Hello all,
I was recently browsing at
orthodoxbookstore.org in their liturgical books section since I'm think about buying the Holy Psalmody book but while checking out other books I came across a book that is part of the Coptic Offices series and one of them contains outside the church services and that one contains "prayer of bathing, the betrothal, blessing of homes and the memorial service for funerals." Now, I'm curious about the bathing prayer. What is this prayer and how is it used? Is it used for bathing in general or is it a certain type of bathing done before prayer or something? Here is the link to the book:
http://www.orthodoxbookstore.org/thecopticoffices-outsidechurchservices.aspx Can somebody post the text of this prayer with explanation please? I would appreciate it.
Dear Andrew, peace and grace to you.
The Bathing Prayer is a set prayer of Thanksgiving to God for the safe delivery of a baby and occurs on the eighth day irregardless of whether the baby is a boy or girl. The prayer occurs in the home of the parents with a normal baby bath tub and warm water. The prayer follows the standard, Lord's prayer, thanksgiving prayer, psalm 51, raising of incense (as in Matins). The priest 'washes' the baby in the bath and hands the child back to his/her mother/father. Prayer concludes with the Lord's Prayer. Unfortunately I do not have an electronic copy only the hard paper copies. The bathing prayer is -not- considered a baptism nor a replacement for baptism.
Perhaps others could go deeper into the ritual, but that basically is it.
Pray for me.
Fr James+
Servant
