Kiev, November 12, 2026
Alexander Drabinko, who left the Orthodox Church to join the OCU, and Andriy Dudchenko baptizing a baby into the OCU. Photo: Andriy Dudchenko
The schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” has altered the Baptismal rite as published in its current priest’s service book, according to one its priests.
The change removes the part of the service in which a person being baptized blows and spits toward the devil after renouncing him, according to “Archpriest” Andriy Dudchenko, associate professor at the Kiev Orthodox Theological Academy of the OCU, during an episode of the podcast Faith Talks on the Orthodox Easterners (Pravoslavni skhidniaky) YouTube channel.
In the traditional order of Baptism, which the Church has kept since ancient times, the candidate first renounces Satan three times, along with all his works and his pride. The person is then instructed to “breathe and spit upon him.” This is done facing west, toward the darkness, after which the candidate turns to face Christ.
Dudchenko said the OCU dropped the gesture because people today no longer read its symbolic language as earlier generations did. “Today it only makes people smile,” he said.
He framed the change as part of a wider effort to adapt Church practice. “Eternal meanings have to be embodied in modern forms that will be understandable to a modern person,” he said, adding that in this respect the OCU is “at the forefront now.”
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