Chrzciciel

Chrzciciel is a Polish term for a person who administers baptism, the ritual washing that represents admission to a Christian community. The word is formed from chrzcić, to baptize, with the agent suffix -iciel, and in ordinary usage refers to anyone authorized to perform baptism in a Christian context. In Polish, the term can also appear in reference to Saint John the Baptist, who is commonly called Jan Chrzciciel (Święty Jan Chrzciciel) in religious texts.

Practice regarding who may perform baptism varies by denomination. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, and many Protestant churches, baptism is conducted by ordained clergy such as priests, deacons, or pastors. Some denominations also allow other authorized individuals to perform baptism, for example in emergency situations or within certain church rules. The rite commonly involves water and the Trinitarian formula, and it signifies spiritual rebirth and incorporation into the Christian community.

John the Baptist is the most famous chrzciciel in Christian tradition. He is described in the New Testament as a prophet who preached repentance and baptized people in the Jordan River, and who baptised Jesus himself. His role is often presented as the forerunner to Jesus, preparing the way for the gospel.

In Polish usage, chrzciciel can therefore denote both the ordinary practitioner of the baptism rite and, when capitalized as Jan Chrzciciel, the historical/biblical figure of John the Baptist.