This course makes a historical, theological, pastoral, and administrative survey of integrated system of the initiation rites of the sacraments of baptism, chrismation, and Eucharist. The main themes discusses in the course are the following: Importance of initiation rites in Christian life. Integrity of the sacraments of Initiation: Baptismal regeneration, charismatic fortification, and Eucharistic nourishment; Development of baptismal fonts and their symbolism; Adult and child initiation; East Syrian and Syro-Malabar usages today; Baptismal adaptations; Structure of initiation in different Churches; Chrismation: Origin of Chrism. Muron. or Say th. East Syrian and Syro-Malabar Sayth Consecration; Eucharist: Integrity. OT and NT Prefigurations. Early Church practice: Acts of Thomas. Aphrahat. Ephrem. andNarsai. Effects and Fruits.
- Badger. G.P.. Nestorians and their Rituals II (London. 1852) 195-214.
- Bourgeois. H.. On Becoming Christian: Christian Initiation and Its Sacraments, M.Groves. trans.. (Mystic. 1984).
- Chalassery. J.. The Holy Spirit and Christian Initiation in the East Syrian Tradition (Rome. 1995).
- Ferguson. E.. Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the first five Centuries (Cambridge. 2009).
- Johnson. M.E.. The Rites of Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation (Collegeville. 1999).