تحقيقات ايران شناسي: نمادها و نشانه هاي حاكم بر مراسم تعميد و عشاي رباني با توجه به متن ششم از مجموعه متون سغدي مسيحي C2

Reflections on the Symbolism of Baptism and Eucharist, On the Basis of the Christian Sogdian Manuscript C2

The present study is dedicated to the investigation of the symbolism of. "Baptism" and "Eucharist" (this latter is also known as "Holy Communion", "Holy Sacrament" or the "Lordʹs Supper"), on the basis of the 6th text (56v.-57r.) from the Christian Sogdian Manuscript C2, a compilation critically edited and translated by Nicholas SiMs-WilliAMs (Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1985). Before dealing with the major issue in question, the author examines the very significances of the Christian rituals of Baptism and Eucharist in the religio-historical context of the New Testament. In this initial section of the article, the author lay emphasis on the very fact that Christian "Baptism" is not a formalistic accomplishment, simply transforming a dry sinner to a wet one, but it is a major "rite of initiation", essentially capable of launching deeply the believer out into the spiritual life, as if, leaving behind the dark burden of exteriorized existence, he/she is born again. The "Eucharist" may also refer not only to the rite itself, but also to the consecrated "bread" and "wine" - used in the rite -correspondingly considered as the veritable symbols of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The "consecrated bread" is also recognized as the symbol of the unique Christian church, which in its turn, is held as a major extention of the Body of Jesus Christ.