Dying without being baptized

[Jean-Serge]

What is the fate of a baby who dies without having been baptized? What do the Fathers say about this?

[尼古拉前执事]

The 8th day Christening service where the baby is names make him or her a catechumen and catechumens are considered enough a part of the Church that they canonically receive the full Church funeral service. Thios can happen within any of the first days, but usually on the 8th. Remember, also, that in extrememe life-or-death emergencies any Orthodox Christian may Baptize.

[Justin Kissel]

St. Gregory of Nyssa believed that infants who die would go to heaven, but would not be on the same level as saints of the Church, because they had not purified themselves and grown in grace (On Infants' Early Death). While the Orthodox explanations that I have heard do not really copy St. Gregory's thought exactly, I've heard nothing to contradict his belief either. Normally I've just heard that babys go to heaven if they die, because they were not guilty of any personal sin, and that God forgives their inherited sin (if he wasn't forgiving, he wouldn't have come, after all).

[spiridon]

"Remember, also, that in extrememe life-or-death emergencies any Orthodox Christian may Baptize." what exactly does this mean or allow?
O.K. The Roman catholic Church has a giant complete book of canons and info called a catachesim..does The Orthodox church have this in one Book,if so what is it called and where could I find it

[Jean-Serge]

Normally I've just heard that babys go to heaven if they die, because they were not guilty of any personal sin, and that God forgives their inherited sin (if he wasn't forgiving, he wouldn't have come, after all).

Oh this sounds really Augustinian. We do not have an inherited sin but more exactly a "Fallen nature"... You speak like Augustine of Hippone as if we were personally culprit of the First sin. In fact we bear the consequences of Adam's fault...

[Justin Kissel]

Yeah...