Appendix B: Baptismal Churches Eastern Rite Churches in Communion with Rome Eastern Rite Churches Not in Communion with Rome

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Appendix B: Baptismal Churches

Eastern Rite Churches in Communion with Rome

The Churches on this list are Catholic Churches. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes fully the sacraments that have already been received. There can be no doubt cast upon the validity of Baptism and Confirmation conferred in the Eastern Churches. It is sufficient to establish the fact that Baptism was administered. Valid Confirmation (chrismation) is always administered at the same time as Baptism. In some situations, the child has also received First Communion at the time of Baptism.

Children who have celebrated the full initiation rite in the Eastern Rite Church may require further catechesis concerning the sacrament of the Eucharist. If the child is attending a Roman Catholic school the ongoing Religious Education program will provide this catechesis. If it is deemed appropriate the family may be encouraged to complete a family resource book at home and to continue the practice of bringing their child to the table of the Lord.

Adults who have celebrated the full initiation rite in the Eastern Rite Church are to be catechized as needed. No rite is required.

The Eastern Churches in Communion with Rome, as listed in the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Directory include:

Alexandrian Rite Byzantine Rite Coptic Catholic Church Melkite Catholic Church Ethiopian Catholic Church Byzantine Slovak Catholic Church Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Church Antiochene Rite (West Syrian) Albanian Catholic Church Malankara (Malankarese) Catholic Church Byelorussian Catholic Church Maronite Catholic Church Bulgarian Catholic Church Syrian [Syriac] Catholic Church Greek Catholic Church Hungarian Catholic Church Chaldean Rite (East Syrian) Italo-Albanian Catholic Church Chaldean Catholic Church Byzantine Yugoslav Catholic Church Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Russian Catholic Church Byzantine-Romanian Catholic Church Armenian Rite Ruthenian Catholic Church Armenian Holy Apostolic Church

Eastern Rite Churches Not in Communion with Rome

There can be no doubt cast upon the validity of the initiation rites conferred in the Churches not in communion with Rome. The Eastern Churches not in communion with Rome include any of the Orthodox Churches and the Assyrian Churches of the East (also known as the Nestorian Church).

51 A person initiated in an Eastern Church not in full communion with Rome does not celebrate the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church except as allowed for by Canon 844 §3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick to members of the Eastern Churches not in full communion with the Catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches, which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid Eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

Orthodox Church Autocephalous Orthodox Churches Patriarchate of Antioch Byelorussian Autocephalous Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Church Church Bulgarian Orthodox Church Byelorussian Orthodox Church Free Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarchate of Constantinople Macedonian Orthodox Church Greek Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox Church Macedonian-Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarchate of Jerusalem Romanian Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox Church Ukrainian Orthodox Church Patriarchate of Bulgaria Macedonian-Bulgarian Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Serbia Coptic Orthodox Serbian Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Malankar Orthodox Syrian

Assyrian Church of the East Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East [Nestorian Church]

Other Communities

It is important to read a baptismal certificate thoroughly. On occasion a certificate from various churches will read that the person has been baptized in the “holy catholic church’. This does not mean that the person is baptized Roman Catholic.

A person who is baptized in another denomination must be received into Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church before celebrating the sacraments.

If the rituals or established customs of a church or community prescribe Baptism by immersion, pouring or sprinkling, together with the Trinitarian formula (in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit) doubt of the validity of the Baptism can only arise if it happens that the minister did not observe the regulations of his or her own church or community.