Handout #36

Baptism in the third century

And at the hour when the cock crows they shall first pray over the water... the candidates shall put off their clothes. And they shall baptize the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family. And 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 alien object with them. 

And at the time determined for baptizing, the bishop shall give thanks over the oil and put it into a vessel, and it is called the Oil of Thanksgiving. And he shall take other oil and exorcize over it, and it is called the Oil of Exorcism. And let a deacon carry the Oil of Exorcism and stand on the left hand of the presbyter. And another deacon shall take the Oil of Thanksgiving and stand on the right hand.

 And when the presbyter 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.' 

And 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 in this way. And when the one who is baptized has descended into the water, he who baptizes him shall lay hands on him and say: 'Do you believe in God the Father Almighty'? And he who is being baptized shall say, 'I believe'. Let him forthwith baptize him, once; having his hand laid upon his head. 

And 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. 

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

And afterwards when he comes up 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. And so, each one drying himself they shall now put on their clothes, and after this let them be together in the assembly. 

And 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, both now and ever and world without end'. 

After this, pouring the consecrated oil and laying his hand on his head, he shall say. 'I anoint you with holy oil in God the Father Almighty, and Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit'.

And sealing him on the forehead he shall give him the kiss and say, 'The Lord be with you'. And he who has been sealed shall say, 'and with your spirit'. And so he shall do to each one. Then they shall pray henceforth together with all the people...Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Traditio, III, xxi, 1-xxii, 6.