- Mar 11, 2003
- 11,683
- 8,019
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Married
Today I had my catechumen class...I thoroughly enjoy these classes - since I love to learn about Orthodoxy and about our faith. Today, we were going through the Divine Liturgy - the meaning of things...the reasons....etc etc. We talked about the Litany of the Catechumens for a good portion of the class. Partway through, he mentioned how the Feast Days (I think) were the days that catechumens were often baptized - hence the passages that refer to baptism, etc (I could be wrong about it being the Feast Days - but it was one of the particular services). Anyways, we got into a deeper discussion about baptism of catechumens afterwards (because of questions of a few of us).
Ever since first starting my journey into Orthodoxy - I always was thankful for the fact - or so I thought - that my baptism - since it was Trinitarian, could potentially be considered acceptable, so to speak - with Chrismation being the official entrance into the Church....not being re-baptized (though I guess it really wouldn't be considered rebaptized if the first baptism wasn't valid...it'd just be the first valid baptism.)
Today, however, I found out that it being a Trinitarian baptism doesn't just mean "In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit". It also means immersion three times.
Basically, when I heard that I might have to be baptized again....It almost felt like my heart was being ripped out. That may sound sentimental - but honestly - me being baptized was my first step...my first public confession of Jesus Christ being my Lord and Savior - and this was MY statement of faith...my "entrance" so to speak into Christianity - despite the fact that I hadn't found the fullness of the faith in Orthodoxy. I didn't know anything about Orthodoxy at the time - I was just trying to find God in the best way that I knew how... So - basically, while I don't know that there is anything that can be said - or that there is any question to be asked...I just needed to post my frustration...and maybe ask how (if any of you experienced this) that you put it into perspective.
If this does not make sense, let me know
I'm a bit on the frustrated side right now, so I am just furiously typing on the keyboard :: sigh ::
Anyways, please keep me in your prayers, and please let me know if you have any suggestions with putting this into perspective.
And for the record - this isn't making me decide not to pursue Orthodoxy - by all means this isn't nearly important enough to stop that....after all - what is the baptism worth if not in truth? But....all that I am saying - is that I was truly...truly....well...I don't even know how to explain how I felt.
Ever since first starting my journey into Orthodoxy - I always was thankful for the fact - or so I thought - that my baptism - since it was Trinitarian, could potentially be considered acceptable, so to speak - with Chrismation being the official entrance into the Church....not being re-baptized (though I guess it really wouldn't be considered rebaptized if the first baptism wasn't valid...it'd just be the first valid baptism.)
Today, however, I found out that it being a Trinitarian baptism doesn't just mean "In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit". It also means immersion three times.
Basically, when I heard that I might have to be baptized again....It almost felt like my heart was being ripped out. That may sound sentimental - but honestly - me being baptized was my first step...my first public confession of Jesus Christ being my Lord and Savior - and this was MY statement of faith...my "entrance" so to speak into Christianity - despite the fact that I hadn't found the fullness of the faith in Orthodoxy. I didn't know anything about Orthodoxy at the time - I was just trying to find God in the best way that I knew how... So - basically, while I don't know that there is anything that can be said - or that there is any question to be asked...I just needed to post my frustration...and maybe ask how (if any of you experienced this) that you put it into perspective.
If this does not make sense, let me know
I'm a bit on the frustrated side right now, so I am just furiously typing on the keyboard :: sigh ::Anyways, please keep me in your prayers, and please let me know if you have any suggestions with putting this into perspective.
And for the record - this isn't making me decide not to pursue Orthodoxy - by all means this isn't nearly important enough to stop that....after all - what is the baptism worth if not in truth? But....all that I am saying - is that I was truly...truly....well...I don't even know how to explain how I felt.
