For Baptisms:

In the Sacrament of Baptism, a person is incorporated into the crucified, resurrected, and glorified Christ and is reborn to participate in the divine life. Please schedule your child’s baptism with Fr Alex using the form you see here. The baptism service lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

And these are the things you should bring to the Baptism:

• 1 large non-white towel to wrap child before baptism
• 1 large white towel to wrap child after baptism
• 1 small white towel
• Baptismal cross (often a gift by the sponsor)
• White Baptismal garment
• A candle to hold during service and to bring to Liturgy on the Sunday following the Baptism at Communion
• Please fill out the form and click submit.

For Catechumens:

A Quick Guide to the Catechumenate at St. Philip Orthodox Church

Once someone has made the decision to join the Orthodox Church, he or she moves from the status of inquirer to the status of catechumen. Like someone who is engaged to be married, a catechumen has moved past the initial stage of “courting” the Church, and is now ready to commit to the process of becoming a full member of the Orthodox Church. The first official step in this process is enrollment as a catechumen. The catechumenate may last a year or even more depending on the individual situation. During that time, the catechumen attends classes (catechism), engages in the life of Orthodox Christianity in practical ways, is formed and trained especially by participation in the divine services of the Church, and is prepared for reception by Holy Baptism and/or Chrismation.

Normally, one is joined to the Church through Baptism, which is followed by Chrismation, the Sacramental anointing that conveys the gift of the Holy Spirit. Under some circumstances, those who have been baptized in other Christian confessions in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and following a baptismal practice recognizable by the Orthodox Church, are received into the Church through Chrismation alone. The ideal time for adult baptisms and chrismations is on Great and Holy Saturday, the day before Pascha (Orthodox Easter). The best alternate times are at other feasts with a baptismal character (such as Christmas, Theophany and Pentecost).