The Quarterly Journal of St. Philaret’s Institute

This article focuses on the study of the essence and structure of the church in the context of contemporary Orthodox ecclesiology. A theological definition and dogma on the Church do not yet exist, though XIX and XX century’s theologians have made significant contributions to our understanding of the issues involved. This article analyzes the essence and influence of Eucharistic ecclesiology on the development of our understanding of the Church in the XX century, pointing out that Eucharistic ecclesiology pays little attention to making sense of baptism, which many modern Christians understand as nothing more than a ritual. We might be able to significantly supplement Eucharistic ecclesiology by making reference to the meaning of baptism as the beginning of life in the church and entrance into the Eucharistic fellowship. This article looks at baptism in both its broad and narrow contexts: as threefold submersion accompanied by the words “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, and as the sacral mystery of Enlightenment. Both linear and cyclical models for understanding baptism are considered, as well as various approaches to making sense of the Church’s understanding of baptism, including those of St Cyprian, St Basil the Great and other fathers of the Eastern Christian Church. In conclusion, an eschatological understanding of baptism emerges, as entry into the mystery of the Christian faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. This is a reality that is integral to life and demands constant growth from Christians, but in its fullness this reality can be revealed in an eschatological perspective.