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Post by hermin1 on Jan 7, 2007 9:50:39 GMT -5
I am wondering if anyone has information re. the following: In the Episcopal church, did a person always have to be baptized before they were confirmed? Were there exceptions to the rule, like if a personwere an adult, that they would skip the baptism, and get confirmed instead? In the Eastern Orthodox church a person, regardless of age was baptized, and received his/her first communion then. We do not have confirmation, as I understand it.
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Post by tamara on Jan 7, 2007 17:21:07 GMT -5
I am wondering if anyone has information re. the following: In the Episcopal church, did a person always have to be baptized before they were confirmed? Were there exceptions to the rule, like if a personwere an adult, that they would skip the baptism, and get confirmed instead? In the Eastern Orthodox church a person, regardless of age was baptized, and received his/her first communion then. We do not have confirmation, as I understand it. From what I have seen in Episcopal Church baptisms there were adult baptisms of people who were adults at the time of the formation of the church. Sadly some did not even list their actual age and just said "aged" at the time.
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Post by vmarier on Jan 8, 2007 0:17:20 GMT -5
Re: Confirmation I'm Episcopalian and I never thought of this question. Today most people are baptized as infants. My great grandfather was also baptized as an adult. I think the meaning of confirmation in the Episcopal church would help answer this question. Confirmation usually takes place at around 13. One is required to learn things about their faith. This body of knowledge is called a catechism. When the class has learned the cathechism then there is a confirmation ceremony and they take their first communion. This age is considered to be old enough to know what their faith is (the age of reason). You are considered an adult. You can now choose faith for yourself. Interestingly in adolescents this is when their thinking skills change and they begin to use more sophisticated comprehension skills like inference. So yes baptism would be required before confirmation. The Episcopal Church broke from the Catholic Church in England when Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was his older brother's widow and Henry became infatuated with Catherine then disinfatuated then it was Anne Boleyn and on down through the other wives. Really it's a base reason to start a new church. I remember my sister didn't believe me when I told her how the Episcopal Church started. The Episcopal Church is also called the Anglican Church. So there are terms in the Episcopal church ceremonies that are still reminiscent of the Catholic ceremonies, particularly before they instituted a newer version of church services. I don't disrespect the church but history is history. There are good people that are Episcopalian. The National Cathedral in Washington DC is an Episcopal Cathedral. vmarier
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Post by hermin1 on Jan 8, 2007 15:18:13 GMT -5
thanks much Tamara and vmorier for your information. The Eastern Orthodox Church broke from the Catholics back around 1054 DC, over several major issues.
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