, the service of sacrifice, he asks God that the newly born female child may become like them and chooses the right portion.

6. Then the Three Major Litanies: Peace, Fathers and the Congregations, then the Orthodox Creed.

7. The same previous prayer is said where the priest requests God to fill this woman by His Holy Spirit, purifying her from sins and vices.

8. Then the Lord’s Prayer and the priest prays the three absolutions and the blessing while placing the cross on the woman’s head.

9. The priest anoints the woman by the simple oil or Apocalypses oil present in the Baptism room, so the woman is ready to enter the church and receive the Holy Communion of our God Emmanuel.

Absolution prayer for the child’s mother (whether male or female):- The priest places the cross on the woman’s head and prays asking God to absolve and bless the child’s mother and make her worthy to share the Holy Sacraments without falling into condemnation, according to her eagerness to receiving the life giving Sacraments. The woman who delivers a child should not receive Holy Communion before her child’s Baptism, this will motivate her not to delay the child’s Baptism according to the law (40 days for the male child and 80 days for the female child), so that she gets the blessing of absolution of the woman related to the child’s Baptism before their Communion, and this absolution is the legal permission for entry to church and receiving the Holy Sacraments after delivery. He

· also supplicates God to bless the born child, and keep him/her to grow in grace, stature, faith, hope and love.

· The priest prays for the children proceeding for Baptism while placing the cross on their heads, asking God to forgive their sins and make them worthy of the pure Sacrament of Baptism, and to enlighten their hearts to see in purity the way of eternal life, and glorify God all the days of their lives.

· The priest prays on the Apocalypses oil bottle, asking God to let this oil undo the works of devils and their magic, and become an anointing oil for faith in Christ.

· Another prayer on the oil, asking that this oil becomes a sermon oil to cast away all evil deeds.

anything from their ears and hands like earrings, bracelets, rings....etc. Then takes the bottle of oil to anoint the children (males then females) as follows:-

( Name of the Child) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. A sermon oil for (Name of the Child ) in the church of God, one Holy, Universal and Apostolic, Amen.

“This oil abolishes the power of the adversary Amen.” The deacons say: We ask from God.

· The priest prays a prayer where he glorifies God for His great love for humankind, as He called us from darkness to His splendid light, and asks Him to write the names of those children who came forward for Baptism, in the Book of Life, counting them with His believers, preparing them temples of the Holy Spirit and granting them growth in faith and grace and free them from the bondage of corruption, to the freedom of the glory of God’s children.

The priest asks about the names of the baptized then prays saying: We also ask the Almighty God...for your servants whose names are presented (it is

preferable to mention the names ([2]) individually) make them worthy to win grace which they require, purify them from sins of the world and free them from bondage of corruption...etc.

· The deacon says: “Pray for those whose names are said so that the Lord may make them worthy of the Holy Baptism for the forgiveness of their sins”. The congregation answers: Lord have Mercy.

· The mother kneels down facing the East and carrying her child (if the baptized is old enough, he must kneel), then the priest prays:

(1) We also ask perseveringly...God to open their hearts and enlighten them by the light of knowledge.

([1])

It is very important to take off everything from the body of the child, to become naked as his mother delivered him/her, like the nakedness of Adam and Eve after breaking the commandment and falling in sin. It is wrong for those things to drop into the Baptismal font which contains water and Myron.

([2])It is very important to take off everything from the body of the child, to become naked as his mother delivered him/her, like the nakedness of Adam and Eve after breaking the commandment and falling in sin. It is wrong for those things to drop into the Baptismal font which contains water and Myron.

NOTE

During these prayers kneeling means the humiliation of the soul before God, to ask Him to be freed from the bondage of Satan, like the Phoenician woman who knelt at the feet of Jesus and asked Him to cast out the demon from her daughter Mark 7:26.

The priest places his hand on the children’s heads saying:-

1. In the Name of the Only Son Jesus Christ I prepare this body for purification.....the deacons say Amen.

2. In the Name of the Only Son Jesus Christ may he/she be free from all the devils....the deacons say Amen.

3. In the Name of the Only Son Jesus Christ may he/she be purified from all devils..... the deacons say Amen.

RENOUNCING SATAN AND RECITING THE ORTHODOX CREED

A	:- RENOUNCING SATAN:-

The mother undresses her child and holds him/her with her left arm, looking towards the West and lifts her right hand, reciting after the priest the Statements of Renouncing Satan (if the baptized is not a child, he recites the Statements personally).

“I renounce you Satan and all your profane deeds, and all your evil followers and all your bad debits, all your power, and all your detested worshipping, all your evil traps and your army and your dominion and the rest of your deceit. I renounce you, I renounce you, I renounce you”.

NOTES:-

Undressing the child reminds us of the nakedness of Adam and Eve when they obeyed Satan and disobeyed the commandment of God, so they were put to shame before Him and hid from Him Genesis 3:7-10 when they

1. felt their nakedness. This is what sin and Satan do to human beings, undress him/her from all virtues and the protection of grace, and putting him/her to shame before every one.

2. Facing the West is a symbol of exile and remoteness from God, and submission to the dominion of Satan, who was the first exiled who was separated from God by falling from his rank of angels for pride.

3. The direction of the West means the end or death, as daylight ends by sunset and we say about the deceased that the sun of his life has set. The old Egyptians built their cemetery towards the West. We notice this in the historical city of Aswan, as we see all the temples along the eastern banks of the River Nile while all the tombs in the Kings Valley (Wadi-El-Milook) in the western bank of the River Nile, as also in the Giza Pyramids which are the tombs of kings exist along the western bank of the River Nile.

4. The West direction means darkness as sun sets from the west and by setting, the night starts with its pitch darkness.

5. The West direction means night and darkness which means sin and evil. In the Greek language the word evil K a K I a and the word darkness X a K I