Rite of Self-baptism

Reconstructed from a fragment of a treatise in a copy from the last third of the 19th century, in 16 sheets, “On the possibility of self-baptism and the rite of self-baptism.”

Read all this to the end for our catechization and correction, that you may understand, and be perfect. It is praiseworthy to perform this rite during the holy and great forty-day fast (Great Lent), or on the eve of the bright day of the Resurrection of Christ. We must rise from the numbers of the dead who have no enlightenment upon them. Then we shall have a common Pascha with the choirs of Christ’s servants in the resurrection of our very being.

But for this it is necessary for catechization to prepare a clean white shirt with a substantial cord upon which one will wear his cross, and a clean linen belt, and the shirt for a woman should be even longer. Also, an icon not painted in vain, but inscribed on the heart with a good conscience, which according to the image of God is imagined by the Creator facing the East, and look to the East with mind and heart. For God is named “East”; “East” is written as His name, and “from the east I will bring your seed.”

The Lord says in the word, “I have established you,” saying “fear not. I am with you.”

During the days of preparation, according to the ustav, it is beneficial to pray in this way:

Perform 300 prostrations with the Prayer of Jesus:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then 100 prayers to the Mother of God, with prostrations:

Virgin God-bearer: Rejoice, Mary made joyous, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne Christ the Savior, the Deliverer of our souls.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned immeasurably, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me. (Bow)

It is truly meet to bless thee, O God-bearer, ever blessed and most unblemished, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and truly more glorious than the Seraphim; without corruption, having borne God the Word, who art the God-bearer, thee do we magnify. (Prostration)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of thy Most-Pure Mother, by the power of the Honourable and Life-giving Cross, and of my holy guardian Angel, and for the sake of all the saints, have mercy and save me a sinner, for thou art Good, and the Lover of mankind. (Prostration without the sign of the cross)

God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)

Then, humbly forgiving all, say:

O Heavenly King, Comforter, True Spirit, which art everywhere and fillest all, Treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and dwell in us; and cleanse us from every defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice with bows)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us of our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for thy names sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice) Glory. Now and ever.

Our Father, which art in the heavens, may thy name be hallowed. May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our needful bread. And forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. (Bow)

Amen. Lord have mercy. (12 times) Glory. Now and ever.

Come, let us worship the King, our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 50. Have mercy on me, O God, by thy great mercy. And by thine abundant compassions, cleanse my transgression. Above all, wash me from my transgression, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Unto thee alone have I sinned, and before thee I did evil; that thou mightest be shown righteous in thy words, and prevail when thou judgest. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bare me. For behold, thou hast loved truth; thy hidden and secret wisdom hast thou revealed to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whitened beyond snow. Thou shalt give joy and gladness to mine ear; the humbled bones shall rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and cleanse all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my being. Cast me not from thy face, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a sovereign spirit. I shall teach the iniquitous in thy way; and the impious shall return unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise. For if thou didst will sacrifice, I would surely have given it; thou delightest not in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart, God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy goodwill unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt thou delight in the sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and burnt sacrifices. Then shall they lay a bullock upon thine altar.

Then turning to the west, having hands down, say boldly, thrice, spitting after each:

I renounce you, Satan, your shame and all your angels and all your service. (Spit upon him)

Then again turn with reverence to the east and lifting up your hands, say the Symbol of Faith in full three times:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all the visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, who from the Father is begotten before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, but not created, of one essence with the Father; by him all things came to be. For us men and for our salvation he came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, becoming man. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And is coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom has no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, True and Life-giving, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son art worshipped and glorified, who spake the prophets. And in one holy, conciliar, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism unto remission of sins. I await the resurrection for the dead. And of the life of the age to come. Amen. (Thrice)

After this strip off the old garments to nakedness and gird the loins from shame with a prepared towel, and instead of the oil of anointing with faith, as a warrior of Christ, desiring to be arrayed with the weapons of Christ we sign ourselves:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, sign upon us the light of Thy countenance, anoint my head with oil in Thy holy name, by the descent of the all-holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages amen.

Then, the triple immersion into the waters, saying:

The servant of God [name] is baptized in the name of the Father. (Descend into the water)

Rising from the water:

Amen.

And of the Son. (Descend into the water)

Rising from the water:

Amen.

And of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Descend into the water)

Rising from the water:

Amen.

After this, put the cross on the cord, and taking it, cross yourself with it and say:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless and sanctify and preserve me by the power of the life-giving Cross. Amen.

And kiss it and put it on your neck. And put on the white shirt and gird yourself with your belt, and do all with the sign of the cross and keep it clean in your life, as you have put on without stain, and you will be a son of the bath of grace and heir of the house. Coming out of the water, again covering the natural parts from the navel with the towel, and again standing, look to the east.

“Grieve not,” says the apostle, “the Holy Spirit of God”. Instead of the mystery of chrismation and sealing of the forehead with the name Jesus Christ, as with poured-out myrrh. In this way are you sealed unto the day of redemption, that is, baptism: sign yourself thrice, saying:

Lord Jesus Christ Son, Eternal Word of God, bless and pour fragrant myrrh upon Thy servant [name]. (Thrice)

Then read Psalm 31 thrice:

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin, neither is there guile in his mouth. For I kept silence, my bones waxed old, while I cried out all the day long. Because day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; I was turned into anguish when the thorn pierced me. Mine iniquity have I known, and covered not my sin. I said: I will confess against myself mine iniquity unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the ungodliness of mine heart. For this shall every holy one pray unto thee in a seasonable time. Yea, though in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my refuge from the affliction that compasseth me; O my joy, deliver me from them that have encompassed me. I will give thee understanding, and instruct thee in this way which thou shalt go; I will fix mine eyes upon thee. Be ye not like horse and mule, which have no understanding; with bit and bridle must their jaws be constrained, else they will not come near unto thee. Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall compass him that hopeth in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; and glory, all ye that are upright in heart.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of thy most pure Mother and by the power of the precious and life-giving cross and of the holy heavenly hosts, the supreme commanders Michael and Gabriel and of the holy glorious and all-praised apostles and [of the saint whose day it is] and of my holy guardian angel, and of all the saints; have mercy on me and save me, for thou art good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.

Then the dismissal bows:

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned immeasurably, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me. (Bow)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)