**The Byzantine Blessing of the Baptismal Water:
**Priest: Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works, and there is no word which suffices to hymn Thy wonders. (three times).
For Thou, of Thine own good will, hast brought into being all things which before were not, and by Thy might Thou dost uphold creation, and by Thy providence Thou dost order the world. When Thou hadst joined together the universe out of four elements, Thou didst crown the circle of the year with four seasons. Before Thee tremble all the Powers endowed with intelligence. The sun sings unto Thee. The moon glorifies Thee. The stars meet together before Thy presence. The light obeys Thee. The deeps tremble before Thee. The water-springs are subject unto Thee. Thou host spread out the heavens like a curtain. Thou host established the earth upon the waters. Thou hast set round about the sea barriers of sand. Thou hast shed abroad the air for breathing. The Angelic Powers serve Thee. The Choirs of the Archangels fall down in adoration before Thee. The many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim as they stand round about and fly, veil their faces in awe before Thine ineffable glory. For Thou, who art God inexpressible, existing uncreated before the ages, and ineffable, didst descend upon earth, and didst take on the semblance of a servant, and wast made in the likeness of man: for, because of the tender compassion of Thy mercy, O Master, Thou couldest not endure to behold mankind oppressed by the Devil; but Thou didst come, and didst save us. We confess Thy grace. We proclaim Thy mercy. We conceal not Thy gracious acts. Thou hast delivered the generation of our mortal nature. By Thy birth Thou didst sanctify a Virgin’s womb. All creation magnifies Thee, who hast revealed thyself. For Thou, O our God, hast revealed thyself upon earth, and hast dwelt among men.
Thou didst hallow the streams of Jordan, sending down upon them from heaven Thy Holy Spirit, and didst crush the heads of the dragons who lurked there.
Wherefore, O King who lovest mankind, come Thou now and sanctify this water, by the indwelling ofThy Holy Spirit. (three times).
And grant unto it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it the fountain of incorruption, the gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, the remedy of infirmities; the final destruction of demons, unassailable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might. Let those who would ensnare Thy creature flee far from it. For we have called upon Thy Name, O Lord, and it is wonderful, and glorious, and awesome unto adversaries.
*The priest then blesses the water by dipping the fingers of his right hand into it and tracing the Sign of the Cross three times. He breathes on the water and says:
*Let all adverse powers be crushed beneath the sign of the image of Thy Cross. (three times)
We pray Thee, O God, that every aerial and obscure phantom may withdraw itself from us; and that no demon of darkness may conceal himself in this water; and that no evil spirit which instills darkening of intentions and rebelliousness of thought may descend into it with him (her) who is about to be baptized.
But do Thou, O Master of all, show this water to be the water of redemption, the water of sanctification, the purification of flesh and spirit, the loosing of bonds, the remission of sins, the illumination of the soul, the laver of regeneration, the renewal of the Spirit, the gift of adoption to sonship, the garment of incorruption, the fountain of life. For Thou hast said, O Lord: Wash and be clean; put away evil things from your souls. Thou hast bestowed upon us from on high a new birth through water and the Spirit. Wherefore, O Lord, manifest thyself in this water, and grant that he (she) who is baptized therein may be transformed; that he (she) may put away from him (her) the old man, which is corrupt through the lusts of the flesh, and that he (she) may be clothed upon with the new man, and renewed after the image of him who created him (her): that being buried, after the pattern of Thy death, in baptism, he (she) may, in like manner, be a partaker of Thy Resurrection; and having preserved the gift of Thy Holy Spirit, and increased the treasure of grace committed unto him (her), he (she) may receive the prize of his (her)high calling, and be numbered with the first-born whose names are written in heaven, in Thee, our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
For unto Thee are due glory; dominion, honor and worship, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
