Blessed Theophany

St. Gregory on the different types of Baptism.

St. Gregory the Theologian’s Oration 39 On the Baptism of Christ.

Since the feast is about baptism and it is necessary to suffer a little for the one who for us took our form and was baptized and crucified, come let us briefly reflect on the differences among baptisms, that we may come from there purified. Moses baptized, but in water (Ex 17:6), and before this “in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor 10:1-2). But this was typological, as Paul also thinks (1 Cor 10:3): the sea was a type of the water, the cloud of the Spirit, the manna of the bread of life (John 6.35), the drink (1 Cor 10.4) of the divine drink (John 6.36). John also baptized, yet no longer in a Jewish way, for he did so not only in water but also for repentance (Mark 1.4, Matt 3.2), but not yet in a wholly spiritual way, for he did not add the words “in the Spirit.” Jesus also baptized, but in the Spirit (Matt 3.11, 28.19; Mark 1.8; Luke 3.16). This is perfection. And how could he not be God, if I may digress a little, by whom you also become god? I know also a fourth baptism, that through martyrdom and blood, by which Christ himself also was baptized, and it is much more venerable than the others, insofar as it is not defiled by stains afterward. And I know yet a fifth, that of tears; but it is more laborious, received by one who each night washes his bed and his couch with tears (Ps 6.6), whose bruises also stink with wickedness, who goes in mourning and with a sad face (Ps 38.5–6), who imitates the turnaround of Manassas (2 Chr 33.12–16) and the humiliation of the Ninivites that brought them mercy (Jonah 3.1–10), who utters the words of the tax collector in the temple and is justified instead of the arrogant Pharisee (Luke 18.13–14), who bends down like the Canaanite woman and seeks compassion and crumbs, the food of a dog that is very hungry (Matt 15.22–27, Mark 7.25–28).