kirkastus

Kirkastus is a Finnish term used to refer to the Christian rite of baptism, the initiation into the Christian community and the cleansing of sin. In everyday Finnish, the act is commonly called kaste, but kirkastus appears in liturgical and historical contexts as a synonym or aspect of baptism.

In the Lutheran Church of Finland and most Finnish Protestants, kirkastus is typically administered to infants, with parents and godparents making promises on their behalf. The ceremony takes place in a church, at a baptismal font, and includes the pouring or sprinkling of water while invoking the Trinity. The rite symbolises dying and rising with Christ, cleansing from sin, and entry into the church.

In the Finnish Orthodox Church and other Eastern rites, baptism may be performed by full immersion, often followed by chrismation (anointing with oil) and the reception of the Eucharist in infancy or shortly after. The Orthodox rites emphasize repentance, faith, and the washing away of sins, and involve a baptismal pool, a priest, ritual prayers, and a liturgical sequence.

Significance and scope: The rite marks conversion, birth into the faith, and membership. It is traditionally followed by additional rites such as confirmation and first communion in various traditions, and remains a central rite of passage in many Christian communities. The concept of kirkastus also appears in historical and liturgical texts as part of discussions on baptism and church purification.