Vested in Christ: Understand the Mysteries of Holy Baptism and Sacred Chrismation

Item No. 006043

by George Danias and Christina Hatzithanasi-Danias, illustrations by Paraskevi Haztithanasi-Antonatou

Holy Baptism is the Mystery during which a person is born again and recreated; the image of God within is restored, formerly shattered by Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Paradise. St. Paul emphasizes the significance of the Mystery of Holy Baptism: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3: 27) This means that at Holy Baptism, we put on Christ, and at Sacred Christmation, we receive the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit! When St. Synclitike (commemorated Jan. 5) was persuaded by the syncretists to explain the benefit of Holy Baptism, she said to them: “In the present life we are born three times: The first time, when we go forth from our mother’s womb, coming from the earth to the earth. The other two times we are born, we rise from the earth to heaven. Of these two second births, one is brought about by divine Grace at Holy Baptism and is rightly called rebirth and regeneration. The other is also brought about by divine Grace, when we repent…” The saints interpreted the Mystery of Holy Baptism as a revelation of the measure of the love of Christ for mankind. It was this divine Love, which we ourselves have experienced, that urged us to author the present book. Indeed, it was sufficient to motivate us to offer this effort to everyone who has been baptized! We developed the present book according to the order of the Service of Holy Baptism, as it is described in the Euchologion of our Church–recognizing that it is entirely possible to encounter examples of small alterations to the order of the celebration of the rite which do not affect the essence of the Mystery. The drawings in the book and the juxtaposition of the narratives from the Book of Elders and Lives of the Saints (Gerontiko and Synaxaria), are intended to assist the untaught in approaching this sacred Mystery.

Includes a full-color poster!

Vested in Christ answers the following questions and more:

• Why was Christ Baptized?
• Why does the Church read prayers on the first and eighth day after the birth of a child?
• What is the role of the Godparent?
• What are the essential elements for the celebration of the Mystery of Holy Baptism?
• What are the prayers of exorcism and what is the renunciation of Satan?
• What is the significance of the triple immersion for the person being baptized?
• What are washing and tonsure?
• Why are infants baptized?
• Why are baptismal clothes white?
• What was the baptism of St. John the Forerunner?
• Why does the Priest seal the newly baptized person with Holy Myrrh?

Author: George Danias and Christina Hatzithanasi-Danias

Illustrator: Paraskevi Haztithanasi-Antonatou

Paperback: 164 pages

Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches