This is one of the first questions many people ask when coming toward Orthodoxy. They have already been baptized in the Roman Catholic Church or in a Protestant community and wonder: is that enough? Do I need to be baptized again? Or will the Orthodox Church receive me in another way?
The answer is not as simple as "yes" or "no", because the Orthodox Church looks at both the history of your baptism and the guidance of your bishop.
Do I Need to Be Re-baptized?
In Orthodoxy, baptism is the entrance into the Church, the washing away of sin, and the putting on of Christ. The Church has always taught there is...
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism".
Ephesians 4:5 KJV
But here is where things differ:
- The Orthodox Church teaches that outside the Orthodox Church, sacraments are not the same as inside. The grace of baptism belongs to the Church, not to schisms or heresies.
- At the same time, the Church, out of pastoral care and oikonomia, sometimes receives converts without re-baptism, especially if their baptism was done with water, in the name of the Holy Trinity (“in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”).
So the answer is: some are baptized, some are received by chrismation, and in rare cases, some by confession of faith alone. It depends on your background, the judgment of your bishop, and the pastoral decision of the Church where you are being received.
What’s Chrismation?
Chrismation is the mystery (sacrament) of anointing with holy oil, directly connected to baptism. In the Orthodox Church, every newly baptized Christian is also chrismated right away. It is the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:38 KJV
When someone comes from Catholicism or Protestantism, the Church may receive them by chrismation instead of baptism. In this case:
- The priest anoints you with holy myron
- You are then received fully into the Church, with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- From that moment you are Orthodox, able to confess, receive Communion, and participate in the full life of the Church.
Chrismation is not "less than" baptism. It is part of baptism in the Orthodox understanding. But if your original baptism is considered invalid or defective, then baptism will be required before chrismation.
Which One Is More Valid?
From the Orthodox perspective, the only true baptism is the baptism of the Orthodox Church. That is the strict line.
However, the Church sometimes uses oikonomia - meaning pastoral flexibility - to recognize certain baptisms done outside, as a way of receiving people mercifully without repeating the form. For example:
- Roman Catholic baptism is often received as valid in form (since it is done with water and in the name of the Trinity), and the convert is received through chrismation.
- Some Protestant baptisms may be accepted (if Trinitarian and with water). Others are not, especially if the community denies the Trinity, does not baptize with water, or has an unorthodox form. In such cases, baptism in the Orthodox Church is required.
So, the "validity" is not about the paperwork or the ceremony itself. It is about the fullness of grace in the Orthodox Church. Even if received by chrismation, the Orthodox Church considers that the grace of the Mystery is completed inside the Church, not outside.
My Priest Wants to Chrismate Me Instead of Baptize Me. What Can I Do?
This is common. You may feel strongly that you should be baptized, but your priest says you will be received by chrismation. What then?
- Remember that this is not your choice to make alone. In Orthodoxy, we do not decide sacraments for ourselves.
- The priest acts under his bishop. It is the bishop who ultimately decides whether someone is received by baptism or chrismation. Your priest is following the order given to him.
- If you have concerns, speak openly. You can ask your priest respectfully why he is guiding you this way. You may also request to be baptized. Some bishops allow it, others do not.
- Do not let this keep you from Christ. Whether through baptism or chrismation, the important thing is that you are entering the Orthodox Church. The grace is complete, and you are truly Orthodox once received.
Conclusion
So, do you need to be re-baptized? In strict theology, only Orthodox baptism is the true baptism. In practice, the Church sometimes applies economy and receives converts through chrismation instead.
If your priest is guiding you to chrismation, it is because that is what the bishop has blessed. If he directs you to baptism, it is also with the bishop’s blessing. Both are legitimate in the life of the Orthodox Church.
The important thing is not to focus on comparing which path is “better,” but to trust the Church that you are being received in the right way. Once you are received, you are Orthodox, fully and completely, with no lack in grace.
In the end, whether through baptism or chrismation, what matters is this: you are no longer outside, but inside Christ’s Body, the Orthodox Church. And from that moment, your life in Christ begins anew.
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