Ephrems Publications, Satna -2010

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.......................................................................iii

Preface ........................................................................................vi

Foreword ....................................................................................xi

Abbreviations...........................................................................xiv

Introduction ................................................................................ 1

Chapter 1 Water and

Baptism” in the World Religions

1. Water and Ablutions in Hinduism............................................ 6

2. Water and Ablutions in Judaism............................................... 7

3. Figures and Types of Baptism in the OT.................................. 9

4. Baptism of John the Baptist.................................................... 10

5. Baptism in the New Testament............................................... 10

6. Baptism in the Apostolic Church ........................................... 11

7. Baptism and Water in the Church Usage ............................... 13

Chapter 2

Baptism in the Early Syriac Writings

1. Baptism in Didachè ................................................................ 16

2. Baptism (

@Jgs) in the Odes of Solomon................................. 21

3. Baptism in the Syriac Didascalia............................................ 26

4. Acts of Judas Thomas............................................................. 30

5. Syriac Acts of John................................................................. 43

6. Liber Graduum (

A‡´²~´o°h¸‰ÉACÉ´‡´É ) ................................................ 45

iv Holy Baptism in the Syriac East

Chapter 3

Baptism in Aphrahat and Ephrem

1. Aphrahat, the Persian Sage .................................................... 46

2. Ephrem of Nisibis................................................................... 65

Chapter 4

East Syrian Interpreters on Baptism

1. Theodore of Mopsuestia......................................................... 78

2. Narsai of Nisibis..................................................................... 92

3. Cyrus of Edessa ................................................................... 108

Chapter 5

Commentaries on Baptism at the Dawn of Scholasticism

1. Anonymous Author .............................................................. 112

2. Yohannan Bar Zo‘bi............................................................. 129

Chapter 6

Commentaries of Abdisho and Timothy II on Baptism

1. Abdisho bar Brikha (+1318) ................................................ 134

2. Patriarch Timothy II (+1332) ............................................... 138

Chapter 7

Baptismal Liturgy in the Syriac East

1. Baptismal Liturgy of the Church of the East........................ 159

2. Highlights of East Syrian Baptismal Liturgy ....................... 179

3. Effects of the Mysteries of Initiation.................................... 188

4. Baptism of Adults and SMC Innovations............................. 193

Table of Contents v

Chapter 8

Holy Baptism: Theology, Law and Praxis

1. Ecclesial Dimension of Sacraments ..................................... 199

2. Mysteries of Christian Initiation........................................... 205

3. Necessity of Baptism for Salvation ...................................... 209

4. Infant baptism in the Church ................................................ 210

5. Requirements for Baptism and Chrismation ........................ 214

6. Minister of Baptism in the East and West ............................ 215

7. Minister of Chrismation in the East and West...................... 216

8. Formula of Baptism in the East and West ............................ 217

9. Formula of Chrismation in the East and West ..................... 217

10. Indelible Imprint of Mysteries of Initiation........................ 218

11.

Sensus Ecclesiae and Church Enrollment .......................... 220

12. Baptism of “Heretics” and “Schismatics” .......................... 221

General Conclusion ................................................................ 223

Bibliography with Abbreviations.......................................... 229

FOREWORD

Foreword

For the last few decades the Syro-Malabar Church was engaged in the work of restoration and revision of the liturgical texts of the Church. Most of the texts have already been published. The new text of Sacraments (Order of Sacraments) came into effect on 6^th January 2005. The Book of Ordination services was effective from 14^th September 2007.  But the work has been hazardous. In the process to come to a consensus at the Synod, a number of compromises had been made. As a result, several texts are not fully satisfactory; a revision is needed.

 Vatican II gives clear norms with regard to the restoration and renewal of liturgical texts in general, and for the Oriental Churches in particular in the decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum. The Decree OE says:  “It is the mind of the Catholic Church that each individual Church or rite retain its traditions whole and entire while adjusting its way of life to the various needs of time and place” (OE 2). Further it states that changes are to be made with fidelity to tradition and only when changes are needed. “All members of the Eastern Churches should be convinced that they can and ought always preserve  their own legitimate liturgical rites and ways of  life, and that changes are to be introduced only to forward their own organic development” (OE 6).

While revising the liturgy there are various aspects of the question to be born in mind: “In order that sound tradition be retained, and yet the way remain open to legitimate progress, a certain investigation – theological, historical and pastoral – should always be made into each part of the liturgy which is  to be revised” (SC 23). One is compelled to say that these norms have not been fully observed in the whole work. For this reason a critical study of the texts is welcome to make sure where a revision is needed.

The understanding of the mysteries of Christian Initiation and their historical and theological development differed in the Latin West, Greek Orient and Syriac East.  Among the Oriental Christian Churches, those within the Syriac liturgical tradition have a pride of place since they represent and are heirs to the Semitic world where Christianity was born.[1]

In general terms the Decree on Ecumenism affirms:  “In the study of revealed truth East and West used different methods and approaches in the understanding and confessing divine things. It is hardly surprising then, if sometimes one tradition has come nearer to a full appreciation of some aspects of a mystery of revelation than the other, or has expressed them better.”(UR 17).

Ecclesial traditions being part of the divinely revealed and undivided heritage of the Universal Church and handed down from the Apostles through the Fathers have unique and inalienable role to play in the formation and growth of each and every Church sui iuris. Pluralism and diversity in theology, liturgy, spirituality and discipline are no more merely permitted or just tolerated but are recognized as true and genuine signs of ecclesial growth in tune with particular traditions and cultural values.  Diversity does not in any way harm the unity of the Church, rather enhances it and this diversity is at the basis of the formation of different ecclesial traditions.

In the light of the above mentioned norms and principles several of the new liturgical texts need a revision. In this context the book Holy Baptism in the Syriac East by Rev. Dr. Lonappan Arangassery MST is a praiseworthy attempt for knowing and understanding deeply the East Syrian perspectives on Christian Initiation.  Fr. Lonappan Arangassery who is a well known liturgical theologian makes a detailed study of the Mystery of Holy Baptism and analyzes all the important East Syrian patristic and liturgical sources while exposing the Mystery of Holy Baptism in the Church of the East. The author gives lots of useful pieces of information on the theology of baptism and its praxis in the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syro-Malabar Church.

“The faithful have a right to a true liturgy, which means the liturgy desired and laid down by the Church, which has in fact indicated where adaptations may be made as called for by pastoral requirements in different places or by different groups of people.  Undue experimentation, changes, creativity bewilder the faithful. The use of unauthorized books texts means a loss of the necessary connection between the lex ordandi and the lex credendi.[…]. And Paul VI of venerable memory stated that: “Anyone who takes advantage of the reform to indulge in arbitrary experiments is wasting energy and offending the ecclesial sense” (Inaestimabile Donum, Foreword )

In the present liturgical text of the Sacraments in the Syro-Malabar Church, especially in the celebration of the Mysteries of Christian Initiation many elements and rituals are ambiguous and confusing leaving them to the whims and fancies of the parish priests or the celebrating priests. On the one hand when priests fail to celebrate the Mystery of Holy Baptism as stipulated and ordered by the legitimate authority of Church, it causes confusion and bewilderment among the faithful and offends ecclesial sense.  On the other hand it is equal to denying the faithful their right to a true liturgy and rendering the Mystery ineffective.

Fr Lonappan Arangassery has a done a valuable service to the Syro-Malabar Church for his clear exposition of the important rituals. The clarification given on the meaning and mode of making the three separate signings, the fingers used in these signings, and the oils used for the various signings, for consecrating the oil and water of baptism etc. are of great help to the pastors who respect the rights of the faithful and heritage of the church. The work is a very useful handbook for pastors, priests, ministers at sacred Mysteries, students of theology and those engaged in catechesis.  It is my earnest desire and hope that this book will have wide readership and circulation.

Mar Abraham D. Mattam                                                                   Bishop Emeritus of Satna

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[1] Cf. S. P. Brock, The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, Kalamazoo 1987, x; S. P. Brock, “The Syriac Orient: a third “lung” for the Church?” in OCP 71 (2005), 5-20; S.P. Brock, “The two poles of Syriac Tradition”, in C. Payngot, Homage to Mar Cariattil, Rome, 1987, 58-62.