Within the framework of “The Church and the Law” series of interviews, Iravaban.net talked about baptism with Father Mushe Vahanyan, the Spiritual Shepherd of Aparan Pastorate of Aragatsotn Diocese.
– What is the mystery of baptism?
– Baptism has a secret of salvation. Baptism is the foundation of Christianity, because if you are not baptized, you are not a Christian. Baptism is also a covenant, an alliance, a contract with God. By choosing God’s fatherhood, you are adopted into God’s family, becoming a member of that family. Baptism is the seal and confirmation in the book of life in heaven, your name is written there. You become a citizen of heaven.
– Do all Christians have to be baptized?
– Until a person is baptized, he is not a Christian. They become Christians by baptism. We are Armenians by nationality, but we are not called Christians because we are not baptized. The basis of Christianity is established by baptism.
– What is the advice of the red and white threads?
– The main condition of baptism is the narot, which is two colors: red and white, it symbolizes the real identity of the person being baptized at that moment. Red – son of man from blood, white – son of God from righteousness. That is why baptism is called rebirth. Spiritual birth conditions baptism.
– What is myrrh and what is its advice?
– Myrrh consists of about 40 types of plants and the main one is the balsam plant. It is prepared through prayer. Myrrh requires special preparation, because for us it is not oil made from some plants, but it is recommended during the myrrh blessing because it should symbolize the Holy Spirit God. That’s why we keep myrrh in dove-shaped vials, why, because when Jesus came out from being baptized in Jordan, he says, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. By sealing it with the Holy myrrh, we confirm the truth of the council that God the Holy Spirit came and dwelt in that person.
– Who is the godfather, who can be a godfather and what is the role of the godfather in the life of the person being baptized?
– In general, the godfather should be a spiritual person, a God-loving and God-knowing person. Why, because the godfather is the ambassador from the church in the given family, who must monitor the spiritual life, morals, and behavior of the baptized person. It is necessary to educate and guide in a spiritual way. All baptized, believing persons can be godfathers. There cannot be very close blood relatives and friends. For baptism, an excess of up to two generations is allowed, but the Church always calls for this limit to be extended as much as possible.
– In other directions of Christianity, there is the concept of godmother. Who is the godmother in the Armenian Apostolic Church and what is her role?
– If the godfather is married, the wife assumes the role of godmother. We put all the responsibilities on the man, so that all of this is required of him, and if he becomes the godfather of the family, all the responsibility is summed up on his family.
– I have often heard people who say that it is necessary to be baptized at a conscious age, by one’s own decision, but the spiritual fathers say that it is necessary to be baptized before the 40 days are over. Is the first approach wrong, and if so, why?
– First, all classical churches accept infant baptism, because baptism has the sacrament of salvation, and everyone needs salvation. The sin from Adam and Eve is genetically passed on to us and baptism is the redemption of Adamic sin. And we accept infant baptism. It is the Protestant church that says that you must be an adult and God must demand the sacrament of baptism from you.
– If a person was baptized at an unconscious age and when he grows up chooses another religion or rejects the existence of God, does his baptism become void?
– When one is baptized as a child, the responsibilities are placed on the parents and guardian. When he grows up and breaks the alliance with God and departs from God, if he accepts some baptismal vows in other churches, then he returns to the church, is examined and is restored with remorse and repentance. And the anointing that is performed during baptism, it is never revoked.
– What is the procedure for baptism, what preparations must be made?
– The most important condition for baptism is the narot, after the narot there can be a cross, the necklace is not a condition at all, the towel is. In fact, the church has defined and confirmed that anyone can be baptized and when they say that there is no money, it is related to a lot of money, it is just people justifying their laziness or inattention. In fact, anyone can be baptized at any time, because there is no day, no hour, and no inconvenient conditions for baptism.
– And is the metal of the cross essential?
– No.
– Why are 3 days chosen for washing after baptism, what is the significance of that?
– Simply a condition for a person to meditate more on the spiritual and since baptism has the sacrament of death, being immersed in water and dying, and then coming out, they are already born for heaven. The advice is related to the three days of Jesus’ death.
Details in the video.
Hasmik Sargsyan
