THE GREEK ORIGINAL OF A BAPTISM PRAYER PRESERVED IN GEORGIA

Abstract

In the Georgian Euchology Sin.Geo.O. 12 (10th century) of the Hagiopolite tradition, the rites of Christian initiation are preceeded by the prayer of blessing the baptismal font. The present article traces the Greek original of the prayer in the Italo-Greek Euchologes. Textual examination and the method of Comparative Liturgy show that the prayer comes from the cathedral tradition of Jerusalem and was used annually, in connection with the cycle of the catechumenate, when at a certain point in Lent the baptismal font was blessed.