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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Churching a Baby Liturgical Service

Churching is a commeration of the Holy Hypapanty of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Purification of The Theotokos.

• Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ was presented to God at the Temple.
• The Theotokos was purified after giving birth.

Churching spiritually prepares the baby and the parents for the Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination
Churching must be celebrated before the Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are received.

When is Churching Celebrated

Churching a baby is performed when the mother and the baby first go to the Church after the birth of the baby. The mother does not go to Church without her baby and the baby does not go to Church without his/her mother.

When do the Mother and Baby first go to Church

Traditionally, Churching is celebrated on the Sunday closest the Fortith Day after the birth of the baby to commemerate Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ's being Presented at the Temple on the Fortith Day after his birth.
Some people want Churching to be celebrated as soon as the mother and baby are physically able to go to Church. They do not count the days.

What Happens during Churching

• Baby
• Blessing the baby.
• Presenting the baby to God.
• Dedicating the baby to God.
• Mother
• Welcoming the mother back to church after an absence.
• Blessing the mother for the cause of that absence: the birth of the baby.

Prior to Churching

• The priest / abouna and the parents agree on a day on which to celebrate Churching.

Churching Procedure

• Prior to the beginning of Divine Liturgy, the entire family (parents, baby, other children, grandparents, aunts, uncles counsins, the future the Baptismal sponsors, etc. ) waits outside the front entrance of the Church for the priest / abouna to come to welcome them.
• The priest / abouna comes to the front entrance of the Church to welcome the family.
• The entire family comes to just inside the front entrance of the Church.
• The priest / abouna says several prayers.
• The priest / abouna carries the baby to the altar while he is saying a prayer. The entire family follows the priest / abouna.
• The priest / abouna stops once on the way to the altar to say a prayer. The family stands behind the priest / abouna.
• The priest / abouna continues to carry the baby to the altar while he is saying a prayer. The entire family follows the priest / abouna .
• At the altar, the priest / abouna says a prayer. The family stands behind the priest / abouna.
• The priest / abouna returns the baby to the baby's parents.
• The entire family goes to their seats.

More Information

Churching St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church, West Paterson, NJ

Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination

Churching is received prior to a baby receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination.

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is an unofficial Melkite Greek Catholic Web site and has not been reviewed or approved by any Melkite clergy person.
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Sunday, January 31, 2010, 20:09:12, CST
The current date and time is: Friday, September 03, 2010, 09:03:00, CDT or Friday, September 03, 2010, 14:03:00, GMT