The Water of Baptism

The Church celebrates the life-giving power of the waters of Baptism. The priest blesses the water, then plunges the Eastern candle into the water of the baptismal font to show that Jesus is present.

During the liturgy of Baptism,the priest baptizes someone who has been prepared for it earlier. The whole congregation renews its baptismal vows and sings the Liturgy of the Saints.

Water is a symbol of life and death. The stories in the old Testament show that water has the power to destroy life.

In the New Testament, water was made into a life-giving symbol. Jesus did this when He was Baptized in the Jordan River. John the Baptist also did this when he baptized people to give them hope for salvation.