Baptism
Baptism
Baptismal Information
Greetings in the Lord!
God has entrusted to your care the responsibility of rearing your beloved child, so that they may grow to become a healthy, loving and blessed person. Your love and our Lord has created an immortal soul, the soul of your child. This is one of the greatest mysteries of life which will always remain unanswered.
Too often, we can easily overlook or not devote enough time to the spiritual uprbringing of our children. It is the responsibility of the parents to mold their child’s spiritual, physical and emotional well-being in the best way possible. While this may seem like a difficult task, please be assured that it is a life-long process and both myself and the Church are here to walk with you on this journey. There is no better method of entering into this life-long journey than through receiving the Sacrament of Baptism.
Teach your child to pray and trust in God from a very young age. Bring them to the Church often and allow them to receive Holy Communion often. Even though you may feel that they are fussing in Church, please do not allow this to dictate your presence. Every parent has gone through the same thing and the Church has survived.
At Saint Mark, we have a vibrant ministry to young people. Make every attempt to have your children involved in the life of the Church. Studies prove that if a young person “experiences” their own Faith by the age of 18, it will become a life-long habit. This is a healthy habit we want to instill in our young people. Prepare their soul for eternity, for indeed this is the purpose of our life.
Please do not take this responsibility too lightly. I offer you my personal congratulations and blessings that you will find this information useful as you prepare to make your child a member of the body of Christ, the Saint Mark Church.
With love in Christ,
Rev. Mark A. Leondis, Senior Pastor
Sponsor Requirements
The Sponsor must be an Eastern Orthodox Christian who is a steward and in good standing, that is, current in his/her stewardship committment. If married, the wedding service must have taken place in an Eastern Orthodox Church.
For a Sponsor who is not a members of St. Mark, he/she must have a letter from his/her parish priest stating that he/she is a member in good standing. If the Sponsor is not an active member of any local parish then he/she must participate in a St. Mark Orthodoxy Studies Class that is offered several times each year.
If the Sponsor is a Steward of St. Mark, he/she must be actively participating in the life of the church, i.e. attend church regularly, receive the Sacrements regularly, and be current in his/her Stewardship pledge.
Baptismal Form for Infant, Child, Teen Baptismal Certificate
Kindly complete this online form in full. Once completed we will be in touch to schedule your child's baptism.