Can a Catholic baptize me in a Greek Orthodox church?

[danandirma]

a question from yahoo answers…

I am an Australian who was not baptized and have a greek orthodox partner. I am looking to become baptized greek orthodox.

First question is, Morally, how do I choose my godparents (nona and nono)? I have many of the family offering to but how do I choose one of them? Traditionally it is chosen by the parents but obviously that is becuase as a baby you can’t make the decision yourself. Apart from choosing the person I like the most, any other advice on how to choose your godparents would be much appreciated. It is a decision I greatly respect.

Secondly, one of the people offering (and who i would be extremely honoured to have as a godfather) is Catholic. Can he baptize me in a Greek Orthodox church?

 

[thistle]

a question from yahoo answers…

I am an Australian who was not baptized and have a greek orthodox partner. I am looking to become baptized greek orthodox.

First question is, Morally, how do I choose my godparents (nona and nono)? I have many of the family offering to but how do I choose one of them? Traditionally it is chosen by the parents but obviously that is becuase as a baby you can’t make the decision yourself. Apart from choosing the person I like the most, any other advice on how to choose your godparents would be much appreciated. It is a decision I greatly respect.

Secondly, one of the people offering (and who i would be extremely honoured to have as a godfather) is Catholic. Can he baptize me in a Greek Orthodox church?

Unless an unbaptised person is in grave danger of death then that person must be baptised by a priest in Church so obviously a Catholic priest is not going to baptise someone in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Also there is the issue of a Greek orthodox partner. What does that mean? It usually means an unmarried man and woman are living together or same sex people are living together. Both scenarios are grave sins and this would have to cease before the Church would allow baptism. Baptism is a Sacrament and for an adult it means the person would have to accept all the teachings of the Church (whether its the Catholic or Orthodox Church).

 

[danandirma]

I questioned that to… I still have not gotten a reply. I think he means as a godfather.??

 

[Fatrobo]

My partner is Greek orthodox but we are unmarried and not living together.

Question was, if I was to be baptised Greek orthodox so we could be married in an orthodox church could someone of catholic faith baptise me? He was once orthodox but converted to catholic.

I was also after advice on how to “choose” my godparents. Normally a person does not choose there own godparents so I was trying to base the decision on something a little more meaningful then “who i like the best”.

Regards,

Chris.

 

[1ke]

Question was, if I was to be baptised Greek orthodox so we could be married in an orthodox church could someone of catholic faith baptise me? He was once orthodox but converted to catholic.

A Greek Orthodox priest would baptize you into the Greek Orthodox Church. A former Orthodox who has converted to the Catholic Church would not baptize you into the Greek Orthodox Church.

Talk to the priest. He will instruct you on the faith and on the Sacrament and the GO liturgy.

Also, I hope you are being baptized because you believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and want to live a Christian life-- not just to get married in the Greek Orthodox Church.

I was also after advice on how to “choose” my godparents. Normally a person does not choose there own godparents so I was trying to base the decision on something a little more meaningful then “who i like the best”.

Talk to the priest and ask his guidance.

In the Catholic Church, the sponsor of an adult who is seeking baptism can be a relative but often it is not. It is any practicing Catholic who can help them during their period of the catechumenate when they are studying and learning the faith as well as a role model and someone to assist them as they grown in the faith after baptism. Ask your priest what the criteria are in the Orthodox Church and what people normally do when they are baptized as adults.

 

[c659smith]

Unless an unbaptised person is in grave danger of death then that person must be baptised by a priest in Church so obviously a Catholic priest is not going to baptise someone in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Also there is the issue of a Greek orthodox partner. What does that mean? It usually means an unmarried man and woman are living together or same sex people are living together. Both scenarios are grave sins and this would have to cease before the Church would allow baptism. Baptism is a Sacrament and for an adult it means the person would have to accept all the teachings of the Church (whether its the Catholic or Orthodox Church).

A priest does not have to perform this Sacrament.

A deacon for instance can perform this Sacrament along with Marriage.

Baptism in most Christian Churches is accepted by the Catholic Church, however if not baptised and wanted to get baptised as a Catholic in another Church other than a Catholic Church a Bishop would need to approve this.

If a Protestant converts to Catholism they do not get re-baptised

Remember we believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

 

[thistle]

A priest does not have to perform this Sacrament.

A deacon for instance can perform this Sacrament along with Marriage.

Baptism in most Christian Churches is accepted by the Catholic Church, however if not baptised and wanted to get baptised as a Catholic in another Church other than a Catholic Church a Bishop would need to approve this.

If a Protestant converts to Catholism they do not get re-baptised

Remember we believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

You are missing the point. The OP’s question is about an unbaptised adult. Unless this person was in danger of death when in fact anyone could perform a baptism, even an atheist, the unbaptised person would be baptised in Church by a Catholic priest. If this person want to be baptised in an Orthodox Church then an Orthodox priest would perform the baptism.

 

[1ke]

A priest does not have to perform this Sacrament.

A deacon for instance can perform this Sacrament along with Marriage.

Baptism in most Christian Churches is accepted by the Catholic Church, however if not baptised and wanted to get baptised as a Catholic in another Church other than a Catholic Church a Bishop would need to approve this.

If a Protestant converts to Catholism they do not get re-baptised

Remember we believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

The OP is not asking about baptism or marriage in the Catholic Church. He is asking about baptism and marriage in the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox have a different view of the Sacraments and who may administer them. In the Orthodox Church, only a priest or bishop can confer the Sacraments.

 

[c659smith]

The OP is not asking about baptism or marriage in the Catholic Church. He is asking about baptism and marriage in the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox have a different view of the Sacraments and who may administer them. In the Orthodox Church, only a priest or bishop can confer the Sacraments.

Alrighty then, thanks for the correction.

 

[mullenpm]

danandirma, your profile shows you as “Catholic” yet you say you are not baptized.

Why do you show yourself as being Catholic?

 

[LilyM]

danandirma, your profile shows you as “Catholic” yet you say you are not baptized.

Why do you show yourself as being Catholic?

Yes indeed. Your post is confusing on a lot of levels.

Your godfather will not ‘baptise’ you for starters - the priest (presumably Greek Orthodox, as you are wanting to become Greek Orthodox) will do that.

As for whether a Catholic can be your godparent - ask your priest whether it’s permissible. I know my mother, a Catholic, has been godmother to at least two Macedonian Orthodox children, that doesn’t mean all Orthodox Churches will permit this of course.

 

[bobzills]

a question from yahoo answers…

I am an Australian who was not baptized and have a greek orthodox partner. I am looking to become baptized greek orthodox.

First question is, Morally, how do I choose my godparents (nona and nono)? I have many of the family offering to but how do I choose one of them? Traditionally it is chosen by the parents but obviously that is becuase as a baby you can’t make the decision yourself. Apart from choosing the person I like the most, any other advice on how to choose your godparents would be much appreciated. It is a decision I greatly respect.

Secondly, one of the people offering (and who i would be extremely honoured to have as a godfather) is Catholic. Can he baptize me in a Greek Orthodox church?

Generally, it is the Greek Orthodox priest who performs the baptism in a Greek Orthodox Church. At that point, you would be a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. For other questions, my suggestion is that you speak with your local priest.

 

[Holly3278]

a question from yahoo answers…

I am an Australian who was not baptized and have a greek orthodox partner. I am looking to become baptized greek orthodox.

First question is, Morally, how do I choose my godparents (nona and nono)? I have many of the family offering to but how do I choose one of them? Traditionally it is chosen by the parents but obviously that is becuase as a baby you can’t make the decision yourself. Apart from choosing the person I like the most, any other advice on how to choose your godparents would be much appreciated. It is a decision I greatly respect.

Secondly, one of the people offering (and who i would be extremely honoured to have as a godfather) is Catholic. Can he baptize me in a Greek Orthodox church?

I would caution you not to leave the Catholic Church. Only the Catholic Church has the fullness of the truth, not the Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Orthodox Church may come close to having the fullness of the truth but they don’t believe in the papal office which is thoroughly Biblical and they also do not believe that Catholics have valid sacraments. Please seriously reconsider whether this is the will of God for you or not.

 

[LilyM]

I would caution you not to leave the Catholic Church. Only the Catholic Church has the fullness of the truth, not the Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Orthodox Church may come close to having the fullness of the truth but they don’t believe in the papal office which is thoroughly Biblical and they also do not believe that Catholics have valid sacraments. Please seriously reconsider whether this is the will of God for you or not.

Holly, this person was unbaptized, therefore has never been Catholic and is not leaving the Church.

 

[Holly3278]

Holly, this person was unbaptized, therefore has never been Catholic and is not leaving the Church.

Ok, I saw that the OP had Catholic listed as his/her religion and so I thought that he/she was baptized. I must not have read the post well enough at this late hour. Forgive me.

 

[LilyM]

Ok, I saw that the OP had Catholic listed as his/her religion and so I thought that he/she was baptized. I must not have read the post well enough at this late hour. Forgive me.

:hug3: s’fine - coulda happened to anyone