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According to the Armenian Apostolic view, membership in the Church of Jesus Christ begins with Holy Baptism. Baptism duly performed with water and in the name of the Triune God is a one-time event, a rebirth (John 3:3). The baptism thus performed may neither be repeated nor undone.
What is the meaning of baptism?
The Catechism of the Armenian Church states: "Baptism is that holy mystery which cleanses us from original human sin, gives birth again to life renewed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and receives us into the Church of Christ". This sentence clearly shows that baptism among the Armenians is primarily based on the Johannine understanding of "rebirth". Man becomes through baptism or "through the washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3, 5) saved by Christ. The body born of the parent's womb is born of the Spirit at baptism and becomes a new man, received into the New Covenant of the Divine work of salvation. In this sense, baptism, when properly performed, is a unique and unrepeatable event.
But also the Pauline understanding of baptism as participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Roman 6.3 f), whereby on the one hand the picture of a change of government (from the slavery of sin to "being in Christ" - Roman 6), but on the other hand also the idea of incorporation into the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13 and Gal. 3:27) suggests, has its indispensable place in the Armenian understanding of baptism, at least according to the catechesis of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Before baptism, man is an image of Adam, the old man, who only becomes the image of Christ, the new man, through baptism, in which he first dies with Christ and then rises with him. Only after this rebirth does the truly free life of man in Christ begin.
The most important component is the achievement of all the baptized, "to unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God", in order to "become a perfect human being and present Christ in his perfect form" (Ep. 4, 13). The New Man is "remade in the image of his Creator" "in order to know him" and to be in relationship with him, in communion.8 The catechumenate is an indispensable part of the journey to baptism. Even if the catechumenate in the Armenian Church lasts only three to four weeks, it must be remembered that without faith in the Triune God, without faith in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world, baptism cannot have saving power. The person being baptized should constantly strengthen their faith so that they can enjoy the charisms of the Holy Spirit more and more. For the preparatory phase, it is sufficient that man first turns from the dominion of evil and turns to God, constantly affirming his faith through "the knowledge of the Son of God." ©
What is the meaning of baptism?
The Catechism of the Armenian Church states: "Baptism is that holy mystery which cleanses us from original human sin, gives birth again to life renewed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and welcomes us into the Church of Christ". This sentence clearly shows that baptism among the Armenians is primarily based on the Johannine understanding of "rebirth". Man becomes through baptism or "through the washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3, 5) saved by Christ. The body born of the parent's womb is born of the Spirit at baptism and becomes a new man, received into the New Covenant of the Divine work of salvation. In this sense, baptism, when properly performed, is a unique and unrepeatable event.
But also the Pauline understanding of baptism as participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Roman 6.3 f), whereby on the one hand the picture of a change of government (from the slavery of sin to "being in Christ" - Roman 6), but on the other hand also the idea of incorporation into the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13 and Gal. 3:27) suggests, has its indispensable place in the Armenian understanding of baptism, at least according to the catechesis of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Before baptism, man is an image of Adam, the old man, who only becomes the image of Christ, the new man, through baptism, in which he first dies with Christ and then rises with him. Only after this rebirth does the truly free life of man in Christ begin.
The most important component is the achievement of all the baptized, "to unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God", in order to "become a perfect human being and present Christ in his perfect form" (Ep. 4, 13). The New Man is "remade in the image of his Creator" "to know him" and to be in relationship, in communion, with him. The catechumenate is an indispensable part on the way to baptism. Even though the catechumenate in the Armenian Church only lasted three to four weeks, it is important to note that without faith in the Triune God, without faith in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world, baptism cannot have saving power. The person being baptized should constantly strengthen their faith so that they can enjoy the charisms of the Holy Spirit more and more. For the preparatory phase, it is sufficient that man first turns from the dominion of evil and turns to God, constantly affirming his faith through "the knowledge of the Son of God."©
Baptismal Rite
Only an ordained priest or bishop can perform baptism in the Armenian Church. Dipping the baptized three times in the water, he pronounces the following sentence: “The servant of God (name) came to baptism as a catechumen and is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Purchased by the blood of Christ, set free from the bondage of sin, he receives the adoption of the Heavenly Father and becomes a joint heir with Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit".
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Important Baptism Rules
From a canon law perspective, initiation into the Church of Christ occurs through the mystery of baptism and is completed through the mystery of anointing and subsequent participation in the mystery of the Eucharist. Anyone who publicly accepts the teachings of the Church and is baptized according to the ecclesiastical ordo becomes a full member of the Church with rights and duties. A baptism performed according to the canons of the Church cannot be repeated.
Become an Armenian Apostolic Christian
How to become a part of the Church, who can be baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church, what does conversion from another Christian community mean and what is re-entry. You can find answers to these questions in this section.
According to the teaching of the Armenian Apostolic Church, initiation into the Church of Jesus Christ begins with Holy Baptism. It is the door to the community of believers. It is customary among Armenians to baptize infants. But there are also many adults who have not yet been baptized.
The proper baptism, performed with water and in the name of the triune God, is a one-off event (cf. the agreement also signed by the Armenian Apostolic Church on Baptismal recognition in Magdeburg 2007), it may not be repeated or undone.
Incorporation into the Church is completed, on the one hand, by the Myrrh Anointing and by receiving Holy Communion, which take place immediately after Baptism, and, on the other hand, by practicing the liturgical life of the Church. The confession of the common faith of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the recognition of its church hierarchy play an indispensable role.
TIP: Are you looking for detailed information on baptism and contact persons who can help you with your request? You are welcome to contact the parish priest responsible for your area, the chancellery of the diocese or read more information on the following page: BAPTIZATION PREPARATION.
Even if you have already been baptized in a faith or church community, you can choose the Armenian Church and find a new spiritual home here.
Members of another church or religious community with which the Armenian Church is not in communion who express a desire to be received into the Armenian Church will:
a.) when duly baptized and anointed, received into the Church through the mystery of penance; b.) if duly baptized but not anointed, received into church fellowship through the mysteries of penance and the anointing of myrrh.
In both cases, the pastoral accompaniment of the candidate and the public pronouncement of the creed of the Armenian Apostolic Church is an absolute must.
TIP: Are you looking for detailed information about the transfer and contact persons who will help you with your request? You are welcome to contact the parish priest responsible for your area, the chancellery of the diocese or read more information on the following page: CONVERSION.
INFO: Communion community exists with the following churches: Ethiopian Orthodox Church,
Coptic Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church and Indian Orthodox Church.
Have you already been baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church but left and now want to rejoin the Church? - The doors are open.
However, members of the Armenian Church in Germany should distinguish between official and church entry and exit. Since the Catholic and Evangelical Churches in Germany are recognized as corporations under public law and pay church taxes, official withdrawal from the church does not always automatically lead to excommunication.
When we talk about leaving the Armenian Apostolic Church, we mean excommunication. In the process, all the rights that church members are entitled to are withdrawn from those who have left. He is no longer allowed to take part in the religious life of the church. According to Canon Law, people who received Haghordutyun (Communion) less than once a year automatically left the Church.
Resumption into full church fellowship is possible through the mystery of Khostovanutyun (confession, penance) and Haghordutyun (reception of the Eucharist, communion).
TIP: Are you looking for detailed information on re-entry and contact persons who can help you with your request? You are welcome to contact the parish priest responsible for your area, the chancellery of the diocese or read more information on the following page: REENTRY.
Are you a baptized Armenian Christian living in Germany? Then you should apply for diocesan membership in your local Armenian parish and support the church with your contribution.
According to the statutes of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Germany, every Armenian who has been baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church, professes its teaching and rites and has reached the age of 18 should apply for membership in the Armenian congregation responsible for his or her area of residence .
As a member of the diocese, you help us with your donations to finance the tasks and services of our church in Germany. You help the Armenian congregations to finance places of worship as well as premises for congregation work (e.g. rent, additional costs, repairs, maintenance, etc.). They make it possible for Armenian art and culture to be preserved and cared for, for young people to be passed on our tradition and for them to take their lives into their own hands, for old people not to be alone, for people in difficult situations, both in Germany and in Armenia , is helped. With your contribution you promote faith, education, culture and social welfare.
TIP: Detailed information on membership in the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Germany is available here: MEMBERSHIP.
The Holy Mysteries of the Church
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