Baptism is the sacrament of new birth by water and the Holy Spirit. Through baptism a person is united with the death and resurrection of Christ, cleansed from sin, and incorporated into the Church.
Celebration
Baptism is administered with water in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Immersion is ancient and normative in many Eastern traditions, while pouring is also widely received.
Christian initiation
In Eastern practice baptism is normally followed immediately by chrismation and Eucharist. Western traditions commonly separate confirmation from infant baptism while retaining the unity of Christian initiation.