WE GREET all our readers on the approaching festivals of the Saviour’s Nativity in Bethlehem and the Holy Theophany, hoping that you will find joy, peace and mercy in the celebration of these saving festivals.
POINTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
“… Now I feel ready to make the important step of conversion to the Orthodox Faith. As a regular member of the Russian [MP] church in XXX, I have consulted the Holy Father about baptism. This has brought up a problem for me that I hope you can advise me on. He has agreed to welcome me into the Church, but says because I was Christened an Anglican, I do not need to be baptised again as he will just say a prayer instead. Please forgive me my lack of faith in his wisdom, but I would appreciate your guidance about this matter.…” S. K, Scotland.
Many thanks for your message and the good news that you are contemplating converting to Holy Orthodoxy. You were wise though to wonder about the instruction you have been given. The problem is that there is now developing, as it were, two types of “Orthodoxy.” The teaching of the Church is that outside of her there is no salvation, no sanctification, no sacramental life, and therefore no Baptism. Throughout the centuries however, the Church has permitted those who have received a form of baptism in the various sects to be received, by œconomia, by Chrismation alone, or even in extreme cases by confession. However, the form of their previous “baptism” should be threefold immersion strictly, and the reason for allowing the œconomia should be compelling - if someone is very ill, extremely infirm, etc. - and for various personal and pastoral reasons œconomia may be used at the discretion of the Bishop. However, in recent centuries it became the custom in various national Orthodox Churches to use an œconomic reception as a matter of course. There has even developed - (and this development has been augmented by the participation of various national Orthodox Churches in the Ecumenical Movement) - the “doctrine” that we accept the “baptism” of certain denominations, and therefore it does not need to be repeated, and indeed, logically, should not be repeated. It appears that the priest you have spoken to is of this school of thought. I must admit that perhaps the majority of Orthodox priests in the U.K., whom you might approach, would give you the same answer [though, I suspect on re-reading this reply, most would require more than just a prayer! - ed.], because many are converts who have had no real grounding in Orthodox teaching, and many are in jurisdictions which have long ago espoused ecumenism, if not overtly, at least essentially. It is a sad thing to have to say, but we are at the stage, when really, you must needs choose which “type” of Orthodoxy you want to join. I have put that crudely, but there seems to be no other way. The divide between the traditionalist Orthodox and those who now call themselves Mainstream or World Orthodox is widening apace.
