The exorcism before baptism is a set of prayers the priest says over the person preparing to be baptized, asking God to drive out evil and free the candidate from any demonic influence. These aren’t Hollywood-style confrontations. They’re ancient prayers that recognize a simple truth: baptism is deliverance from the devil’s power, and we need God’s help to break free.
The Orthodox Church has prayed these exorcisms since the earliest centuries. We find them in every baptismal service across all Orthodox jurisdictions. At St. Michael’s, like every Antiochian parish, the priest reads these prayers right before the candidate renounces Satan and confesses faith in Christ.
What the prayers actually say
There are typically three or four exorcism prayers, depending on which service book you’re using. The language is direct. The priest prays to God: “Rebuke the unclean spirits and expel them, and purify the works of Thy hands.” He asks Christ to “crush down Satan under his feet” and to deliver the person from “the workings of unclean spirits.” Some prayers invoke Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, when he sanctified the waters and trampled down the heads of the dragons lurking there.
The prayers don’t address the person being baptized. They address God. We’re not commanding demons around like we’ve got some special power. We’re asking the One who does have that power to act. That’s an important distinction. The priest isn’t the exorcist, Christ is. The prayers are humble petitions, not magical formulas.
Why we do this
Baptism isn’t just getting wet and joining a church. It’s a rescue operation. Before baptism, we’re under the dominion of sin and death. We’re not possessed in the Hollywood sense, but we’re born into a world where the devil has real (though defeated) influence. These prayers acknowledge that reality without being melodramatic about it.
Think of it this way. If you’re moving into a house, you clean it first. You don’t just bring your furniture into a dirty house. The exorcism prayers are spiritual housecleaning. They prepare the person to receive the Holy Spirit by clearing out anything that shouldn’t be there. It’s not that everyone’s got demons hiding in the corners. It’s that we want to make absolutely sure the dwelling is ready for God.
The theology here goes back to the early Church’s understanding that baptism is spiritual warfare. You’re switching sides. You’re defecting from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. That’s why, immediately after these prayers, the candidate (or the godparents for an infant) formally renounces Satan three times. In some traditions, you face west, the direction of darkness, and spit. Then you turn east toward the light and confess Christ. The exorcisms make that renunciation possible and effective.
What it looks like in practice
The service isn’t dramatic. The priest reads the prayers aloud. The deacon and people respond “Lord, have mercy” at the appointed places. There’s no shouting, no theatrics. Just the steady, ancient words of the Church asking God to protect this person and prepare them for new life.
After the exorcisms come the renunciations. “Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his worship, and all his pride?” Three times. Then the turn: “Do you unite yourself to Christ?” Three times. Then the Creed. Then baptism itself.
You can’t separate these parts. The exorcism, the renunciation, the confession of faith, the baptism, they’re all one movement. You’re leaving something behind and running toward Someone else.
For those coming from other backgrounds
If you’re from a Baptist or non-denominational background, this might feel strange. You’re used to “accepting Jesus into your heart” as a personal decision. We don’t talk that way. We talk about God acting on us, rescuing us, pulling us out of the water like he pulled Israel through the Red Sea. The exorcism prayers emphasize that we can’t save ourselves. We need deliverance.
If you’re from a Catholic background, this will feel more familiar. Catholics also have exorcism prayers in their baptismal rite, though the texts differ somewhat. The theology’s similar: baptism as liberation from evil.
For anyone who’s never been to church before, don’t let the word “exorcism” freak you out. We’re not saying you’re demon-possessed. We’re saying that all of us, before Christ, are in bondage to sin and death in ways we don’t even realize. These prayers are the Church’s way of asking God to set you free so you can truly become his child.
Fr. Thomas Hopko used to say that the Christian life is about becoming who you already are. The exorcism prayers clear the ground so that can happen. They’re not about who you were. They’re about who you’re becoming.
If you’re preparing for baptism at St. Michael’s, don’t worry about this part. Your priest will walk you through everything. The prayers will be said over you or over your child. You’ll make your renunciations and confessions. And then you’ll go down into the water and come up a new creation. That’s what matters.
