Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is a profound and essential rite through which we receive the grace of childhood from God, being baptized in water by a priest to be reborn of the Holy Spirit. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, baptism is performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is administered only once, symbolizing the believer’s permanent entry into the Christian faith. Baptism occurs for males at 40 days old and for females at 80 days old, reflecting the biblical significance that Adam entered the Garden of Eden 40 days after creation and Eve entered 40 days after Adam.

This sacrament, given to us by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is foundational to our salvation. In the Gospel of John, Christ teaches, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Furthermore, in Mark 16:16, He commands, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Through these teachings, we learn that baptism is not only necessary for entering the kingdom of heaven, but also that it must be accompanied by true belief.

This underscores the transformative power of baptism, as it marks the beginning of a life of faith and spiritual renewal.