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Tuesday, October 27, 2026
THE UNCREATED HOLY LIGHT: A MYSTERY OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH The Divine Light Revealed During the Sacrament of Holy Baptism Only in the Orthodox Church do we encounter the fullness of the ancient sacramental tradition, in which the mystery of God’s grace is revealed through the Holy Mysteries. Throughout the centuries, Orthodox Christians have testified to the profound spiritual mystery of the Holy Mysteries, especially Holy Baptism, through which a person is born anew in Christ and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. THE UNCREATED LIGHT OF GOD In Orthodox theology, the Uncreated Light is not ordinary physical light. It refers to the divine glory and uncreated energies of God, revealed by His grace. This is the light that shone from Christ at His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, when His divine glory was manifested before the Apostles Peter, James, and John. The Orthodox Church teaches that through purification, prayer, repentance, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church, human beings may become partakers of divine grace. This is known as theosis — becoming united with God by grace, without becoming God by nature. WHAT HAPPENS DURING HOLY BAPTISM? Holy Baptism is not merely a symbolic ceremony or a public declaration of faith. According to the Orthodox Church, it is a true sacrament through which a person is united with Christ, dies to sin, and rises to new life in Him. As the Lord Jesus Christ declared: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” — John 3:5 Through Baptism, the newly baptized person receives the gift of new life in Christ and becomes a member of His Church. The Orthodox tradition also connects Baptism with illumination, which is why the newly baptized has historically been called photizomenos — the one being enlightened. The Church celebrates this mystery with prayers, the blessing of water, the anointing with holy oil, the triple immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrament of Holy Chrismation. DOES THE UNCREATED LIGHT APPEAR DURING BAPTISM? There are testimonies and videos circulated online that claim to show extraordinary light during Orthodox baptisms. Such images can inspire awe and encourage reflection on the presence of God in the sacramental life.
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