Bishop_Irineos wrote:Yes, notice how far down the list you have to go before pouring is allowed! The existence of the exceptions in no way diminshes the rule. Nor does it make it proper to go to pouring when immersion can be accomplished.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
A child in his terrible twos was brought to the church to be baptized. The mother of the young boy was an Orthodox Christian, and both were in a very unfortunate situation. Her husband of three years had recently converted to Islam, and said that he did not want his son baptized because he was to be raised as a Muslim.
Her child had been previously very ill with the flu and it was considered a miracle that he had recovered. Still ill, the child was now at church on the fake pretense that his wife and his child were merely visiting his Orthodox inlaws for the Spring holidays.
It was Holy Saturday morning and her entire family was gathered at the Church for his baptism and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil that followed.
The baptistry was ready with warm water so as not to chill the child. However, the child started to become hysterical and cry at the sight of the water as he was deathly afraid of water and would not allow his mom to undress him. Thus, the priest quoted from the Didache, lovingly calmed the child by telling him that he would not need to be immersed, and then poured water over the child's head three times. He was then chrismated and communed.
In this case, would this baptism by pouring be considered to be a reasonable and valid exception (economia)?