Editing Ablution in Christianity (section)

==Baptismal ablutions==
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[[File:US Navy 030420-N-9236M-025 Chief Electronics Technician Geoffrey Ormston is immersed in the waters of Apra Harbor, Guam by Chaplain Richard Inman during a baptismal ceremony on Easter Sunday.jpg|thumb|[[Baptismal]] ceremony on [[Easter]] [[Sunday]]]]
In Orthodox Christianity, there is also an ablution performed on the eighth day after [[Baptism]]. Immediately after being Baptized, every person, including an infant, is [[Confirmation|confirmed]] using the Mystery (Sacrament) of [[Chrismation]]. In the [[early church]], the places where the person was anointed with [[Chrism]] were carefully bandaged, and were kept covered for eight days. During this period, the newly illumined (newly baptized person) would also wear his baptismal robe every day. At the end of the eight days, the priest would remove the bandages and [[baptismal garment]] and perform ablutions over him. While the bandaging no longer takes place, the ritual ablutions are still performed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pomazansky |first=[[Protopresbyter]] Michael |year=1948 |title=Orthodox Dogmatic Theology |page=270 |place=Platina, CA |publisher=Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood |id=LOC # 84-051294}}
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The newly illumined (newly baptized person) is brought back to the church by his [[Godparents]] for the ablutions. The priest stands him in the center of the church, in front of the [[Royal Doors|Holy Doors]], facing east. He loosens the belt of the baptismal robe and prays for him, that God may preserve the newly illumined in purity and illumine him by grace. He then dips a sponge in water and sprinkles him in the sign of the cross saying: "Thou art justified. Thou art illumined. Thou art sanctified. Thou art washed: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Then, as he says the next prayer, he washes each of the places where he had been anointed with [[Chrism]]. Next he performs the [[Tonsure#Eastern Christianity|Tonsure]], symbolic of the life of self-sacrifice a Christian must lead. In modern practice, these ablutions are performed at the end of the baptism service, after the first reception of Holy Communion.