OF WATER THE SPIRIT A Liturgical Study of Baptism eae ALEXANDER SCHMEMANNFine pablshed 1974 ' ‘Se Via’ Seminary Pres Crestwood, New York #0727 {© Se Viadimirs Seminary ress 1974 lest published ia Gren Beitain 1976 Leadon NWr 4DU Printed in Great Britain by Unwin Brothers Limite, The Gresham Pres, ‘Old Woking, Sserey ISBN 0: 05067 Contents Iwmopucniox ‘TO REDISCOVER BAPTISM PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM 1 The Messing of Prpartioa 4 The Reunction of Sata 5: Alene so. Chie & The: Ginfeon of Feith ‘THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ‘The White Garment 2, The Sal of the Git of the Holy Spit Kae ‘The Gucted King wesees x & 2 5 SeegeuzCanérex IV Tilt BURANCE Ivro THE KINGDOM ane PEE Bat, an Capron V ‘THE CHURCHING 1. The Old and The New ER tact ie oy i me nw 4 The Churching SS CONCLUSION SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY NOTES AND REFERENCES 9 INTRODUCTION To Rediscover Baptism L In the past, during the “golden age” of Chiistian liturgy, the saccament’ of Baptism was performed on the paschal right as an organic part of the reat annual celebration of Enter’ Even today, long after the link between the two solemnities has been broken, the baptismal rites and :the peschal liturgy stil keep an indelible mazk of thei intial Franection and interdependence* Not many Christians, how fever, are aware of this. Not many know that the liturgy of Ester is primarily a beptismal liturgy; that when on Easter fee they ‘hear the biblical readings about the crosting of the Red Sea, or the three children in the furnace, or Jonah in the whale's womb, they listen to the most ancient “para- ddigms” of Baptism and attend the great baptismal vigil. ‘They do not know that the joy which illumines the boly night, when the glorious announcement “Christ is Risen!” resounds, Is the joy of those who were d into Christ and have put oo Christ,” wbo were "buried with Him by baptism into eat that like 28 Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,” even so they also should walk in 7