2i8 ANDREW J. SHIPMAN MEMORIAL 



ceremonies unlike those of the Roman or Greek Churches, 

 and by some which are a composite of the two. In the Sacra- 

 ment of Baptism the priest meets the child carried in the arms 

 of the nurse at the church door, and, while reciting Psalms li 

 and cxxx, takes two threads (one white and the other red) 

 and twists them into a cord, which he afterwards blesses. 

 Usually the godfather goes to confession before the baptism, 

 in order that he may fulfil his duties in the state of grace. The 

 exorcisms and renunciations then take place, and the recital of 

 the Nicene Creed and the answers to the responses follow. 

 The baptismal water is blessed, the anointing with oil per- 

 formed, the prayers for the catechumen to be baptized are said, 

 and then the child is stripped. The priest takes the child and 

 holds it in the font so that the body is in the water, but the 

 head is out, and the baptism takes place in this manner: "N., 

 the servant of God coming into the state of a catechumen and 

 thence to that of baptism, is now baptized by me, in the name 

 of the Father [here he pours a handful of water on the head 

 of the child], and of the Son [here he pours water as before], 

 and of the Holy Ghost [here he pours a third handful]." Af- 

 ter this the priest dips the child thrice under the water, saying 

 on each occasion : ''Thou art redeemed by the blood of Christ 

 from the bondage of sin, by receiving the liberty of sonship of 

 the Heavenly Father, and becoming a co-heir with Christ and a 

 temple of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Then the child is washed 

 and clothed again, generally with a new and beautiful robe, 

 and the priest when washing the child says : "Ye that were 

 baptized in Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia. And ye that 

 have been illumined by God the Father, may the Holy Ghost 

 rejoice in you. Alleluia." Then the passage of the Gospel 

 of St. Matthew relating the baptism of Christ in the Jordan is 

 read, and the rite thus completed. 



The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred by the priest 

 immediately after baptism, although the Catholic Armenians 

 sometimes reserve it for the bishop. The holy chrism is ap- 

 plied by the priest to the forehead, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, 

 palms, heart, spine and feet, each time with a reference to the 

 seal of the Spirit. Finally, the priest lays his hand upon and 

 makes the sign of the cross on the child's forehead, saying: 

 "Peace to thee, saved through God." When the confirmation 

 is thus finished, the priest binds the child's forehead with the 



