Baptisms

Baptism is a ritual act of initiation and purification involving water. The term derives from the Greek baptizein, meaning to dip or immerse.

Its roots extend to Jewish immersion practices and to the baptism attributed to John the Baptist, whose rite of repentance prefigured Christian baptism.

In Christianity, baptism is widely regarded as a sacrament or ordinance that marks entry into the Christian church. The theological significance varies by tradition: in Catholic and Orthodox churches it is seen as a means of grace and regeneration; in many Protestant denominations it is viewed primarily as a public profession of faith and a symbol of participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Practices differ on age and mode. Some churches practice infant baptism, while others require personal confession of faith before baptism (believer's baptism). Common modes include immersion, pouring (affusion), and sprinkling; immersion is favored in several Protestant groups, whereas pouring remains common in Catholic and many Protestant churches.

In Eastern Orthodoxy baptism is followed by chrismation and often includes triple immersion; many Orthodox Christians are baptized as infants. In the Latin rite of Catholicism, baptism is conferred with water and the invocation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with godparents and a baptismal font playing traditional roles.

Outside Christianity, ritual washings such as the Jewish mikveh or Islamic ablution share thematic similarities with baptism but are distinct practices with different theological meanings.

Across cultures, baptism functions as a marker of belonging, a rite of purification, and a historical record of religious identity, with ongoing ecumenical dialogue about its meaning and requirements.