Q&A Home > B > Baptism How would the Coptic Orthodox Church receive someone who has been baptized at the protestant church and Chrismated at the Eastern Orthodox Church? In our Coptic Orthodox Church, baptism is a mystery (sacrament) that only an ordained priest or bishop can officiate. The Protestant Church does not believe in priesthood; and baptism is not considered a mystery but just a sign of joining the Christian body of believers. For the Eastern Orthodox Church to recognize this Protestant baptism is unfortunately a lack of understanding of the whole mystery. A prospective convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church is usually asked about his/her baptism; and if he/she has not baptized in the Orthodox faith by an officially ordained priest, this baptism is not valid and he/she has to be baptized.
| |