jasmine mamurian anthropology 121 field observation
TRANSCRIPT
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.