A Third-Century Baptismal Manual


At the hour when the cock crows they shall first pray over the water. . . The candidates shall put off their clothes. They shall baptize the little children first. If they can answer for themselves, let them answer. If they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family. Next they shall baptize the grown men and last the women, who shall have loosed their hair and laid aside their gold ornaments. Let no one go down to the water having any alie object with them.

At the time determined for baptizing, the bishop shall give thanks for the oil and put it into a vessel; it is called the Oil of Thanksgiving. He shall take other oil and exorcise over it, and it is called the Oil of Exorcism. Let a deacon carry the Oil of Exorcism and stand on the left side of the prebyter. Another deacon shall take the Oil of Thanksgiving and stand on the right hand.

When the prebyter takes hold of each one of those who are to be baptized, let him bid him renounce, saying, "I renounce you, Satan, and all your service and all your works." When he has said this let him anoint him with the Oil of Exorcism, saying: "Let all evil spirits depart far from you." In this way he shall hand him over to the presbyter who stands by the water to baptize.

A deacon shall descend with him this way. When the one who is to be baptized has descended into the water, he who baptizes him shall lay a hand on him and say: "Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?" He who is being baptized shall say: "I believe." Let him immediately baptize him, once, having his hand laid upon his head.

After this let him say, "Do you believe in Christ Jesus the Son of God, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, who was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate, and died, and rose the third day living from the dead, and ascended into the heavens, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, and will come to judge the living and the dead?" And when he says "I believe", let him baptize him the second time.

Again, let him say, "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, and the resurrection of the flesh?" He who is being baptized shall say, "I believe." And so let him baptize him a third time.

Afterwards when he has come up out of the water he shall be anointed by the presbyter with the Oil of Thanksgiving, saying, "I anoint you with holy oil in the name of Jesus Christ." After they have dried themselves, they shall put on their clothes.

Then the bishop shall lay his hand upon them invoking and saying, "Lord God, you did count these worthy of deserving the forgiveness of sins by the bath of regeneration; make them worthy to be filled with your Holy Spirit and send upon them your grace, that they may serve you according to your will; for to you is the glory, to the Father and to the Son with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, now and forever, world without end."

-Source: Readings In Christianity, ed. R. E. Van Voorst, 2nd edition, Wadsworth: 2001