Baptismal Memrāʾ of Anonymous Author of the Ninth Century

Francis Pittappillil

Mount St. Thomas, Kochi, Kerala-India

Abstract

“Exposition of the Church Services” (ECS) is a 9th century liturgical commentary, the first and integral liturgical work about the East Syrian liturgy after the great liturgical reformation of Patriarch Išo’yahb III. Though the Author of the ECS comments on the various memrē of the Church of the East, we shall pay attention mainly to the baptismal memrā, which is the most remarkable among the memrē commented on by the Author. At first, we shall discuss the different terms and methods of baptism together with the manuscripts and editions of East Syrian baptismal liturgy. The baptismal memrā contains nine chapters and an analysis of the content of each chapter provides us with a clear outlook about the content of the text. The Author highlights the Pauline theology that explains baptism as a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. The Author speaks about three anointings upon the candidate: pre-baptismal rušmā, anointing of the whole body and the post-baptismal rušmā. He emphasizes the pouring out of the consecrated water before the post-baptismal rušmā. He sets the baptismal rite within the framework of Eucharistic celebration, and the reception of the Eucharist by the baptized is presupposed in the commentary. A lucid idea is depicted in the commentary about the rights and duties of the sponsors too. In short, the baptismal commentary of the Anonymous Author of the 9th century provides us with a holistic view about the East Syrian rite of baptism.

Keywords:

Baptism, East-Syriac Rite, Liturgy, Memrā