# Baptism Source: https://coptic-lore-forge.lovable.app/wiki/baptism — Coptic Orthodox Wiki (updated 2026-10-02) In Coptic Orthodox teaching, baptism is spiritual rebirth through triple immersion in the name of the Trinity, uniting the recipient with Christ and the Church.[^1] ## Meaning and origin In Coptic Orthodox teaching, baptism is the sacrament of spiritual regeneration through triple immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It unites the recipient with Christ and the body of the Church and is regarded as the first and principal sacrament, preceding reception of the other sacraments.[^1] Christ’s commission to the disciples after his Resurrection, particularly Matthew 28:18–19, is the institution of sacramental baptism. This sacrament is distinct from earlier baptisms expressing repentance, including that administered by John the Baptist.[^2] Immersion signifies participation in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.[^3] ## Preparation and administration Candidates are required to believe in Jesus Christ, repent, confess their faith, and repeat the renunciation of the devil after the priest. Sponsors make these commitments on behalf of children.[^4] Bishops and priests administer the sacrament; deacons and deaconesses assist but do not administer it.[^5] Infant baptism takes place after forty days for boys and eighty days for girls, corresponding to the mother’s prescribed purification period. If illness or danger threatens an infant before that period has elapsed, another woman may bring the child to church as sponsor.[^6] Baptism may be administered throughout the year.[^5] Coptic baptisms take place particularly on the Eve of Epiphany and on the sixth Sunday of Great Lent, called Christening Sunday.[^7] ## Liturgical order The baptismal office comprises four sections: absolution of the woman, renunciation of the devil, sanctification of the water of the font, and loosening of the girdle of the baptized.[^8] ### Absolution and renunciation The prayers for the mother include thanksgiving, incense, scriptural readings, intercessions, the Creed, and absolutions. The readings differ according to whether the child is male or female.[^8] The candidate, or a child’s sponsor, makes the required confession of faith and renunciation of the devil.[^4] ### Sanctification of the water The priest pours pure, unmixed oil into the font in the form of a cross, invoking the Trinity. Thanksgiving, incense, biblical readings, and intercessions follow, together with prayers that the candidates may receive baptism for new birth and remission of sins.[^9] Further prayers accompany the pouring of oil into the font. The priest breathes three times over the water in the form of a cross and signs it three times in the name of the Trinity; later, he adds holy chrism three times in the form of a cross while psalms accompany the preparation.[^10] ### Immersion and the following sacraments The deacon brings the candidate from the west toward the east, beside the font. The priest asks the candidate’s name and immerses the person three times, naming the Father at the first immersion, the Son at the second, and the Holy Spirit at the third.[^10] Confirmation immediately follows baptism but is understood as a distinct, complementary sacrament with its own rites and prayers.[^11] The priest addresses the parents and sponsors about their responsibilities, and the newly baptized receive Holy Communion.[^12] ### Water and baptismal garments At the conclusion of the baptismal service, the priest prays for the release of the water and drains it into the well beneath the font or elsewhere, ensuring that it is not used for another purpose.[^13] The service for loosening the baptismal girdle takes place eight days after baptism. Following prayers and readings, the child is bathed, and the girdle and baptismal robe are washed in the same water, which is then disposed of in the sea, a river, or a field.[^14] ## Non-repetition and historical disputes Validly administered baptism is not repeated, a principle associated with the Creed’s confession of one baptism for the remission of sins.[^15] Historically, Christians disputed the validity of baptisms administered outside their ecclesial communion: Cyprian of Carthage supported rebaptism in certain cases, whereas Stephen of Rome opposed repeating baptism performed in the name of Christ or the Trinity.[^16] Baptism by heretics or schismatics is broadly treated as invalid; the Council of Constantinople’s procedure, however, distinguishes groups received by renunciation and anointing from those required to receive baptism.[^15][^17] ## Sources [^1]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 45) [^2]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 45) [^3]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 713) [^4]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 49) [^5]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 48) [^6]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 49) [^7]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 49) [^8]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 52) [^9]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 56) [^10]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 57) [^11]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 658) [^12]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 59) [^13]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 59) [^14]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 59) [^15]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 47) [^16]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 47) [^17]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 355)