Eastern infant dedication?

[ConstantineTG]

A friend of mine who’s Greek Orthodox told me something that their priest referred to as “infant dedication” prior to the child receiving the Sacraments. My first reaction was, “sounds Protestant” but what is this that he is talking about? Perhaps the proper Greek or Slavic term for it? Could he be talking about “churching”? Although I thought that would have come with the Baptism.

 

[Vico]

A friend of mine who’s Greek Orthodox told me something that their priest referred to as “infant dedication” prior to the child receiving the Sacraments. My first reaction was, “sounds Protestant” but what is this that he is talking about? Perhaps the proper Greek or Slavic term for it? Could he be talking about “churching”? Although I thought that would have come with the Baptism.

I believe this is the origin. See Leviticus 12:1-5 - mothers could be purified 40 days after the birth of a son, 80 days after the birth of a daughter.

Luke 2:22: And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

 

[ConstantineTG]

I believe this is the origin. See Leviticus 12:1-5 - mothers could be purified 40 days after the birth of a son, 80 days after the birth of a daughter.

Luke 2:22: And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

So do you think he meant “churching”? Because we do that on the day of baptism, not a separate day. I wonder what other Eastern Catholic or Orthodox parishes are doing?

 

[Vico]

So do you think he meant “churching”? Because we do that on the day of baptism, not a separate day. I wonder what other Eastern Catholic or Orthodox parishes are doing?

I have never see this done in our parish, just the usual Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist for the eastern Catholics and Baptism alone for the infant Latin Catholics. (We have both in our parish.)

 

[chaldobyzantine]

You’ve never seen a Churching of an Infant and her mother before Vico? I guess it is mostly a Greek/Antiochian thing. In the Melkite Church, this happens before a Baptism, but not necessarily on the same day. People often have their infants be given the three Holy Mysteries another day. Usually churching is done before the Sunday Divine Liturgy, or before the Little Entrance (or somewhere around that time during Liturgy). It is quite beautiful and I wish all churches did this. In my opinion, it also brings a sense of community to the parish, celebrating the newborn child together.

mliles.com/melkite/churchingprayereuchologion.shtml
mliles.com/melkite/churching.shtml
youtube.com/watch?v=hw0zV41QU_M&feature=related

God Bless

 

[ByzCathCantor]

For us Ruthenians, the Churching is normally done on the same day as the Rites of Initiation.

Although not a hard and fast rule by any stretch of imagination, the Rites of Initiation are scheduled around the 40th day after birth, and it is highly encouraged that the infant be received on Sunday, in connection with the weekly Divine Liturgy, with the full parish community present.

Because the Churching is a short ritual in Ruthenian practice, it often goes unnoticed if performed.

Many priests will also bless the mother toward the end of the Divine Liturgy, a bit of an homage to the ancient Hebrew custom of purification of the mother.

Both my current and former pastor also make a custom of taking the infant around the altar, chanting the Canticle of St. Simeon, to complete the Churching ritual.

 

[Vico]

You’ve never seen a Churching of an Infant and her mother before Vico? I guess it is mostly a Greek/Antiochian thing. In the Melkite Church, this happens before a Baptism, but not necessarily on the same day. People often have their infants be given the three Holy Mysteries another day. Usually churching is done before the Sunday Divine Liturgy, or before the Little Entrance (or somewhere around that time during Liturgy). It is quite beautiful and I wish all churches did this. In my opinion, it also brings a sense of community to the parish, celebrating the newborn child together.

mliles.com/melkite/churchingprayereuchologion.shtml
mliles.com/melkite/churching.shtml
youtube.com/watch?v=hw0zV41QU_M&feature=related

God Bless

Thank you, first time I have seen it.