jasmine mamurian anthropology 121 field observation

Jasmine Mamurian

A LOOK INSIDE A CHRISTIAN

BAPTISM

THE PRIEST BEGINS TO RUN THE WATER, FILLING THE BATH. HE THEN BEGINS TO ADD THE HOLY OIL TO THE BATH.

THE BEGINNING OF THE

CEREMONY

THE CHILD IS GIVEN TO THE PRIEST, AND IS THEN IMMERSED INTO THE HOLY WATER.

THE PRIEST BEGINS TO WASH THE CHILD’S FACE, RIDING ANY NEGATIVE ENEREGY

FROM THE CHILD.

AFTER WASHING THE CHILD’S FACE THE PRIEST BEGINS TO WASH THE CHILD’S HANDS AND FEET,

ALSO RIDING THE NEGATIVE ENEREGY AND SPIRITS.

THE CHILD IS THEN GIVEN BACK TO THE GODFATHER, AND THE PRIEST BEGINS APPLYING THE OIL, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF THE CEREMONY.

THE PRIEST ALSO APPLIES THE OIL TO THE HANDS, FEET AND BACK OF

THE CHILD.

THE CHILD IS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER ROOM, SHE IS

CHANGED INTO HER FORMAL CHRISITENING GOWN, AND

BROUGHT BACK TO THE ALTER, SO THE CERMEMNOY CAN

CONTIUNE. EVERY GUEST IS NOT ALLOWED INTO THE

SEPARATE ROOM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICUT FOR ME TO GET A

PICTURE OF THE PROCESS.

AFTER THE CHILD IS TAKEN AWAY TO CHANGE INTO HER FORMAL CLOTHING SHE IS BROUGHT BACK AND GIVEN A PIECE OF HOLY BREAD TO

EAT, GIVEN TO HER BY THE PRIEST HIMSELF.

THE PRIEST THEN TAKES THECHILD AROUND THE ALTER, WELCOMING THE CHILD TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,

AND INTO GOD’S SACRED WORLD .

THE CHILD IS GIVEN BACK TO THE GODFATHER SO THE PRIEST CAN BEGIN TO BLESS THE FAMILY ON THEIR JOURNEY.

HERE THE GODFATHER SYMBOLIZES THE CHRISTENING BY GIVING HIS GODDAUGHTER A CHRISTIAN CROSS, THAT HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE

PRIEST.

THE PRIEST THEN ASKS FOR THE CANDLES TO BE LIT, NOT PRESENT IN THE PHOTO, THEN CERMEONY COMES TO THE END. THE LIT CANDLES

SYMBOLIZE THE CHILD’S JOURNEY AHEAD, THEY HELP GUIDE HER.