Saturday, May 13, 2023

Serapion of Thmuis (d. 360) Affirming Baptismal Regeneration

  

We pray you, O God of Truth, for your servant here. We ask you to make him worthy of the Divine mystery and your unutterable regeneration. For it is to you who love men that we offer him, it is to you that we consecrate him. According to your grace, let him share in this regeneration, let him no longer be under the influence of any baleful and wicked spirit; but let him serve you at all times, let him keep your commandments, let the Word, your Only-begotten Son, guide him. Through him, glory to you and power, in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever! Amen.

 

You who love men, benefactor, Savior of all who turn to you: Be gracious to this servant of yours; let your right hand lead him to regeneration. Let your Only-begotten Son, the Word, bring him to the baptismal font. Let his new birth be honored, let your grace not be fruitless. Let your Holy Word be at his side, let your Holy Spirit be with him, let him repel and put to flight every temptation. Through your Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, glory to you and power, now and forever and ever. Amen.

 

God, O God of Truth, Creator of the universe and Lord of all creation, fill your servant here with your blessing. Make him share in the angelic powers, so that henceforth he who has had a part in your divine and profitable grace, may be no longer “flesh” but “spirit”. Keep him for yourself to the very end, O Creator of all things, Through your Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, glory to you and power in the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. (Serapion of Thmuis, as quoted in Fr. Matthew the Poor and Fr. Athanasius Al-Maqary, The Birth From On High: Reflections on the Spirituality and History of Baptism from the Monastery of St. Macarius [trans. Ramez Mikhail; Agora University Press, 2020], 21-22)

 

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